Mercury Prize-winning and BRIT Award-winning UK jazz collective Ezra Collective return with their new single and music video, “Jubilee Feeling,” ahead of their highly anticipated album Here Because of Hope, set for release on 11 September 2026. Led by drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso, the London five-piece have become a defining force in contemporary jazz, celebrated for their genre-fluid sound that draws from jazz, Afrobeat, hip-hop, soul and UK dance music.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The release follows Ezra Collective’s debut appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek earlier this year, where the collective introduced their high-energy live sound to South African audiences. Blending the harmonic language of UK jazz with the euphoric energy of 2010s Funky House, “Jubilee Feeling” is a vibrant celebration of London’s Black musical culture, anchored by Joe Armon-Jones’ dynamic piano performance.
For Koleoso, the concept of Jubilee is deeply personal: “Jubilee is a word that means a great deal to me. It’s connected to the church where I grew up and the youth group I work with, but beyond that, its meaning really resonates with me – a time when debts are cleared, prisoners are released and people are given the chance to begin again. I see it as a kind of equalisation, a moment of celebration and a fresh start.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Ebeneza Blanche and filmed in London, draws inspiration from early-2000s British nightlife and rave culture, with styling and visuals that evoke the era’s distinctive club scene. The visual follows the energy and unpredictability of a night out, placing the band’s jazz sensibilities against a contemporary club backdrop.
Speaking about the visual, Koleoso says: “We wanted the video to capture that tension – the look and atmosphere feel rooted in the early 2000s, while the music is completely fresh. Nights out can take you in unexpected directions, but often lead to that incredible moment of shared happiness – that’s the Jubilee Feeling.”
The forthcoming Here Because of Hope explores the movement of Black music from West Africa through the Caribbean and into Britain, reflecting how these sounds have travelled, evolved and influenced generations.
Watch the official music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6pSgYKSCs8