A huge congratulations to Ezra Collective who took home the Mercury Prize on Thursday 7 September 2023 for their album Where I’m Meant to Be, the first Jazz act to do so in the prize’s 30 year history.
Ezra Collective (including TL alumni Femi Koleoso and Joe Armon-Jones) have been one of the UK groups pathing the way for the resurgence of Jazz in the UK over the last decade. As Femi Koleoso said when accepting the award, the win is “testimony to good, special people putting time and effort” into helping young people to play music. Without the tireless work of organisations such as TL partners Tomorrow’s Warriors, Kinetika Bloco, and other youth groups across the nation, this revival would not have been possible.
As longtime supporter of developing musicians, BBC Radio host and member of the Mercury Prize judging panel Jamz Supernova said Where I’m Meant to Be was an “uplifting and timely record that represents the very best of where we are now in 2023”.
Other recent TL alumni nominated for the Mercury Prize have included: Nubya Garcia, Emma-Jean Thackray, SEED Ensemble, Moses Boyd, and Dinosaur.
Click here to listen to Where I’m Meant to Be.
You can re-watch last night’s awards ceremony, including live performances from: Ezra Collective, Olivia Dean, Raye, Jessie Ware, Loyle Carner and more on BBC iPlayer.
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Photograph: JMEnternational/Getty