Ezra Collective performs Victory Dance at The Mercury Prize 2022. UK viewers can watch more from the Mercury Prize 2023 on BBC iPlayer #ezracollective #mercuryprize
What a great achievement! As a long time fan, I could not be happier. They have such a wonderful, vibrant sound that takes in so many influences, but it remains so uniquely London. To play their instruments with such freedom and to improvise so effortlessly takes amazing talent, and relentless dedication. I have so much respect for the whole band. When they play, we lose ourselves in the music. We laugh, cheer and dance. We need this music right now. It's good for the soul.
Was sooo hoping for this but thought they'd be "an also ran" nomination. Black Classical Music by Yusef Dayes got released today so definitely a good time for UK jazz. London calling, we have no fear (Woop Woop)!
@@AB-vh7tw It's happening! We won't be able to get near McDonalds now, though. Not just Jazz, we've also got a top kids choir, Childrens International Voices, backed by John Rutter, and this has come from the work David Byrne inspired in 2015
History has been made First Jazz group to win Mercury Prize I am so happy that Jazz music has now been recognised in the music scene Congratulations Ezra Collective well deserved
Re 'old snob' comments here, I can't think of a better candidate for 'not having a strict (black and white, in or out type) definition than 'jazz'. It's a constantly shifting thing deliberately blurring its own boundaries. That's partly what makes it so interesting! Ezra C are just doing what so many jazzers do - exploring and stretching the boundaries. And frigging why not? Nor are they even trying to be Mr Collier or Snarky Puppy. They are doing their own joyous, riotous thing - people are strengthened by it and it's much needed in these dire times. Massive congrats to them all.
It's about time, jazz is everywhere but hardly gets acknowledged, kinda reminds me of British jazz funk bands from back in the day, with those horns, Incognito, Light Of The World etc.✌🏾
If you're looking for more Joe Armon-Jones piano excellence check out his album released in June 2023... Archetype. It's still jazz I suppose... because what is jazz really if not a conglomerated amalgamation of funky sounds.
Go learn from the City Lit African-Carribean-Brazilian Fusion course, and listen to what we did with David Byrne's Atomic Bomb! project on here. Jazz Funk (I was lead vocal in the backing choir). This takes it on. Of course it's not American Jazz, and Tuba Skinny are looking after NOLA just fine, but music moves on.
Power to the people down with the greedy all musicians should be able to make a living from making music,go on put up that positive message about the first London jazz band again as artists starve
So I write the song I sing it I record it I take the photo I play all the instruments And I don't even get a penny per stream and people listen for free and the advertisers pay more to the streaming companies than me?🤔
It may not be great jazz but it’s good enough music with a jazz vibe. It’s not competing with great jazz for the Mercury prize. It’s competing with pop etc. l say if it raises the profile of jazz in the minds of young people that has to be a good thing.
An actual band able to play actual instruments, not a flash in the pan, self-obsessed, young chanteuse, or a socially-challenged rapper with a chip on his shoulder.
They're okay, but I was expecting more. I dunno. I've been listening to Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy, Dirty Loops and so on, and the musicianship here isn't up to that. Not yet, anyway, though time is on their side.
Making this band fit into one genre, reknowned to host some of the most elitist asswipes in the known universe is a guaranteed fail. If you keep shouting that this is not jazz, then you don't understand music. Or at least, you don't understand that the genre has exploded and it's not just about the music anymore.
Heard it all before, they use a lot of material from other Jazz groups. Their music is good, but I am sorry, this is NOT full on Jazz, it's more like some sore of Hybrid mix. Just because someone is playing a Saxophone doesn`t immediately make it Jazz! I have been into Jazz most of my life and the reason this group has suddenly won a prize is because their style is FAR from Jazz to be honest, it's just a mix of modern day styles, it's just easy listening. They are playing what the majority of the younger generation nowadays want to hear, 'hip hop', 'reggae', 'salsa', 'latin american'. I bet no one on this thread has heard of The Rippingtons (Russ Freeman)?.. Now they are Jazz Legends and he IS a Legend. They have been going since the 80s and they are just pure talent. Ezra are just amateurs in comparison. Another legend is Bob James.. he practically founded Jazz. If you want to listen to what Jazz actually sounds like listen to some of Bob James music. So many ignorant clueless individuals on here who don`t actually know what Jazz sounds like.
Honestly this is a very boring and snooty response. It doesn’t really matter to anyone else whether this fits your very limited and specific definition of what jazz is, and it’s weird that you’re so annoyed about it.
You do realise that many of the people who pioneered the jazz tradition had a deep interest in fusing it with other genres, right? E.g. to name a few examples: * loads of Miles Davis albums throughout his career, e.g. classical fusion with Gil Evans, rock fusion with In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, etc.; * lots of other musicians who fused it with classical music, often by playing with string orchestras, including Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins and Stan Getz, jazz versions of classical pieces like Art Tatum's recording of Massenet's Elegy, Third Stream groups like MJQ, etc. * Herbie Hancock's work with The Headhunters (and earlier albums like Mwandishi); * Weather Report; * loads of musicians who fused jazz with Latin-American music, like Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea. Ezra Collective are very open about the fact that they're playing fusion, but that doesn't change the fact that they're heavily steeped in the jazz tradition. By fusing jazz with other popular genres, they're following in the footsteps of great jazz legends. Or are you trying to say that Miles Davis wasn't a jazz musician, because he recorded some fusion albums? 😂
You are correct of course. This pop Latino fusiion isn't actually Jazz. It is just a music inspired by it. Jazz fans won't go out to by it and followers of this band won't buy Jazz. It's like saying the Tina Turner was a Heavy rock Artist or that Genesis were psychodelic.
@@Dhansaq I don`t understand what you mean by limited?? If you change a style of music then it is no longer that style. This is NOT Jazz, it's that simple. If someone asks for a cheeseburger and you go and throw in some chicken or ham slices instead of a beef patty it's no longer a cheeseburger. Ezra are missing ALOT of ingredients that are expected in Jazz. If you don`t understand what Jazz is and want to listen to some real Jazz, do yourself a favour and listen to some Bob James. Educate yourself a little eh?
Sounds more like Ska, or fusion. Very Latin American. Not something I recognise as Jazz. It isn't Trad, and it sure isn't Dixie, more like. Disco Latin fusion. Not proper Jazz.
On music sites like Spotify artists don't even make ,£1 per stream!! Why do artists have to go through the greedy music industry when they record and do everything themselves,I think there needs to be a quiet musical revolution 🤬😁👍💩🫨😁👍🤔
Great band unfortunately most artists end up in job centres because they can't make any money , because did you know they are not even paid one pence per stream ,naughty!🫨🤔👍
