London's Bright, Young Jazz Scene Is Highlighted In This New Compilation
Listen to our premiere of Ezra Collective's "Pure Shade" off the upcoming We Out Here compilation from Brownswood Recordings.
It's no secret that London jazz is killing it right now.
And We Out Here—an upcoming compilation from Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label—is here to show you the cream of the crop coming out of this burgeoning scene.
The nine-track compilation, for which saxophonist Shabaka Hutching (Sons of Kemet, Shabaka and the Ancestors) served as musical director, takes a hypnotizing excursion through the constantly fluid sounds coming out of London's contemporary jazz scene.
There's no real genre markers to define the diverse music coming out of London's underground jazz circles—though several of the its brightest bands are taking cues from afrobeat and other West African sounds to create their vibrant compositions.
One of those bands is Ezra Collective, who mold afrobeat, hip-hop, and reggae influences into something completely unique in "Pure Shade," a track from We Out Here that we're premiering here today.
Get into "Pure Shade" and look out for We Out Here, which will feature songs from Shabaka Hutchings, Kokoroko, Nubya Garcia and more, due February 9 from Brownwood Recordings.
The Best West African Songs of 2024
This year’s list features emerging talents and an uptick in artists reaching to the past to create new sounds.
With “Sade,” Adekunle Gold Challenged The Nigerian Music Industry
As “Sade” turns 10, we take a look at how Adekunle Gold provided an alternative template to being a Nigerian superstar by making music with soul and commercial merits.