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REVEALED: Femi koleoso | Vintage Vibes

‘On the other side of pain there can be renewal’: Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso on reasons to hold on to hope

The bandleader, drummer, DJ and broadcaster is guest-editing this week’s Saturday magazine Culture features. He shares why he’s optimistic for the future. Plus: his bandmates offer their cultural picks

The Guardian - UK

‘When there’s joy, there’s room for hope’: Eberechi Eze, Leona Lewis, and Yinka Ilori in conversation with Ezra Collective

Bandleader Femi Koleoso gathers the England and Arsenal star, as well as the musician and artist, to discuss hope, creativity and Black British culture

The Guardian - UK

‘We’ve had moments of devastating pain’: jazz icons Ezra Collective on their new album – and why we can’t rely on the government

Speaking at a Guardian Live event at Love Supreme festival, the band tell us about lessons with Tony Allen, mayhem in Lagos and why musicians should be ‘pillars of the community’

The Guardian - UK

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Ezra Collective: The astonishing rise of London’s most important band

Ezra Collective are celebrating 10 years since their first release — and London’s most exciting band are still on a (jazz) mission to unite, inspire and rethink the world

Evening Standard

Olivia Dean sweeps three major awards at Mobo Awards 30th anniversary in Manchester

Dean was honoured with Song of the Year for her single ‘Man I Need’, Album of the Year for ‘The Art of Loving’ and Best Female Act

The Independent UK

Elton John backs Ed Sheeran’s call for UK to put £250m into music education

Coldplay, Harry Styles and Stormzy also join Suffolk songwriter in campaigning for music funding in schools

The Guardian - UK

‘Reopen these youth clubs’: Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso on nurturing young artistic talent

Drummer and band leader used Brits awards stage to spotlight clubs that help musicians like himself to thrive

The Guardian - UK

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Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso: Giving a young person a trumpet can fix problems

The jazz quintet won the group of the year Brit Award on Saturday.

Evening Standard

BRITs: Ezra Collective thank Jesus as they win their first BRIT Award

Ezra Collective were named Group of the Year at the BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard and called on the government to relaise that music will be a "solution" to societal problems.

BANG Premier

All Points East 2024 day two review: Loyle Carner and Ezra Collective give their best shows to date

From Andre 3000’s improv flute to Nas and ‘the best day’ of Loyle Carner’s life, this was an event that won’t be soon forgotten

Evening Standard

Ezra Collective interview: ‘Politicians aren't gonna be the saviour of our communities’

They’re making history as the first jazz act to headline Wembley Arena, and Ezra Collective couldn’t be more thrilled. The London quintet tells Isobel Van Dyke why music is the soul of community

Evening Standard

Ezra Collective review – a home-town triumph for jazz’s young heroes

Fresh from their Mercury prize win, the genre-melting, future-building London party band bring out guests aplenty in a night of inspirational, infectious joy

The Guardian - UK

Take the vitality of diverse Britain, set it to music. That’s why Ezra Collective deserve their Mercury prize

There is a musical and social power in the fusion of cultures we see in our inner cities. Plaudits to a band that captures that, says Guardian columnist Hugh Muir

The Guardian - UK

Move over guitar rock – Ezra Collective’s propulsive jazz is the true sound of modern Britain

Their Mercury Prize win has finally punted the ‘token jazz album’ era of the Mercury Prize into the past, says John Lewis

The Independent UK

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Evening Standard

Finally the ‘token jazz act’ won the Mercury Prize – and yes Ezra Collective totally deserved it

This act of giant killing was no fluke, the London quintet showed last night they could play anyone in the room under the table

Evening Standard

Behind the scenes at the Mercury Prize 2023 - ‘My dad jumped on my back, my mum’s crying, it was mad’

Ezra Collective brought the crowd to its feet and showed why they were worthy winners

The Independent UK

Ezra Collective: From London youth group to Mercury Prize winners

The five-piece band have been together for more than a decade.

The Independent UK

Mercury Prize: Ezra Collective become first jazz act to win in award’s 31-year history

London five-piece are the first jazz band to win the award for best British or Irish album of the year

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The Guardian - UK

Mercury prize 2023: London group Ezra Collective secure first ever jazz win

Band say unexpected win is ‘testimony to good, special people putting time and effort’ into helping young people to play music

The Guardian - UK

Gorillaz star bangs drum for music lessons on London estates

Femi Koleoso, an alumnus of the charity Kinetika Bloco, says ‘heartbreaking’ decline of musical education must be overcome

Evening Standard

Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective: ‘In moments of desperation, music can remind us there’s more to live for’

The bandleader is adamant that music can inspire hope, and needs to be available to everyone

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