James Reese Europe (22 February, 1881–9 May, 1919) was a United States ragtime and early jazz bandleader, arranger, and composer. He was the leading figure on the African American music scene of New York City in the 1910s.

Europe was born in Mobile, Alabama. His family moved to Washington, D.C. when he was 10 years old. He moved to New York in 1904.

In 1910 Europe organized the Clef Club , a society for African Americans in the music industry.

His "Society Orchestra" became nationally famous in 1912 accompanying theater headliner dancers Vernon Castle and Irene Castle .

In 1913 and 1914 he made a series of phonograph records for the Victor Talking Machine Company. These recordings are some of the best examples of the pre-jazz hot ragtime style of the U.S. North-East of the 1910s.

During World War I Europe enroled in the United States Army, where he saw action as a lieutenant with the 369th Infantry Regiment (the "Harlem Hellfighters"), whose band he directed to great acclaim.

The band returned to the U.S.A. in February of 1919. That year he made more recordings for Pathé Records. These include both instrumentals and accompanyments to vocalist Noble Sissle. The style is significantly changed from Europe's recordings of a few years earlier, incorporating blues, blue notes, and early jazz influence (including a rather stiff cover record of the Original Dixieland Jass Band's "Clarinet Marmalade").

James Reese Europe died after being stabbed by a member of his band.

External links

• James Reese Europe on Jass.com Article with images
• Europe's Society Orchestra Article and audio of the 1913–1914 recordings on redhotjazz.com
• Jim Europe's 369th Infantry "Hellfighters" Band Article and audio of the 1919 recordings on redhotjazz.com