TJ Koleoso

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

TJ Koleoso is the bassist of the British jazz group Ezra Collective. The group formed in 2012 in London around the brothers Femi Koleoso on drums and TJ Koleoso on electric bass, together with the saxophonist James Mollison, the keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones and the trumpeter Dylan Jones, later replaced by Ife Ogunjobi. The members met on the jazz programme Tomorrow's Warriors for young musicians. The name refers to the prophet Ezra, who studied the works of great predecessors, something the group also wanted to do in jazz.

Music and breakthrough

The group's music blends Afrobeat, calypso, reggae, hip-hop, soul and jazz. The debut album You Can't Steal My Joy appeared in 2019, with guests such as Jorja Smith and Loyle Carner. In 2022 came Where I'm Meant to Be, which won the Mercury Prize in 2023, the first time a jazz group received that prize. The 2024 song God Gave Me Feet for Dancing was on Barack Obama's list of favourite songs. In 2025 the group won the Brit Award for Group of the Year, also as the first jazz band.

Influence

The group names Robert Glasper and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly as early inspirations, and often plays with other London jazz musicians, such as Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd. In that group, TJ Koleoso's bass carries the groove, alongside his brother's drums.

Listening

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• After Hours: Session 4^NL Reader