Famous musicologist/ musician Dominique-Rene de Lerma agrees with R2C2H2, James Reese Europe was the first to play Carnegie Hall not Duke Ellington...

It is good to see that good things can happen if you are willing to speak out and stand by what you believe!!!





Dominque-Rene de Lerma







June 12, 2006

Dear Mr. Zick of Africlassical.com,
I would like to thank you and your group of committed colleagues for putting together such a wonderful and informative site..It is important for people in general and Black folk in particular to learn about the other ways that African Americans have contributed to American and World cultures aesthetically speaking...One problem I have with the site is the twofold:
1.) The fact that it is stated that Duke Ellington was the first African Band leader to play Carnegie Hall
http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/Ellington.html

2.)The fact that Lt. James Europe, one of the most if not the most popular African American musician of his time, is not recognized on this site for his groundbreaking and pioneering work in the field of African American musical heritage which also included being the first African American Bandleader to not only play Carnegie Hall, but also play to an integrated audience no less beating Duke by a good 30 years......

What makes his omission even more glaring are the facts that he was a contemporary and collaborator with Harry T. Burleigh and Will Marion Cook (Duke Ellington's important mentor), that he actually along with David Mannes the director of the New York Philharmonic initiated the founding of the Harlem Music School for Black folks, that he started the first widely recognized Black musician union in the country ( The Clef Club), his Clef Club or Europe Society Orchestra was among the first African American bands to ever make a recording, he was also the first Black man to lead troops into battle during World War One while serving in the Harlem Hell fighters or 369th Regiment under the French flag, was the official orchestra leader for the popular society dance team of Irene and Vernon Castle and was the first Black person ever given a public funeral in New York City's history...
If you want to learn more about Lt. James Reese Europe and his accomplishment please check out and hopefully buy my book James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant at these following locations:
www.jazzlieutenant.blogspot.com
Buy the book James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant
Images from the book James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant
To learn more about me and the other things that I do please check out these following sites:
http://www.r2c2h2.com
http://www.soldierboygrip.blogspot.com
http://www.weallbe.com
http://www.thaartivist.blogspot.com
Take care and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments
Artastically yours,
R2C2H2 Tha Artivist

Mr. Zick of AfriClassical.com response concerning Lt. James Reese Europe being the first Black Bandleader to perform at Carnegie Hall:

Dear Mr. Herd,
Many thanks for your favorable remarks, by E-mail and in the Guest Book, on my Website, http://www.AfriClassical.com
I regularly receive inquiries on the thousands of composers and musicians of African descent who are not among the mere handful profiled at the Website. Unlike the International Dictionary of Black Composers, published by the Center for Black Music Research, http://www.cbmr.org, AfriClassical.com is not a comprehensive reference source. It is designed to present examples of Black composers and musicians, from different times and places, to students and others who are unfamiliar with African heritage in classical music.

Dominique-René de Lerma is Professor of Music at Lawrence University, and former Director of the Center for Black Music Research. He has been writing on African heritage in classical music for four decades, and kindly allows me to bring inquiries to his attention. His research files are comprehensive and voluminous.
Here is the sentence on my Ellington page to which you apparently refer:

"In 1943 Ellington became the first African American band leader to perform at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall."

I will review my sources and consult my advisors with respect to your position that James Reese Europe was in fact the first African American bandleader to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall.
It is worth noting that Duke Ellington is included at my site because of his classical works, even though he is better known for jazz. That is the same reason Scott Joplin is profiled at the site.
I know enough about James Reese Europe to agree that his career deserves the attention of contemporary biographers. Although the format of my site is highly selective out of necessity, I am happy to receive the information you have provided, and pleased that I can bring it to the attention of Prof. De Lerma.
Best wishes,
Bill Zick
Webmaster
http://www.AfriClassical.com
Ann Arbor, MI

