Home

Sound Clips

Events

Recordings

Bio

Backstage

Links

Context

 

Rick Benjamin's Paragon Ragtime Orchestra

[Return to List of Recordings]

BLACK MANHATTAN: Music of James Reese Europe, Will Marion Cook, and Members of the Legendary 'Clef Club'

The Clef Club of New York City, Inc. was a fraternal and professional organization founded in 1909 to showcase the quality, dignity, and professionalism of African-American performers. The Clef Club was also the home of several famous black ragtime composers, ten of whom are now honored on this revelatory new CD. Produced by Grammy winner Judith Sherman, this fine digital recording features the PRO performing 19 stirring rags, fox trots, marches, songs, novelties, and other "hits" (most never before recorded) by Clef Club composers; it also includes a 40-page illustrated historical booklet. In addition to music by Jim Europe and Cook, highlights include works by Will Vodery (mentor of Duke Ellington and Gershwin), and the first instrumental rag ever published, "Sambo" (1896), by Will H. Tyers. Through its rare and irresistibly raggy music, Black Manhattan weaves an American story of talent, persistence, and courage that will thrill and inspire.


Black Manhattan cover

New World Records-800611-2 (CD)

$16.00 USD

BLACK MANHATTAN  

  1. The Castle Perfect Trot (1914), James Reese Europe.
  2. Carolina Fox Trot (From the "Ziegfeld Follies of1914"), Will H. Vodery.
  3. Overture to "In Dahomey" (1902/03), Will Marion Cook.
  4. Deep River: Old Negro Melody (1916), arr. Harry T. Burleigh.
  5. Sambo: A Characteristic Two Step March (1896), William H. Tyers.
  6. When the Band Plays Ragtime (song,1902), Bole Cole & the Johnson Brothers.
  7. Castle House Rag (1914), James Reese Europe.
  8. Smyrna: A Turkish Serenade (1910/1914), William H. Tyers.
  9. Ballin' the Jack & What It Takes to Make Me Love You (medley fox trot, 1914), Chris Smith & James Reese Europe.
  10. Meno D'Amour (intermezzo, 1906), James Reese Europe.
  11. Hey There! (Hi There!) (one step, 1915), M. L. Lake.
  12. Tar Heel Blues Rag (1915), J. Tim Brymn.
  13. Congratulations ("the Castles' Lame Duck Waltz," 1914), James Reese Europe.
  14. Strut Miss Lizzie (fox trot, 1921), J. Turner Layton/arr. Will Vodery.
  15. Panama: A Characteristic Novelty (1910/1911), William H. Tyers.
  16. The Clef Club March (1910), James Reese Europe.
  17. Under the Bamboo Tree (song,1902), Bob Cole & the Johnson Brothers.
  18. Cocoanut Grove Jazz (1917), J. Tim Brymn.
  19. Swing Along! (1902/1912), Will Marion Cook.

"Want wings anybody? They're yours for the asking, thanks to these splendid performances by Rick Benjamin and his Paragon Ragtime Orchestra...This release is delectable..."

- FANFARE magazine

[Return to List of Recordings]

This document and all associated graphics copyright ©1998-2007 Paragon Ragtime Orchestra; all rights reserved.