Ezra Collective have shared a fresh take on Christmas staple ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’.
The cover is part of a batch of holiday-centric Spotify Singles, with a number of artists covering some festive staples. It’s an eclectic bunch, too – Chinese-Icelandic artist Laufey tackles ‘Winter Wonderland’ for example, while Ashnikko covers ‘Carol Of The Bells’.
For their part, London based jazz crew Ezra Collective have seized on ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’. On the surface, it’s maybe an odd move – but Christmas records have a deep legacy within jazz more broadly, while the group’s Femi and TJ Koleoso grew up around the church.
Grabbing the unmistakable melody, the recording grants a moment of peace, Ezra Collective allowing their individual voices to shine through in tandem.
Out now, Femi comments…
“Christmas music is all about carols. The simplicity of them, but also the beauty in the melodies. I guess also growing up in church, around the Christmas period it’s the carols I would hear. For us, this tune is a really wavy carol, such a beautiful melody. So much to interpret and make your own.”
Tune in now.
Ezra Collective won the Hyundai Mercury Prize 2023 with their album ‘You Can’t Steal My Joy’ – re-visit that moment below.
Photo Credit: Aliyah Otchere