World famous music composer and educator/advocate Mr. Dominique-Rene de Lerma agrees that R2C2H2 is correct in advocating that Lt. Europe and not Duke Ellington was the first Black bandleader to perform at Carnegie Hall:

Dear Bill,
Mr.Herd (R2C2H2) is correct all down the line. Old-timers I knew, such as Eubie Blake and Bill Dawson, swore that if Jim Europe had lived, jazz would have been quite different. They might be wrong, but this suggests how revered Europe was. I do think he was at least as influential on the music of France.
Your web site continues to attract daily responses -- a very wholesome sign of how important it is!
Dom

After getting verification on this Mr. Zick graciously and swiftly makes corrections on his website AfriClassical.com :

Hello Dom,
Thanks for your prompt verification that Duke Ellington was not the first African American band leader to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall. The sentence in question on the Ellington page has been revised to read:

"In 1943 Ellington and his band performed at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall."

It is true Website inquiries have been received quite frequently in recent months. Your generous research assistance saves me from having to turn away questions and comments I can't answer, and provides welcome enlightenment to me as well as to Website visitors.
Mr. Herd's message prompted me to visit some of the Websites which present the life and career of James Reese Europe. How tragic that he was killed by an angry member of his ensemble!
Best wishes,
Bill

June 13, 2006
Dominique-Rene de Lerma upon visiting my official website for James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant, http://www.jazzlieutenant.blogspot.com :

Yes, I have visited it. Beautiful! I will cite it among the references in The music of the Black composer.

About James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant

Help make this important book a universal best seller...Please go to Amazon.com and/or
Booksurge.com to purchase your copy(s)today.

James Reese Europe was an early jazz pioneer and war hero whose talents and patriotism knew no boundaries. Against all odds Mr.Europe advanced his cause as well as the cause of millions of Black Americans to the highest reaches of society. He formed the first significant all Black musician union and booking agency in the United States (The Clef Club)at a time when Blacks were not allowed to join all White musician unions, his orchestra was the first Black music group to ever record a record as well as to play the prestigious Carnegie Hall concert venue in New York City. As Lt. Europe, James Reese Europe made military and music history as well by being the first Black to lead troops into battle during World War One and to spread the 'jazz germ' throughout continental Europe while bandleader of the greatest military jazz band of the most decorated regiment of the entire war, The New York 15TH National Guard Unit a.k.a. The Harlem Hellfighters. Ironically, Mr. Europe endured the hardships of racism and war to achieve all of these wonderful and amazing things only to die a senseless tragic death at the hands of one of his musicians at the young age of 39. Please join the artist known as R2C2H2 for a highly informative and visually expressive pictorial narrative of a man whose untimely murder on the verge of The Jazz Age he helped to create left him and his work almost in anonymity. By reading this book, James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant you will see why we should celebrate and rejoice in the life and legacy of Lt.James Reese Europe who according to the great Eubie Blake was the savior of Negro musicians and who is in a class with Booker T. Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.

Artastically and Jazzlistically yours,
R2C2H2 a.k.a. THA ARTIVIST

The Official R2C2H2 Newsletter:Update on James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant and Support W.E. A.L.L. B.E.

Greetings Family,
I hope this e-mail finds you and yours in good spirits and celebrating life and love...I just wanted to share with you all some wonderful things I have started as well as been apart of:

(A) As some of you may or may not know April is officially designated National Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) by the Smithsonian Institute...In celebration of this month as well as in support of other R2C2H2 activities, FROM APRIL 11 TO MAY 11 ALL SIGNED PRINTS OF ARTWORKS AVAILABLE ON ALL OF MY WEBSITES WILL BE SOLD FOR $15 (NORMALLY $40 VALUE) EACH WHICH INCLUDES SHIPPING AND HANDLING!!! THE PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE AT 11" X 17" WITH ACTUAL IMAGE SIZE BEING 11" X 14"...THE FOLLOWING ARE THE WEBSITES WERE YOU CAN CHOOSE WORKS AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPECIAL OFFER:


