There's clearly something in the water in London, as a renaissance of new jazz outfits emerges from the multicultural city with exuberant creativity pouring out of clubs and bars in every street corner.
Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective are the master chefs of all the global influences being beaten, blended and whipped up in the contemporary London jazz scene right now.After starting in a youth club, the quintet has become an internationally acclaimed musical powerhouse, performing in every part of the globe and delivering some of the most danceable, rhythmically exciting instrumental compositions, fusing a hybrid jazz recipe of Cuban salsa, Afrobeat, reggae and funk ingredients to stir-fry an original and visionary musical dish.
When the 2025 Vivid Sydney music programme was announced, seeing Ezra Collective in the line-up for Vivid Live was a significant drawing card.
Given they would play Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, the most iconic and well-loved venue in Sydney, it was no surprise the one night show (31 May) would be a sold-out affair.
While the Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up with neon light and mesmerising visuals were being projected across the sails of the Opera House, inside the Concert Hall the stage and ceiling had their own, bright vivid lights on, generating a thoroughly entertaining and party-like atmosphere.
Image © Sinan Beytas
An Ezra Collective concert is not for jazz purists who wish to only sit for the entire show and never crack a smile. Totally the contrary. Everyone stood up, out of their seats and danced like no one was watching – to borrow the title of the latest Ezra Collective album.
Even the horn players joined the audience and played at the very top of the auditorium with the crowd absolutely ecstatic from the opening song onwards.
Covers of reggae and soul anthems were included in this musical menu such as 'Welcome To Jamrock' by Damian Marley and Bobby Caldwell's 'Open Your Eyes'.
While their own tunes truly united the people in this hall, producing what drummer and band leader Femi Koleoso and co. hoped and emphatically succeeded in building – a temple of joy.
Image © Sinan Beytas
It was evident the musicians were having the time of their lives onstage and while collectively, they are inseparable in creating their sonic magic, Koleoso's drumming is the backbone that drives it all forward, creating the heartbeat of the groove that never missed a beat all night.
It was like the ghost of Fela Kuti was present and the hardest-hitting drummers in music from Tony Allen and John Bonham to Billy Cobham were all being channelled effortlessly. As the spokesperson of the band, Femi also acknowledged Sydney was his favourite place to play on earth and it was a dream come true for the band to play at the Concert Hall.
The Ezra Collective philosophy is a positive message of how music's purpose is to make you feel up when everything you see on the news makes you feel down, and this was a concert to disconnect from the pressures and stresses of life and live to the fullest even if just momentarily.
Image © Sinan Beytas
The final instruction from the bassist was to tell the audience to get down on the floor and on the count of ten, jump right back up; just another fun way to get the crowd in tune with the high-energy performance.
As some of the members the band – including Femi – are diehard, loyal fans of their local soccer club Arsenal, one might compare this show to a victorious football night at The Emirates stadium where fans sing, shout, celebrate in unison and feel utterly connected to their club in a temple of pure ecstasy.
Except the team was Ezra Collective and the stadium was the Concert Hall at the unparalleled Sydney Opera House.
More photos from the concert.
