American ragtime and early jazz bandleader, arranger, and composer, James Reese Europe, will be celebrated at a World War I Centennial Tribute Concert on June 8, 2018 at Symphony Space. The evening will be presented by New York Jazzharmonic Traditional Jazz Sextet under the baton of Ron Wasserman and vocalist Aubrey Barnes. Presented in collaboration with the United States World War I Centennial Commission and the New York Veteran’s Alliance. The Commission will present a proclamation to the Harlem Hellfighters’ 369th Veterans Association.
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/10003
Gene Peters, noted collector of African-American artifacts, will display his collection of James Reese Europe military antiques at the Centennial Concert. Among the items are a WWI Trench Bugle (with 11 French towns etched into the leather strap), a 1918 French Croix-de-Guerre war medal, and a complete WWI Gas Mask.
The concert will consist of music composed and performed by J. R. Europe from several phases of his career.
