Black Manhattan: Members of Legendary Clef Club

Paragon Ragtime Orchestra (Artist), Rick Benjamin (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 25, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New World Records
• ASIN: B0000UJM5Y
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,019 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Clef Club of New York City, Inc. was a fraternal and professional organization for the advancement of African-American musicians and entertainers; all of the composers on this recording were members or closely affiliated with the Club. The "Clef Club" was founded toward the end of 1909 in New York by James Reese Europe and his associates. Their mission to highlight the value, dignity, and professionalism of African-American performers was a great success and did much to change racial attitudes at all levels of white society. It quickly became a "who’s who" of early twentieth-century black music and show business. With its reputation for reliability, gentility, and quality performances, the Clef Club soon gained the favor of the loftiest of New York’s white society; it became the very height of fashion to announce that one had secured a genuine "Clef Club Orchestra" for an upcoming social event. The composers featured on this revelatory recording represent the cream of Black Bohemia’s musical life—the movers and shakers who paved the way for the music of the better remembered "Harlem Renaissance" of the 1920s. And while their names are obscure today, all once enjoyed national reputations in white America as well, feeding its burgeoning interest in black music, theater, and dance. Taken altogether, the talent, persistence, cooperation, and courage of these pioneers is an amazing American story that deserves to be better known. The recording features nineteen works by ten composers and is accompanied by a 40-page booklet. In addition to those by Europe and Cook, highlights include works by Will Vodery, an acknowledged influence on Ellington, and the first instrumental rag ever published, Sambo: A Characteristic Two Step March (1896), by Will Tyers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute treasure!, February 22, 2004

By 

AfroAmericanHeritage (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Manhattan: Members of Legendary Clef Club (Audio CD)

This CD captures all the energy and optimism of the early Harlem Renaissance...you'll think you've been transported back in time.

Ragtime music is probably most familiar to people through two contemporary movies: The Sting, which brought Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" to public awareness, and Ragtime, with a score by Randy Newman. In my opinion, Newman's score pales in comparison with these originals. The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra faithfully interprets original orchestral scores of composers like James Reese Europe and Will Marion Cook so if, like me, you're used to hearing this music on scratchy old mono recordings, you're in for a real treat.

It's easy to see why this music took the country by storm at the turn of the century...I played this CD three times the first night I got it, because it captivated me. There's not a song here I don't like and there's such a good mixture of styles that it doesn't become repetitive.

As with all releases from New World Records, this one includes a booklet packed with historical and biographical information. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Curator, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid work hidden by Amazon?, February 3, 2005

By 

PHILIPPE VANDENBOSSCHE "Se coucher tard ... n... (Belgium) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black Manhattan: Members of Legendary Clef Club (Audio CD)

Yes, why is it so difficult to find this outstanding record when I look under Paragon Ragtime Orchestra"... it's another gem of those 1900-maniacs! Well, SPECIALISTS sounds maybe a little more polite. And I love those extensive liner notes: we get lots of entertainment and information at the same time! All of a sudden, the efforts of today's popular musicians to mess around with heavy and sempre out-of-balance P.A. equipment seem so useless... hahaha!

2 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT the original artists!, June 7, 2007

By 

Aunt Charlotte (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Manhattan: Members of Legendary Clef Club (Audio CD)

The title of the CD indicates that these are recordings made by such greats as James Reese Europe--they are actually rather bland modern re-recordings. Look for the originals--they do exist--and bypass this flat second-generation rehashing.