1.)THA OFFICIAL R2C2H2 WEBSITE
2.)SOME MORE R2C2H2 ART
3.)2PAC ART

In Order To Pay For art you can use the paypal link below (please specify exactly what you ordered by e-mailing me at r2c2h2@gmail.com):

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=r2c2h2%40gmail%2ecom&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&tax=0&currency_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF&charset=UTF%2d8

Or you can mail a check or money order to the following address---please make sure to include the name(s) of the print(s) that you ordered:

Ronald Herd II/ R2C2H2
P.O. Box 751341
Memphis,TN 38175

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROCEEDS OF ALL ART AND COPIES OF MY BOOK
JAMES REESE EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT WILL GO TO HELP HUMANITY WHICH WILL INCLUDE ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVORS AS WELL AS TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING NEW ALTERNATIVE TO ALTERNATIVE NEWS ORGANIZATION, W.E. A.L.L. B.E.

(B) Please Support New Alternative to Alternative News Organization: W.E. A.L.L. B.E.!!!
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE WAS I FOR THE PAST MONTH...WELL I WAS WORKING ON THE LAUNCH OF W.E. A.L.L. B.E. WHICH STANDS FOR (W)ORLD (E)NRICHING (A)CTIVATING (L)IBERATING (L)OVE (B)EAUTIFICATION (E)XPERIENCE...W.E. A.L.L. B.E. IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO ALTERNATIVE NEWS WHERE WE LOOK TO INCLUDE AS MANY POINT OF VIEWS A S POSSIBLE WHILE LETTING THE INDIVIDUAL DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE...PLEASE VISIT THE OFFICIAL SITE AT http://www.weallbe.blogspot.com/ AND SEE HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVE IN ENSURING W.E. A.L.L. B.E.'S SUCCESS AESTHETICALLY, CRTICIALLY AND FINANCIALLY!!! (NOTE: IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A DONATION OF $15.00 OR MORE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A SIGNED ART PRINT OF YOUR CHOICE)

(C) MORE JAMES REESE EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT NEWS!!!



IT'S OFFICIAL JAMES REESE EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT IS READABLE AND ENJOYABLE!!!Thanks TO EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT AND ARE GOING TO BUY A COPY OF THIS BOOK!!!

BESIDES BEING NAMED TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE'S JAZZ BOOKS FOR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS RECOMMENDED READING LIST THE BOOK HAS BECOME SO LIKABLE THAT JAZZ LIEUTENANT HAS RECENTLY BEEN ADDED TO THE CIRCULATIONS AND SHELVES OF SOME OF THE UNITED STATES' MOST RESPECTED INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING, OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES...HERE'S A SHORT LIST OF SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS WHO INVESTED IN MY BOOK (PLEASE CLICK ON NAMES TO SEE ACTUAL RECORDS:
1.)Washington University (My Alma Mater)
2.) Richland County Public Library (The U.S.'s Third Largest Public Library)
3.) Northern Virginia Community College- Annandale Campus

John Gilbert (Johnny Jazz) recently wrote a great review of the book on E-Jazz News As Well PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU BUY A COPY OF JAMES REESE EUROPE AT EITHER AMAZON.COM OR BOOKSURGE.COM...If you want more information concerning James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant please
VISIT THE OFFICIAL JAMES REESE EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT WEBSITE and
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PICS IN THE BOOK ON R2C2H2'S ART GALLERY AT ALL ABOUT JAZZ.
(D) FOR MORE R2C2H2 NEWS:
Please visit Arthur 'Soldier Boy Grip' Taylor Chronicles and
Tha Artivist Presents
Artastically yours,

R2C2H2 THA ARTIVIST

Well Known Jazz Enthusiast John Gilbert: This is a book of historical significance in both jazz, race relations and heroism.

