A special jazz concert honoring the Harlem Hell Fighters, the
legendary African-American soldiers who introduced jazz to France during WW1,
will be held on November 15, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lisner Auditorium, 730
21st Street, NW, in Washington, DC.
Marking the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into the
Great War, the French-American Cultural Foundation is hosting an evening of
history and jazz, telling the story of the courageous men of the US Army’s
369th Infantry Regimental Band. While they earned medals for their courage in
battle, the talented jazz musicians, led by James Reese Europe, were the first
to bring this uniquely American music to France.
The “Jazz Meets France” concert, will trace the evolution of
jazz in France from 1917 through the 1930’s. Adding to the evening’s program,
Honorary Chairman, Wynton Marsalis, will send a special video message to the
audience, and jazz lover, David Skorton, Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution, will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Performers
include top American and French jazz artists, including the US Air Force’s
“Airmen of Note,” the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Michael Weiss
Trio Plus One, and France’s famed master of gypsy jazz guitar, Christian
Escoudé.
A rare exhibit of World War 1 memorabilia from the collection
of Gene Alexander Peters will also be on display in the Lisner Auditorium
lobby.
Tickets are available online at
www.gwutickets.com or at the Lisner
Auditorium box office. Discounted tickets are available for students and active
military and veterans.
For more information, please call the French-American Cultural
Foundation at 202-545-3775. www.frenchamericancultural.org
or e-mail [email protected].
