Redefining the possibilities of British jazz
Fresh from announcing their forthcoming fourth studio album ‘Here Because of Hope’, Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning Ezra Collective return with brand-new single “Well Organised” featuring Jamaican singer Lila Iké, they now announce their biggest ever global headline tour spanning Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe before culminating in their largest UK tour to date with two very special nights at London’s O2 Academy Brixton in March 2027.
Across ‘Here Because of Hope’, Ezra Collective trace the movement of Black music across Africa, through the Caribbean and ultimately into Britain, celebrating the sounds, cultures and communities that have shaped generations of music while exploring how hope transforms pain into moments of joy. If “Only Love” found its inspiration in West Africa, “Well Organised” marks the beginning of the album’s Caribbean movement.
Built around an interpolation of Max Romeo’s immortal classic “I Chase The Devil”, the track announces itself with a steel pan melody lifted from a spontaneous recording Femi made while visiting London’s Kinetika Bloco Youth Club. That melody became the emotional foundation of the song, eventually blossoming into one of the album’s most transporting moments. Joined by one of Jamaica’s most celebrated voices in Lila Iké, “Well Organised” settles into a groove that feels timeless, paying tribute to Jamaica’s rich musical legacy while placing it firmly within Ezra Collective’s unmistakably British sound.
Speaking on the track, bandleader Femi Koleoso says: “I was spending time with the Kinetika Bloco Youth Club; they were playing steel pans and the most beautiful line caught my attention. I recorded it on my phone and lived with it. It had the emotion and beauty that I associate with dancehall, bashment, reggae and so many other beautiful sounds that come from Jamaica. We began to build stories, melodies and rhythms one by one. When it felt like home, we called our sister Lila Iké to furnish the house with love and good vibes.”
Set for release this September, ‘Here Because of Hope’ marks a bold new chapter for Ezra Collective following a historic few years that saw the band become the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize before going on to win the BRIT Award for Group of the Year. Expansive, emotional and deeply rhythmic, the album follows the journey of Black music across continents while celebrating the communities, traditions and cultures that continue to shape it today.
Over the past decade, Ezra Collective have become one of the defining British bands of their generation. The group have continually redefined the possibilities of British jazz while bringing its spirit to audiences around the globe.
With “Well Organised”, Ezra Collective open another chapter of ‘Here Because of Hope’, one that celebrates the immeasurable influence of Caribbean music on the global musical landscape while continuing the album’s journey towards hope, connection and collective joy.
Booking and full tour details: https://ezracollective.com/pages/live
