After much anticipation from audiences and deliberation from judges, this year's Mercury Prize for best British album went to five-piece London jazz band Ezra Collective (made up of Joe Armon-Jones, James Mollison, Ife Ogunjobi, and Femi and TJ Koleoso).

Their album Where I'm Meant To Be was released in the autumn of 2022 when it reached number 24 in the UK album charts. Combining Latin and Afrobeat rhythms with grime and soul elements, Ezra Collective's third record is as joyous as it is technically impressive.

In their acceptance speech, bandleader Femi Koleoso said: ‘If a jazz band winning the Mercury Prize doesn’t make you believe in god, I don't know what will… This is not just a result for UK jazz but for every single organisation across the country ploughing their efforts and time into young people playing music. Big up Tomorrow's Warriors, big up the BRIT School…'

In a List interview with the band back in February, bassist TJ Koleoso explained: 'To this day, most of the jazz scene that came out of London probably came through Tomorrow's Warriors, and are friends with each other because of the genuine cultural community that was built.' Read the full feature. 

The winners performed ‘Victory Dance’ live for a studio audience, while fellow nominees Young Fathers, Jockstrap, Raye, Lankum, Loyle Carner, Jessie Ware, Shygirl, and Olivia Dean also performed. Remaining nominees Fred Again..,Arctic Monkeys and J Hus presented short videos. 

Find out more about this year's Mercury Prize at mercuryprize.com