HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

James Reese Europe Touches the Hem of Jazz

Birth of Jazz: James Reese Europe

James Reese Europe

Source: Red Hot Jazz

Among ragtime forbears to jazz was James Reese Europe. Born on 22 February 1881 in Mobile, Alabama, Europe is the earliest black bandleader to play Carnegie Hall, that with his Clef Club Orchestra in 1912. After Europe's appearance at Carnegie Hall he changed the name of his band to the Society Orchestra and, with the assistance of dancers, Irene and Vernon Castle, helped introduce the foxtrot to the American public.

Europe first recorded to issue on 1 Nov 1912, backing Ada Jones in Camden, NJ, on 'I've Got the Finest Man' toward Victor 17205. World War I would bring the formation of his army band, the Hellfighters, during World War I. The whole body of his recordings were made in the second decade of the 20th century.

 

'I've Got the Finest Man'   James Europe backing Ada Jones

Recorded 1 Nov 1912 in Camden, NJ   Victor 17205

Music: Europe   Lyrics: Henry Creamer

 

'Too Much Mustard'   James Europe & his Society Orchestra

Recorded 29 Dec 1913 in NYC   Victor 35359

Composition: Cecil Macklin


'Castle's Lame Duck' ('Congratulations Waltz')   James Europe & his Society Orchestra

Recorded 10 Feb 1914 in NYC   Victor 35372

Composition: James Europe


'How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On the Farm'   James Europe & Hellfighters Jazz Band

Recorded 7 May 1919   Pathe 22078

Composition: Walter Donaldson

 

Peacetime was more dangerous for Europe than had been wartime, as on 9 May of 1919 in Boston, 2 days after his last recording session of six tracks with Pathe on 7 May, one of his drummers, Herbert Wright, stabbed him in the neck, killing him, having become impassioned during a conversation with Europe concerning his treatment of band members. Europe was only 38 years of age.

 

Sources & References:

Encyclopedia

New World Encyclopedia

Parlor Songs

Frank Powers

VF History

Wikipedia

Chronology & Performance Itinerary:

Peter M. Lefferts (University of Nebraska Lincoln 2016)

Compilations:

James Reese Europe Featuring Noble Sissle (Complete Pathe Recordings of 1919 on IAJRC CD 1012 in 1996)

Discographies:

Discogs

James Europe's Hellfighters (Army band World War I):

America Comes Alive

Tim Gracyk

Sessionographies:

DAHR

(Tom Lord: 6 jazz-relevant sessions)

Further Reading:

America Comes Alive

Facebook (tribute)

Find a Grave

Tim Gracyk

Jazzwise

Library of Congress

Syncopated Times 

 

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