Ezra Collective @ Barrowlands, Glasgow, 8 Nov

Bringing energy and euphoria to Glasgow, Ezra Collective dazzle with a masterclass in musicianship and star quality

Live Review by Kenza Marland | 12 Nov 2024
  • Ezra Collective

Watching the rise of London’s Ezra Collective over the past several years has been a joy. As the group made the rare shift from alternative to mainstream without compromise, their Mercury Prize win last year felt like well-deserved flowers given to a collective of hyper-talented jazz musicians.

This Friday night, sold-out show is at the Barrowlands in Glasgow’s East End. As an historic dancehall, it's a fitting venue for a group whose latest album was titled Dance, No One's Watching, and who are known for their high energy, dance-inducing performances. Support comes from Manchester’s Children of Zeus, a dub-hip-hop group who bring soulful vibes and a bucketload of warmth to the stage.

Ezra Collective's show starts with saxophonist James Mollison playing alone under a spotlight, so close to the crowd we can practically touch him. It rapidly becomes clear that this striking moment is the calm before the storm, as what follows is a whopping 100 minutes of jazz-afrobeat-funk and a masterclass in showmanship and musicianship. Drummer Femi Koleoso has become the Ezra Collective’s frontman, hypeman and unofficial pastor – and it's clear why. There’s a passion and charisma to Koleoso’s stage presence that's so sincere it can veer towards the cheesy, but it's always saved by his authenticity.  

As the group transitions seamlessly through favourite album cuts like The Herald and hits such as Ajala, the crowd doesn’t stop moving. And nor do the band – running around the stage, laughing and watching each other play in awe. Tonight, it feels like we’ve been invited to hang out with this group of best pals, and their party is beautiful.

Throughout the evening, Ezra Collective show they’re experts in controlling energy, bringing the tempo down here and there to deliver dazzling solos – trumpet, keys, percussion all included – before bringing things right back up again and pushing the audience further. Renditions of big hitters like Sweet Like Chocolate and Welcome to Jamrock of course go down a treat, and to nail such a long set without any vocals yet so much melody is pretty remarkable. 

As the performance creeps towards its crescendo, saxophonist Mollison and trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi climb into the middle of the crowd and play from there. Mini mosh circles are organised, hugging strangers is encouraged, and Koleoso carries the whole show with his unrelenting urge to spread joy. It's almost all too much. But as the group delivers their final song, God Gave Me Feet For Dancing, the sweaty happiness in the room is impossible to ignore. 

In a time when the world feels particularly apocalyptic, perhaps Ezra Collective’s unashamed euphoria is actually exactly what we need. These jazz stars are in love with their craft and with humanity. We leave the ballroom feeling like they’ve been to church. Or is it Carnival? Perhaps it’s both.