This review of James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant appears courtesy of eJazzNews.com
This is a well documented account of the life of James Europe who was a war hero and instrumental in advancing the cause of Black musicians in the heyday of racism and bigotry. Europe formed the first black musician's union, known as The Clef Club. His was the first black orchestra to record and to play at Carnegie Hall.

While in service with the army in the first world war, James Europe was the victim of a gas attack while in battle. He led the band of New York's 15th. National Guard Unit known as The Harlem Hellfighters. The unit was reputed to be the most decorated regiment in WW1.

James Reese Europe was a true pioneer of black jazz and influenced the works of Ellington, Basie and others of import. At the age of 39 Europe was tragically murdered by a member of his band and his brilliance was left tragically on a Boston hospital bed, his legacy lives on, however, to this day.

This book is illustrated magnificently by R2C2H2 in the folk art genre.

Eubie Blake described Europe as being among the major influences in both jazz and the advancement of the black musician in society. George Gershwin, as a child would sit outside the Harlem club where Europe was performing and no doubt was hugely influenced by his artistry.

This is a book of historical significance in both jazz, race relations
and heroism.

John Gilbert
Visit California Coast Jazz At:
http://community-2.webtv.net/johnnyjazz/johnnyjazzsjazzpage

What The People Are Saying About R2C2H2's Work

1.) [R2C2H2] HAVE OBVIOUSLY ATTAINED A SENSE OF SPIRIT
THAT MANY WHO ARE YEARS OLDER THAN [R2C2H2] WOULD
COVET.
- KWEISI MFUME, FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE
NAACP
***
2.) [R2C2H2] GAVE THEM ELEMENTS OF THEIR JAZZ HISTORY
THAT MOST OF THEM WILL NEVER RECEIVE IN CLASSROOMS.
[R2C2H2’S] FORMAT WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED AND CAPTURED
THE CHILDREN’S ATTENTION…IT ALSO GAVE THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THEIR
INDIVIDUAL CREATIVE SPIRIT.
- DEBRA MORROWLOVING; LITERARY ARTIST, ARTS EDUCATOR,
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR OF SISTER NINETIES LITERARY GROUP
***
3.) MUCH LIKE THE JAZZ MUSIC THAT [R2C2H2] PAYS
TRIBUTE TO, HIS ARTWORK IS SPIRITUALLY INFORMED AND
SPEAKS TO PEOPLE IN A VERY HUMANE AND DIRECT WAY.
[R2C2H2] IS ONE OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE THAT
I EVER MET, YET HIS ARTWORK IS NOT CLOUDED IN CODES
THAT PREVENT THE LAYPERSON FROM UNDERSTANDING IT.
NEITHER IS IT SO SIMPLE AS TO BE DISMISSED…THE JOURNEY
THROUGH HIS CONSCIOUSNESS TOOK ME TO HISTORICAL AND
SPIRITUAL PLACES CARVED OUT THROUGH ABSTRACTLY FORMED
RHYTHMIC AND VOLUPTOUS BODIES OF JAZZ MUSICIANS,
AFRICAN AMERICAN HEROES AND MARTYRS.
- CHANDRA WILLIAMS; VISUAL ARTIST, UNIVERSITY OF MISS.
ART MUSEUM EDUCATOR/CURATOR
***
4.) [R2C2H2] HAS THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT
TO POSSIBLY EVEN THRIVE.
- JEFF DANIEL, VISUAL ART CRITIC FOR THE ST. LOUIS
POST DISPATCH
***
5.) [R2C2H2] HAS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED SKILLS AND
ABILITIES THAT EXCEL WITHIN THE STUDIO ENVIRONMENT AND
BEYOND. A HUMANIST WITH A PEN – A PROMOTER WITH A
LARGER PURPOSE – [R2C2H2] IS AN ARTIST WHO WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT, AN ARTIST WHO WILL CHALLENGE AND WHO WILL
REWARD THOSE WHO ACCEPT HIS CHALLENGES.
- JEFF PIKE; DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ART, WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY (ST. LOUIS)
***
6.) [R2C2H2] HAS A LOVE FOR LIFE AND A LOVE FOR PEOPLE
THAT BLEEDS OVER INTO HIS ART…AS A MULTI-FACETED AND
MULTI-TALENTED ARTIST, [R2C2H2] HAS RISEN TO THE RANKS
OF ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST PROMISING VOICES. HIS ART
SPEAKS OF LEGACY, MATURITY AND HOPE. THROUGH HIS ART,
[R2C2H2] CAPTURES THE DEPTH OF JACOB LAWRENCE, THE
CREATIVE INNOVATION OF CHARLIE PARKER, THE SINCERITY
OF RALPH ELLISON, THE SPIRITUALITY OF JOHN COLTRANE
AND THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COMMENTARY OF
TUPAC SHAKUR.
- DR. EMMETT PRICE III; MUSICIAN AND PROFESSOR OF
MUSIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AT NORTHEASTERN
UNIVERSITY OF BOSTON
***

