Last night, Berlin’s Astra Kulturhaus was set ablaze by the unstoppable energy of Ezra Collective. The London-based jazz five-piece, currently on tour to support their new album Dance, No One’s Watching, transformed the space into a kaleidoscope of rhythm and celebration. From the moment they hit the stage, it was clear: this wasn’t just a concert – it was an invitation to let loose and reclaim joy, no matter who was watching.
Statement of Freedom
Fittingly, Femi Koleoso, the band’s drummer and spiritual leader, proclaimed their new album Dance, No One’s Watching to be “a statement of freedom.” And indeed, it is. It’s an album born from the group’s experiences playing to audiences worldwide, capturing the magic of those shared moments of movement all over the world. Last night’s Berlin show reflected that ethos perfectly, with the audience being carried away by the collective’s genre-defying fusion of jazz, Afrobeat, grime, and highlife.
Tracks like “Shaking Body” and “Palm Wine” drew on West African rhythms, while the deep, groovy beats of “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” transformed the crowd into a dancing, swaying sea of bodies. A personal highlight, however, was their cover of Angie Stone’s “Wish I Didn’t Miss You”. The original song already shines with its blend of classic soul elements and modern R&B influences. Ezra Collective’s version first took a step back by staging a dramatic intro where both the brass and bass ushered the audience into the groove and funk-filled spectacle that the song was about to be.
Dance Without Inhibition
Ezra Collective’s entire set felt like a living, breathing expression of the album’s message: to dance without inhibition, to embrace joy even in challenging times. The energy was so infectious, that even concert goers near me who had never been to an Ezra Collective concert and in the beginning were complaining about people moving a little too close to them, were eventually swept away by the joyous rhythms. With every note and rhythm the concert fused into a communal celebration. Throughout the show, Femi’s powerful drumming and brother TJ Koleoso’s infectious basslines kept the groove alive, while Joe Armon-Jones’ keys, Ife Ogunjobi’s trumpet and James Mollison saxophone added layers of soul and fire.
Joy And Dance Against Darkness
As they wrapped up the evening with the anthemic “Ajala,” it was impossible not to feel the sense of unity and liberation that Ezra Collective so effortlessly fosters. Femi’s words echoed through the venue: “We want to celebrate joy. To some people it might feel wrong to say this, but this is sad music. However, we come together to celebrate the good in spite of the bad, to feel joy and dance because there is darkness.” Berlin danced along, not just to the music but to the joy and freedom Ezra Collective embodies.
In a world that often feels too heavy, last night’s show was a much-needed release. For a few hours, Astra Kulturhaus became a space of celebration, where dance and music reigned supreme. Just as Dance, No One’s Watching suggests, joy – like dancing – is a form of resistance, and Ezra Collective continues to lead the charge.
If you too want to experience this joy, you’re in luck as Ezra Collective still have two German dates (Hamburg on the 16th October and Cologne on the 22nd October) on their Dance, No One’s Watching-Tour left!
“Dance, No One’s Watching” is out now via Partisan Records.