Ezra Collective
London jazz as a party rather than a seminar, with Afrobeat and dancehall pulling the horns along, and a drummer who conducts the room from behind the kit.
Tour dates
- Bimbo's 365 ClubTickets
- The Regent TheaterTickets
- The Concert HallTickets
- Webster HallTickets
- Théâtre BeanfieldTickets
- FållanTickets
- AFAS LiveTickets
- 3Olympia TheatreTickets
- 3Olympia TheatreTickets
- O2 Academy GlasgowTickets
- O2 Academy BirminghamTickets
- O2 Academy BrixtonTickets
- O2 Academy BrixtonTickets
- O2 Academy Brixton
- O2 Academy Brixton
About Ezra Collective
Ezra Collective is a jazz band from London, England, formed in 2012.
The band's members met through Tomorrow's Warriors, the London jazz education programme run by Gary Crosby and Janine Irons, and formed in 2012 around brothers Femi and TJ Koleoso. Their name references the biblical figure Ezra, who studied the work of those who came before him, a model the group applied to jazz.
The full lineup settled as Femi Koleoso on drums, TJ Koleoso on bass, Joe Armon-Jones on keyboards, James Mollison on saxophone and Ife Ogunjobi on trumpet, who replaced founding member Dylan Jones. Femi Koleoso has cited Robert Glasper and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly as early templates for the band's sound.
Their 2019 single 'Quest for Coin' was picked as Annie Mac's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1, and the debut album You Can't Steal My Joy followed the same year with guest spots from Jorja Smith and Loyle Carner. The 2022 album Where I'm Meant to Be brought in more collaborators and won the Mercury Prize in 2023.
Recognition kept building afterward: Barack Obama named their 2024 single 'God Gave Me Feet for Dancing' among his favourite songs of the year, and in 2025 the band became the first jazz act to win Group of the Year at the Brit Awards.
JazzAfrobeat
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Questions about Ezra Collective
Where is Ezra Collective from?
Ezra Collective is from London, England.
Who is in Ezra Collective?
Ezra Collective is Joe Armon‐Jones (keyboards), Femi Koleoso (drums), TJ Koleoso (bass), James Mollison (tenor saxophone) and Ife Ogunjobi (trumpet). Former members include Dylan Jones.
When did Ezra Collective form?
Ezra Collective formed in London in 2012.
What was Ezra Collective's first album?
Ezra Collective's first album was You Can’t Steal My Joy (2019). The latest is Here Because of Hope (2026).
Is Ezra Collective on tour?
Yes. Ezra Collective has 15 shows listed, from San Francisco, CA on Nov 12, 2026 to London, UK on Mar 21, 2027.
What kind of music does Ezra Collective play?
Ezra Collective plays jazz and afrobeat.
What festivals has Ezra Collective played before?
Ezra Collective has played Way Out West 2026, Glastonbury 2025.