7.) [R2C2H2] HAS DEVELOPED A VERY PERSONAL STYLE OF
PAINTING AND DRAWING...HE HAS EXPANDED HIS KNOWLEDGE
OF BLACK HISTORY, JAZZ, GOSPEL MUSIC, AFRICAN
ART…USING ALL THE ELEMENTS HE GATHERS FROM EXPERIENCE
AND STUDY HE SYNTHESIZES HIS IMAGES, REAL AND
DREAMLIKE, INTO LARGE SCALE WORKS FILLED WITH LINE AND
COLOR. THEY ARE IN VOCATIVE MESSAGES WHICH CAN BE
SEEN OVER AND OVER, EACH TIME PRESENTING NEW THOUGHTS
AND QUESTIONS FOR THE VIEWER. HE DOES NOT SHY AWAY
FROM PRESENTING THE TRUTH IN HISTORY, SO THERE ARE
PASSAGES WHICH ECHO THE TRAGEDY AND VIOLENCE OF THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE…THAT YOUNG MAN IS GOING
PLACES.
- GEORGIA BINNINGTON;ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR
STUDENT SERVICES FOR THE SCHOOL OF ART AT
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (ST. LOUIS)
***
8.)NOT ONLY THROUGH HIS SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO
ARTISTIC PERFECTION, BUT ALSO IN HIS UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING OTHERS' UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE
HUMAN EXPERIENCE, [R2C2H2] HAS DEMONSTRATED THE
HIGHEST OF PROFESSIONAL VALUES AND EXCELLENCES. HIS
WORK OCCUPIES A UNIQUE PLACE IN EARLY 21st CENTURY
REPRESENTATIONS OF JAZZ AND EMOTION. I COMMEND HIM
FOR MAKING A TRUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTISTIC WORLD.
- NATHANIEL CRIS GUALBERTO; SCHOLAR, PHILOSOPHER AND
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

***
9.)[R2C2H2'S]WORK IS VERY MOVING, IT'S DETAILED, IT'S
VERY INSPIRATIONAL...IT SPEAKS TO THE SOUL OF VIEWERS
WHO HAVE PASSION ABOUT ART, ABOUT LIFE AND ABOUT
PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
- FRIEDA WHEATON, ARTS ADVOCATE AND
BOARD MEMBER OF THE ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM
***
10.)AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING JAMES REESE
EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT. I REALLY LIKE IT. I WILL
ALSO RECOMMEND IT TO TEACHERS AS A RESOURCE FOR THEIR
OWN INFORMATION.
- LOIS KIPNIS, THE DIRECTOR OF ARTS
EDUCATION AT THE FRIENDS OF THE ART S FOUNDATION

