A great, family friendly night for fans of contemporary jazz dance music.
As I entered the venue on the sunny summer’s evening, the atmosphere was just that: sunny. All the Ezra collective fans spread out within the big top and on the grass outside, soaking up the rays and enjoying a cold drink as the support act, electronic jazz DJ Rebecca Vasmant, warmed the audience up. I noticed there were people of all ages, unlike the last couple of shows I attended at this festival where it had been mainly older people. Here it seemed to be grandparents bringing their grandchildren, and everyone in between.
Ezra collective gave a special thanks to the festival for this, and celebrated everyone who contributes to young people’s education and enrichment. Having met at a youth group, the band clearly feels strongly about the subject. They also declared that children remind us of the beauty in the world, and we need to celebrate the beauty to drown out the sadness.
Ezra Collective is a multi-award-winning London-based contemporary jazz quintet, and their music feels like a fusion of dance music and jazz. You can’t sing along to it, but it’s certainly meant for dancing. The whole atmosphere was joyful, but there were a few slower numbers amongst the upbeat buzz too. I was very impressed by the skill of the musicians, particularly Femi Koleoso, who delivered a memorable drum solo, but each of them were incredible. The lighting design was also very good, adding to the party atmosphere. They played for around an hour and a half, during which people could partake in the throng of the dancing within the tent, stand further back and appreciate with fewer crowds, or mill around on the grass outside. I really liked this setup for a gig, because I wasn’t stuck in one place and could enjoy different aspects. While it was primarily standing, there was an accessible area up a ramp at the back for wheelchair users to watch from an elevated platform, and outside there were a few benches. The bar system was well designed and I felt the whole venue was very well run. Personally, I prefer music I can sing along to, but I really can’t fault the gig.
If you enjoy the music of Ezra Collective and want a good dance, I highly recommend seeing them live. The Fringe by the Sea’s big top is a perfect venue.