"He was a plain, simply straight gentleman, never realizing his own value. He had a good word to say for everyone, and his money was freely given to those in need."
Introduction
The music was called ragtime, and in late 19th and early 20th century America, it soared in popularity, leading to a dance craze in the country. By the late 1910s, the genre was evolving into what we know today as jazz.
One of the most well-known musicians in both was James Reese Europe. He would become a pivotal figure in American music history, with some referring to him as the "King of Jazz," while one musician said about James, "He was our benefactor and inspiration. Even more, he was the Martin Luther King of music."
Early Life
James was born on February 22, 1880, in Mobile, Alabama, and moved to Washington, D.C., with his family as his father wanted to live in a place with more opportunities for his children. There, he showed early musical talent, which his musician father, who was described as a man who "could play about everything that would emit a sound when properly coaxed," helped develop. James learned to play the violin and piano and showed a prodigious talent for composition and arrangement.
Career
As James entered adulthood, New York City at the time offered the most opportunities for black Americans in music. "Next season's bookings show a general rise in salaries," wrote one journalist in a publication. Such commentaries were the norm. For many black Americans, New York was now the center of music and entertainment.
James left Washington, D.C., to go to New York to earn money and pursue a music career in the early 1900s. But success did not come easily or quickly for him. He auditioned in numerous places as a violin player, and while people raved about his ability, no offers came in. James realized that though the violin was his best and favorite musical instrument to play, it wasn't in popular demand. In need of money, he decided to audition playing the mandolin instead. Soon, he had consistent work.
As James grew into a central figure in the music scene, he wanted to help black musicians thrive. He wrote,
"I firmly believe that there is a big field for the development of negro music in America. We already have a number of composers of great ability, two of the foremost being Harry Burleigh and Will Marion Cook. ... I believe it is in the creation of an entirely new school of music, a school developed from the basic negro rhythm and melodies. The negro is essentially a melodist, and his creation must be in the beautifying and enriching of the melodies which have become his."
In 1910, he founded the Clef Club, a society for black American musicians in New York City. The Clef Club was a social organization, union, and booking agency providing its members with opportunities to perform in prestigious venues. Under James' leadership, one of the most notable achievements of the Clef Club Orchestra was their performance at Carnegie Hall in 1912. This event marked the first time a predominantly black American music ensemble performed at the prestigious venue.
Military Service and the Harlem Hellfighters
"If I could, I would not. My country calls me and I must answer; and if I live to come back, I will startle the world with my music." - James Reese Europe, responding to a friend who asked, "Is there no way you could get out of the army and stay in New York?"
During World War I, James served as a lieutenant in the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." They were a black-American regiment that left the U.S. with about 2,000 men. Only about 800 would return, and around 170 received citations for bravery.
In the Army, James commanded a machine gun company and led the Harlem Hellfighters band, about which one said, "All Americans swore, and some Frenchmen admitted, was the best military band in the world." The band's performances were wildly popular, and played a significant role in spreading the jazz movement internationally.
Conclusion
James became a pioneer in many respects. He was instrumental in bringing black American music to broader audiences and legitimizing ragtime and early jazz as serious musical forms. His compositions and arrangements blended classical music techniques with the rhythms and styles of black American folk and popular music, creating a unique and compelling sound that was sophisticated and accessible. He also broke racial barriers, laying the groundwork for future generations of musicians.
Unfortunately, James' life was tragically cut short when he was stabbed to death by a member of his orchestra in 1919.
Sources:
Badger, Reid. A Life in Ragtime: A Biography of James Reese Europe. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, USA, 2011.
Badger, R. Reid. “James Reese Europe and the Prehistory of Jazz.” American Music 7, no. 1 (1989): 48–67. https://doi.org/10.2307/3052049.
"James Reese Europe, 1881-1919." Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200038842/
Sissle, Noble Lee. "Memoirs of "Jim" Europe." African American Odyssey.
United States Army. Signal Corps, photographer. Genuine jazz for the yankee wounded In the courtyard of a Paris hospital for the American wounded, an American negro military band, led by Lt. James R. Europe, entertains the patients with real American jazz. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2016651602/>.
Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Foundation, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Reese_Europe.jpg
Original post: https://historicalsnaps.com/2024/02/28/james-reese-europe-a-musical-genius/