R2C2H2'S RESPONSE TO THE HARLEM HELLFIGHTER ARTICLE AND THE AMERICAN LEGACY EDITOR'S REPLY TO R2C2H2'S RESPONSE

THIS IS A LETTER I WROTE WEDNESDAY MORNING (9/7/05) CONCERNING AN ARTICLE THE AMERICAN LEGACY MAGAZINE JUST DID ABOUT JAMES REESE EUROPE...THIS IS WHAT THE EDITOR OF THE MAGAZINE HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT, NORMALLY SHE ISN'T GOOD AT RESPONDING TO MY E-MAIL, BUT SHE RESPONDED TO ME THIS MORNING!!!
TAKE CARE
R2C2H2
P.S. YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF R2C2H2'S BOOK, JAMES REESE EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT BY SENDING A $20 CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:R2C2H2/ RONALD HERD IIP.O. BOX 751341MEMPHIS,TN 38175TO PURCHASE A COPY ONLINE PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

Amazon Book Purchase

James Reese Europe: Jazz Lieutenant

Note: forwarded message attached.


website address: http://www.ther2c2h2.com/r2c2h2.html

__________________________________________________




Subject: RE: MY RESPONSE TO THE JAMES REESE EUROPE PATHFINDERS ARTICLE
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005 10:46:52 -0400
From: "Peterson, Audrey"
To: "ronald herd ii" rcherdii@yahoo.com

Thanks for your letter. Unfortunately, the Pathfinder articles are typically pretty short,else we could have fit much more about Mr.Europe,but thank you for filling us
in!
Best wishes,
Audrey Peterson, Editor

----------
From:ronald herd ii
Sent:Wednesday, September 7, 2005 3:06 AM
To:Peterson, Audrey
Subject:MY RESPONSE TO THE JAMES REESE EUROPE PATHFINDERS ARTICLE

DEAR AMERICAN LEGACY MAGAZINE,
THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE...I WISHED THAT THE ARTICLE HAD MORE,HIS ACHIEVEMENTS DESERVED MORE RECOGNITION THAN CAN BE PUT IN JUST TWO PAGES...MR.LANDER DID NOT EVEN
MENTIONED THAT JAMES REESE EUROPE WAS GIVEN THE FIRST PUBLIC FUNERAL FOR A BLACK PERSON IN NEW YORK CITY HISTORY,HAS A LEGION POST (JAMES REESE EUROPE LEGION
POST 5)NAMED IN HIS HONOR IN HIS HOMETOWN OF WASHINGTON,D.C....RECRUITED REED PLAYERS FROM PUERTO RICO FOR HIS HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS MILITARY BAND,OR THAT
HIS GROUP WAS THE FIRST BLACK MUSIC GROUP TO RECORD A MUSIC RECORD...HE DID NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT HOW EUROPE WAS AN INSPIRATION FOR THE GREAT GEORGE GERSHWIN WHO
WHEN HE WAS 7 YEARS OLD USED TO LISTEN TO A YOUNG EUROPE PLAY PIANO AT BARON WILKINS NIGHTCLUB IN HARLEM WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE ON A CURB,OR HIS INFLUENCE ON THE GREAT BLACK MUSICIANS WILL MARION COOK(ANOTHER D.C. NATIVE) AND WILLIE 'THE LION' SMITH
(A MEMBER OF THE HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS) WHO WOULD LATER BECOME IMPORTANT MENTORS TO THE INCOMPARABLE DUKE ELLINGTON (A D.C. NATIVE)...I HAVE JUST WRITTEN,
ILLUSTRATED AND PUBLISHED A BOOK ABOUT EUROPE ENTITLED JAMES REESE EUROPE: JAZZ LIEUTENANT BY R2C2H2 WHICH WAS RECENTLY NAMED TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE'S JAZZ
BOOKS FOR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS LIST...PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE A COPY FROM HTTP://WWW.AMAZON.COM ...YOU CAN ALSO VISIT MY WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.THER2C2H2.COM TO FIND OUT MORE INFO ON THE BOOK AND OTHER BLACK HISTORY
RELATED PROJECTS I AM WORKING ON!!!
JAZZLISTICALLY YOURS,
R2C2H2 a.k.a. Ron Herd II
Memphis,Tn
rcherdii@yahoo.com

Tisha St. Clair of Sister Nineties Literary Magazine Believes Jazz Lieutenant Is An Important Tool In Teaching Our Youth About Our Rich Heritage!!!

