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James Reese Europe and the Clef Club Band, 1914. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture/New York Public Library.

Clef Club Orchestra, 1913. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture/New York Public Library.

Castle Lame Duck Waltz by James Reese Europe, sheet music cover, 1913. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture/New York Public Library.

James Reese Europe's "String Octett" in 1916. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture/New York Public Library.

First Lieutenant James Reese Europe leading the military band of the 369th Regiment Infantry, 1918. Performing for patients at an American Red Cross Hospital in Paris, France. National Archives/Library of Congress.

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Curated by Loren Schoenberg, Senior Scholar at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem

James Reese Europe was a seminal composer and bandleader of the early 20th century, a Black musician known for his artistry, leadership, and business acumen in equal measure. He was a key figure in the development of ragtime music into jazz and the popularization of social dance among all classes. Europe was also a trailblazer in the music industry with his vision for the Clef Club, an orchestra, union, and contracting agency for Black musicians, which he formed in 1910. During World War I, he assembled the military band that was part of the 369th Regiment, an all-Black unit that was better known as the Harlem Hell Fighters. The ensemble toured continental Europe, delighting audiences as it introduced jazz music overseas. In 1919, James Reese Europe returned to the U.S. and was welcomed as a hero. As he embarked on a stateside tour with the Hell Fighters band, his life was tragically cut short at age 38.

Join us for a conversation with leading artists and scholars about the life and impact of this iconic figure, whose influence on music and the industry echoed far beyond his time.

Moderator:

  • Loren Schoenberg (Founding Director and Senior Scholar, National Jazz Museum in Harlem)

Panelists:

  • Jerome Jennings (Drummer, Activist, Bandleader and Historian)
  • Adriane Lentz-Smith (Associate Professor of History and African & African-American Studies, Duke University)
  • Steven Lewis (Curator of Music and Performing Arts, Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture)

This conversation will include a live musical performance, and complimentary wine will be served before and after the event.

Run time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 or [email protected].

 

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You Might Also Like

May 14 at 7:00 pm

Legacies of San Juan Hill

From Stride Piano to Bebop

Celebrating the Music of James P. Johnson, Benny Carter, and Thelonious Monk (1900–1950)

Lincoln Center Presents

May 14 at 7:00 pm

David Rubenstein Atrium

Explore the evolution of jazz in San Juan Hill through a live musical performance.

TALK

MUSIC

Support Our Artistic Community

Lincoln Center is committed to the power of the arts and the important role it plays in our lives. Give today to join our mission and help champion the future of Lincoln Center.

A contribution of any size makes a big impact!