We’re delighted to be able to share this free streamed performance of Jason Moran: Harlem Hellfighters brought to you by Serious, in partnership with Carnegie Hall, as part of their Voices of Hope series.
This brilliant project, co-commissioned by Serious, tells the extraordinary story of James Reese Europe and the Harlem Hellfighters. After landing in Brest on New Year’s Day 1918, Europe and his crack military music ensemble paved the way for the explosive arrival of jazz in war-torn Europe.
This is a project that’s close to our hearts here at Hull Jazz Festival as it was the last Serious production led by our friend John Cumming. We were working with John on the European tour, which would have featured a new generation of young musicians from Tomorrow’s Warriors working with Jason Moran. We were going to present the live show at Hull Jazz Festival in November 2020, before Covid-19 disrupted our plans. We miss John and his wonderful stories and laughter enormously and we’ll be raising a toast to him when we settle in to watch the performance.
Tune in for the livestream this Friday from 9am on our Facebook page or on YouTube. The performance will be available to watch again until 31st May.