Ezra Collective | Here Because of Hope

After a decade where they have redefined modern jazz, the Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning quintet Ezra Collective returns with their most ambitious and personal album to date, "Here Because Of Hope." Conceived as a comprehensive work divided into three spiritual and geographical movements, the album explores the movement of Black people across continents and generations, tracing connections from Africa to the Caribbean and ultimately to the streets of London.

LP× 2

Translucent White Vinyl edition

Here Because of Hope (2026)

Ezra Collective

Release September 18, 2026

Here Because of Hope (2026)

Ezra Collective

Release September 18, 2026

LP× 2

Translucent Blue Vinyl edition

Here Because of Hope (2026)

Ezra Collective

Release September 18, 2026

Dannet i Londons ungdomsklubber har Ezra Collective (Femi Koleoso, TJ Koleoso, Joe Armon-Jones, James Mollison og Ife Ogunjobi) opbygget et ry for at gøre jazzen levende, inkluderende og umulig at ignorere. Med "Here Because Of Hope" udvider de den vision yderligere og udforsker et stærkt spørgsmål: hvorfor udstråler så meget sort musik, ofte født af kamp og modgang, sådan en glæde?

The album's answer is found in its title. Hope serves as the central theme, representing a belief passed down through generations and across oceans that a better future is always possible. Through richly layered compositions and an expansive musical palette, Ezra Collective celebrates resilience, community, and cultural connection, while honoring the enduring influence of the African diaspora.

Featuring collaborations with Pa Salieu, Lila Iké, and Leona Lewis, "Here Because Of Hope" spans the full breadth of the global Black music experience, including the American traditions that emerged from African and Caribbean roots and helped shape jazz itself. Warm, uplifting, and profoundly human, the album captures Britain's most vital jazz group at the height of their creative powers.