TISHA ST. CLAIR REVIEWS
James Reese Europe Jazz Lieutenant
by R2C2H2
BookSurge, LLC, © 2005
ISBN: 1-4196-0245-4 (paper)
75 pages, $ US paperback
orders@booksurge.com
www.booksurge.com

R2C2H2’s book about the life of James Reese Europe was an informative and delightful read. Not only was he the author, but also the brilliant illustrator. R2C2H2 used his drawings to punctuate the story of Europe’s life. Especially haunting was the picture entitled “Welcome to Spartanburg, South Carolina!!!” R2C2H2’s words told of the harsh treatment of Europe and his band, but the picture truly shows the ugliness of racism, prejudice and segregation. R2C2H2 captures the loathing and hate in the eyes of the white southerners.

R2C2H2 includes many of the ground-breaking achievements of James Reese Europe, and the composers and musicians that benefited from his hard work. One of Europe’s crowning achievements, prior to World War I, was creation The Clef Club, the first black musician’s union and booking agency. This agency was responsible for getting black musicians the same or sometimes better pay than their white counter-parts, and ensuring they would be treated as professionals rather than traveling minstrels. During WWI Europe served as the commanding officer of the 15th Regiment Band. The band was well received in France. Europe and his men also became fierce soldiers, despite a lack of training from the United States Army.

They were awarded numerous medals from the French government during the war.

Some of Europe’s other achievements included working with Eubie Blake, Vernon and Irene Castle; performing at Carnegie Hall; establishing a music school for aspiring black musicians; and re-establishing the black musical theater art form. I really don’t want to tell you much more, because you really need to read all about it yourself.

Through this book, R2C2H2 introduced me to James Reese Europe, a visionary and pioneer. Any primary school aged child could benefit from reading this book. It shows how a person can overcome obstacles to achieve his goals. Any lover of jazz would find this book enlightening and may prompt them to search for some new (old) music for their collection. Any admirer of R2C2H2’s work would be please to have a gallery of his drawings at their fingertips.

Well Known Musicologist Dr. Price Sings Jazz Lieutenant's Praises!!!

This exemplary combination of biography, chronicle and illustrations of one of "our" great forgotten heroes is perhaps one of the most innovative publications in recent years. The product of meticulous research, strategic assembly and an obvious intimate connection to the life, deeds and legacy of James Reese Europe, R2C2H2 has taken art and scholarship to a place not visited since the days of Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, John Coltrane and most recently Tupac Shakur. I am humble enough to say I learned a great deal from the wealth of research and the rich perspective that [R2C2H2] offers. I really enjoyed learning about sister Mary Europe, I had no idea of that connection nor of her greatness!!! R2C2H2, through his unique aesthetic and independent voice has given us a history lesson in a fashion that no historian could do. Through this book we feel, experience and see the struggles that Lieutenant Europe faced, reveling in his victories while lamenting in his untimely and unfortunate demise. Yet, because of R2C2H2's ability to tell the story that needs to be told, Lieutenant Europe lives. The art adds another dimension as it personalizes [R2C2H2’s] intimate connection with "the jazz lieutenant" offering more than just a book, more than just a pictorial biography, but a magnus opus!!! This is a monumental achievement that is only surpassed by its ability to captivate the reader from cover to cover in a mysterious yet historically correct realm of the past. The book is wonderful, my only regret is that I was unable to unpack it and dive into it when it first arrived... but I was greatly pleased!!!

Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Music and African-American Studies
Northeastern University
351 Ryder Hall
Boston, MA 02115-5000
(617) 373-7700 office
(617) 373-4129 fax
e.price@neu.edu