Jazz may be American music, but it is African American Music
(James Reese Europe)
A seminal figure in evolution of black music, Europe acted as MD for Vernon and Irene Castle and recorded in 13/14 for Victor (Castle volunteered for British Air Service in 1915).
Attached to French Army as 369th. Regiment, documented as marching across No Man’s Land playing Memphis Blues. One concert was later described by band member Noble Sissle as having “… started ragtimitis in France”. The band recorded in France and again in the USA after the War. After his return home in February 1919 , Europe stated, “I have come from France more firmly convinced than ever that Negros should write Negro music. We have our own racial feeling and if we try to copy whites we will make bad copies … We won France by playing music which was ours and not a pale imitation of others, and if we are to develop in America we must develop along our own lines”.
His musical associates and band members included a number who continued to make a mark in the evolution of jazz and black music – vocalist/bandleader Noble Sissle, pianist Eubie Blake, trombonist Herb Fleming. Interesting to note that a number of band members have latin names – there was a significant Puerto Rican presence in the army.
Europe was described by Eubie Blake as “the Martin Luther King of Music”.
After returning to New York after the Armistice, Europe famously led the Hellfighters in a victory parade up Fifth Avenue and back to Harlem.
On his return home in February 1919 he stated, “I have come from France more firmly convinced than ever that Negros should write Negro music. We have our own racial feeling and if we try to copy whites we will make bad copies … We won France by playing music which was ours and not a pale imitation of others, and if we are to develop in America we must develop along our own lines.” But within a few months, and as he took his band on a national tour, he was stabbed to death after an argument with his drummer, in Boston Massachussetts.
You can find out more on the Hellfighters role in the war via this link
Jason Moran - The Harlem Hellfighters 