Ezra Collective win 2023 Mercury Prize for ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’
It’s the first time a jazz act has won the prize since its inception in 1992
Ezra Collective have been named winners of the 2023 Mercury Prize for their album, ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’.
The British quintet’s second full-length – which fuses jazz, dub, funk and grime – arrived last November, and came out on top of stiff competition to walk away with last night’s award, which recognises the best British and Irish albums of the year.
Presenting the prize, DJ Jamz Supernova called the London band’s second album an “uplifting and timely record that represents the very best of where we are now in 2023.”
Ezra Collective were selected from a shortlist of twelve nominees, including Fred again.. for ‘Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)’, J Hus with ‘Beautiful and Brutal Yard’, Loyle Carner’s ‘Hugo’, and Shygirl’s ‘Nymph’. Last year’s Mercury Prize went to British rapper Little Simz for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’.
Accepting the award, drummer Femi Koleoso told the audience at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith that their win “represents something very special, because we met in a youth club.”
“This is not just a result for Ezra Collective, or for UK jazz, but this is a special moment for every single organisation across the country, ploughing efforts and time into young people playing music.”
The band – comprised of Femi Koleoso on drums, TJ Koleoso on bass, Joe-Armon Jones on keys, James Mollison on saxophone and Ife Ogunjobi on trumpet — met at the London-based music education programme, Tomorrow’s Warriors.
‘Where I’m Meant To Be’ debuted at No 1 on the UK Jazz and Blues chart and features contributions from Kojey Radical, Emeli Sandé, Nao and Sampa The Great, the latter of whom appears on lead track ‘Life Goes On’.
Revisit DJ Mag’s 2021 feature on the experimental fusion sounds reinvigorating the jazz tradition
