* READ MORE: Ezra Collective live in London: a landmark moment for the Mercury Prize winners
The blazing new track features rhythmic drums paired with a joyful saxophone and trumpet section and stellar keys and bass line. ‘Ajala’ interpolates the sounds of Afrobeats and Highlife with Jazz.
‘Ajala’ also serves as a nod to the nomadic spirit of the infamous Olabisi Ajala, the Ghanaian-Nigerian world adventurer who ambitiously took on touring the world on his scooter, covering 87 countries.
Speaking about the song in a press release, drummer Femi Koleoso said: “Ajala the Traveller is a journalist from Nigeria whose story is really beautiful. He decided that he wanted to travel the whole world on a moped and what ended up happening was his name became slang in Yoruba.”
He continued: “‘Ajala travel’ is slang for someone that can’t sit still. It’s the way a lot of people would describe me, but for me it’s also what a great drum beat does, it’s what great music does to me, it means I can’t sit still and I just want to move. Ajala is all about that movement.”
The track marks the band’s first release of the year and serves as the follow up to their 2023 Mercury Music Prize winning album ‘Where I’m Meant To Be‘.
Ezra Collective have also announced a 2024 UK and European tour, with the band becoming the first UK Jazz act to headline London’s OVO Arena Wembley in November. General ticket sales will commence on Friday May 3 at 10am. Check out a full list of dates below and visit here to purchase tickets.
Ezra Collective 2024 UK and European tour dates are:
OCTOBER
15 – Berlin, Astra
16 – Hamburg, Docks
18 – Copenhagen, Amager Bio
19 – Stockholm, Vasateatern
20 – Oslo, Rockefeller
22 – Cologne, Gloria
24 – Amsterdam, Paradiso
26 – Lyon, Transbordeur
27 – Milan, Magazzini Generali
28 – Zurich, Kaufleuten
30 – Paris, Olympia
31 – Lille, Aéronef
NOVEMBER
1 – Brussels, AB
6 – Birmingham, Institute
7 – Leeds, Project House
8 – Glasgow, Barrowlands
10 – Manchester, Apollo
11 – Dublin, 3Olympia
13 – Bristol, Beacon
15 – London, OVO Arena Wembley
In other news, Ezra Collective are set to perform at this year’s Green Man festival as well as MEO Kalorama, Bilbao BBK, and All Points East.
The post Ezra Collective share fiery new single ‘Ajala’ and announce UK and European tour appeared first on NME.
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