Serious co-commissioned this brilliant project from Jason Moran that tells the extraordinary story of James Reese Europe and the Harlem Hellfighters
Watch from Friday 23 April until the end of May
The renowned composer and pianist Jason Moran – ‘shaping up to be the most provocative thinker in current jazz’ (Rolling Stone) – celebrates and reflects on the legacy of James Reese Europe (1880-1919), an iconic figure in the evolution of African-American music who introduced France to the sound of jazz in the closing year of World War 1.
Jason Moran’s most recent UK performances included a tour of Harlem Hellfighters, as well as a residency at Tate Modern, and a duet with fellow pianist Robert Glasper at a sold-out Royal Festival Hall.
Harlem Hellfighters was commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, Serious, Jazzfest Berlin, and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. It was the last Serious production led by John Cumming, who worked with Luke Macpherson to create and tour the project. For more information about John Cumming’s life, click here. The project also has a dedicated website/blog at jasonmoranharlemhellfighters.com