Ezra Collective Score First U.K. No. 1 With 'Here Because of Hope'

Ezra Collective have their first U.K. No. 1 album with 'Here Because of Hope'.

The Official Albums Chart, the U.K.'s weekly album ranking, put the record at No. 1 on the chart published Friday, Sept. 18. It is the jazz group's fourth LP, a full-length album, and its first chart-topper Billboard.

The climb took seven years. Their 2019 album 'You Can't Steal My Joy' peaked at No. 70. 'Where I'm Meant to Be' followed in 2023 and reached No. 24, before 2024's 'Dance, No One's Watching' reached No. 7.

Awards recognition came between those chart steps. 'Where I'm Meant to Be' won the 2023 Mercury Prize, the annual prize for the best British and Irish album, and Ezra Collective became the first jazz act to win it. They then won group of the year at the 2025 BRIT Awards, Britain's annual pop music awards, as the first jazz band to take the best group prize.

'Here Because of Hope' arrived on 11 September, according to a BBC programme listing, as the group's first album since 'Dance, No One's Watching'. The Official Charts Company had flagged the new record as leading the midweek race for No. 1 Official Charts Company.

The album includes “Only Love” featuring Pa Salieu, according to Partisan Records. The band's official store lists a Digital Deluxe download alongside Limited 'London' Edition LP and CD versions. The group are also the cover stars of DIY magazine's September 2026 issue.

What makes this stand out is the steady upward line. From No. 70 to No. 24 to No. 7 to No. 1, each album has placed higher than the last. For fans, this means a catalogue built in public, with the chart finally catching up.