Ezra Collective is in the country, so we had a young conversation with Femi Koleoso from Ezra Collective about the South African trip. We touched on how South African music has actually influenced their work, especially how big South African jazz is. It’s a good conversation between Femi and Illythehost, talking about music and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
You’ve performed all over the world, right? What does it mean to you personally to bring the Ezra Collective sound to South Africa for the Montreal Jazz Festival?
It’s a dream come true. And I can’t say that about every country in the world. But South Africa has given me so much musically that I love. So many different artists from the past. Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim are some of my heroes. And then what you guys have done with Amapiano and even spending a lot of time with Moonchild Sanelly — she’s put me onto so much music. So, I feel like I’m not just there to play a show, but I’m also there to receive. So, I’m just very, very, very grateful for this opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to it.
Your music blends jazz with Afrobeat, hip-hop and London Street culture, if I’m right. How do you think that sound will connect with the South African audience? I feel like, more importantly than the genres that we blend it with, is the feeling itself.
I feel like, more importantly than the genres that we blend it with, is the feeling itself. And the message we blend it with — it’s about joy, it’s about inclusivity, it’s about no matter how hard life can get, there’s always something to dance about. And I feel like that message will connect with people, because I feel like that message is universal. Everyone, at some point in their life, needs to feel joy and needs something to dance about.
So that’s where we’re coming from. And then musically, I feel like it will connect because it’s Black music, and there are lots of Black people in South Africa. Do you know what I mean? And there are lots of people who love Black music in South Africa. So, I feel like on those levels it will connect, and we’re going to give it 100%. And I think people will appreciate that when they see it.
South Africa has a deep jazz legacy. Were there any local artists or sounds that influenced you before this trip or that you’re excited to explore while you were here?
Well, do you know what? When I was probably about 18 years old, I heard the song ‘African Marketplace’ by Abdullah Ibrahim. That song blew my mind. I remembered hearing it and thinking this is the best melody I’ve ever heard. And it really did something to my soul. And then from there, I started to listen. I got his album, “Cape Town Flowers”. And I started getting deep into that. And then the reason our trumpet player, Ife El Gunjobe, plays the trumpet is that he saw Hugh Masekela live. And that inspired him. He wanted to be a trumpet player. So, those two artists are kind of like so deeply influential to Ezra Collective. And then more than the jazz music, it was honestly, the Amapiano stuff that really, that’s really hit our sound in a big way. Because it was kind of like lockdown when that really hit London. That sound, kind of like Major League DJs, their videos and stuff like that. And DJ Maphorisa and all those kinds of things started to hit us. And then, obviously, the sounds of Black Coffee and what you guys were able to do with it… It was the sound of African music, but slightly electronic. But the melody still sounded so jazz and so soulful, and so singable. I think about the like…
“Sing It Back” remix of Shasha, that it was like, I knew that song so well, but when she sang it, it sounded like a flute player playing it. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Those things really kind of influenced our sound. There’s a song on the last album where I’m meant to be called Siesta. That was like, we were in our South African… kind of I’m a piano that shaker was directly from that you know, I mean and even down the road in Zambia and Zimbabwe with Sampada great and all of that kind of stuff you guys have I can’t like I can’t really articulate enough how much your music has changed London you know.
Your journey with Ezra Collective has been about breaking boundaries in jazz. Do you see Africa and specifically South Africa as part of the next chapter in that evolution?
Absolutely, absolutely. But that is not a musical thing. That is an access thing. As the band leader of Ezra Collective, I need to work out how to spend more time in Africa. How do I spend more time touring Africa? You can’t expect an American tour in Africa. It’s a totally different place, you know. You can’t expect a European tour in Africa. So, it’s about understanding the local infrastructures. I’m spending time letting people tell me how to do it, you know, asking questions. When I’m in Montreux Jazz Festival on Saturday, the question I’m going to be asking is, when I come back here, where should I go? Where should we play? I want to play in Durban; I want to play in Joburg. How do I make that happen, you know? So that’s what I really think will be a boundary breaker for us, it’s just spending more time out there, working with other local artists and working with local promoters and creating something special.
Outside of the stage, what are you most looking forward to experiencing here in Mzanzi? The culture, the people, the food?
Should I tell you what my plan is, bro? I’m going to land. I’m going to go to the hotel. If I can, I want to run a half-marathon. Because if I run a half-marathon, I will learn what everything in the city is. And then I’m going to ask everyone, like, what is the best thing I can have for lunch?
Like, what do you call it? Braai. Is that it? That’s what I want for dinner. And then I don’t want to eat. I even want to try the Nando’s to see if it’s better with the sauce. Do you know what I’m saying? And then if I can, I’m only there 24 hours. So, I need to like to eat well, see the sights, go to a record store and meet musicians. And then I’ll probably stay up all night if I can find a party.
Before I let you go, you know. I want to put you on the spot because we’re such a huge hip-hop platform here in SA. I want you to give me your top five UK MCs, rappers of all time.
Wow, that came out of nowhere. Skepta, JME, Kano, Wiley. Last one. And the last one, would I give it to Double? D-Double-E!
Shout out to you, man. Do you want to hear my top five? I’ll go with Loyle Carner, Dave, Kano, Chip, my number one MC from the UK is Little Sims.
Femi: Honourable mention, Little Simbi is very good, yeah, but thank you for your time, thank you, man.
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