About the Album: The Clef Club of New York City, Inc. was a fraternal and professional organization for the advancement of African-American musicians and entertainers; all of the composers on this recording were members or closely affiliated with the Club. The "Clef Club" was founded toward the end of 1909 in New York by James Reese Europe and his associates. Their mission to highlight the value, dignity, and professionalism of African-American performers was a great success and did much to change racial attitudes at all levels of white society. It quickly became a "whoÕs who" of early twentieth-century black music and show business. With its reputation for reliability, gentility, and quality performances, the Clef Club soon gained the favor of the loftiest of New YorkÕs white society; it became the very height of fashion to announce that one had secured a genuine "Clef Club Orchestra" for an upcoming social event. The composers featured on this revelatory recording represent the cream of Black BohemiaÕs musical lifeÑthe movers and shakers who paved the way for the music of the better remembered "Harlem Renaissance" of the 1920s. And while their names are obscure today, all once enjoyed national reputations in white America as well, feeding its burgeoning interest in black music, theater, and dance. Taken altogether, the talent, persistence, cooperation, and courage of these pioneers is an amazing American story that deserves to be better known. The recording features nineteen works by ten composers and is accompanied by a 40-page booklet. In addition to those by Europe and Cook, highlights include works by Will Vodery, an acknowledged influence on Ellington, and the first instrumental rag ever published, Sambo: A Characteristic Two Step March (1896), by Will Tyers.
Label: New World Records
HADESTOWN: LIVE FROM LONDON Limited-Edition Vinyl Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- December 20, 2024
Hadestown: Live from London – the original London cast album for Tony and Grammy Award-winning “Best Musical” Hadestown – has been released as a limited-edition deluxe gatefold “pop-up” vinyl. Learn more!
Exclusive: Listen to an Excerpt from Cher: The Memoir: Part One
by Team BWW
- December 17, 2024
Lending her voice to the audiobook is none other than Stephanie J. Block, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Cher in The Cher Show. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book- Chapter 2, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Listen here!
Georgia Shreve Releases 'SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS' Album
by Blair Ingenthron
- December 08, 2024
Spirit of Wagner Award recipient Georgia Shreve has unveiled her holiday album, Spirit of Christmas. Featuring original compositions, timeless classics, and an all-star cast of performers, this collection promises to become an enduring part of the holiday music tradition.
CHRIS, MRS. Musical Studio Album Now Available to Stream
by Josh Sharpe
- December 06, 2024
The full Chris, Mrs. - A New Holiday Musical studio album has been released. Featuring 16 original songs from Canadian husband-and-wife creative team Matthew Stodolak and Katie Kerr, Chris, Mrs. marries traditional holiday themes with a contemporary musical theatre sound. Listen to it here!
WICKED Novel Tops New York Times Bestseller List Amid Movie Mania
by Josh Sharpe
- December 05, 2024
The Wicked movie is not the only Ozian content that consumers are enjoying. As the popularity of the film surges to an all-time high, readers are also flocking to Gregory Maguire's original 1995 novel for which the musical and film are based.
19 Theater Books for Your Winter 2025 Reading List
by Nicole Rosky
- December 07, 2024
From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theater history; check out our collection of 19 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's winter reading list.
STRAIGHT FORWARD Off-Broadway Musical to Release EP
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- November 26, 2024
Straight Forward, a new Off-Broadway musical by Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol, will release an EP. Straight Forward will have its premiere this Spring in New York City. Learn more about the show and the album!
STRAIGHT FORWARD Musical Receives EP Ahead of Off-Broadway Run
by Josh Sharpe
- November 26, 2024
Straight Forward, a new Off-Broadway musical by Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol, has released an EP of 5 songs on November 26. Straight Forward will have its premiere this Spring in New York City. Listen to the new EP here.
Patrick Finegan Releases New Novel TOYS IN BABYLON
by Blair Ingenthron
- November 24, 2024
Patrick Finegan has announced the release of his new novel, Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunnit, a satire and murder mystery. Learn more about the novel here.
WICKED Blu-ray Pre-Orders Now Available Including Limited Edition Giftset
by Josh Sharpe
- November 22, 2024
Newly released listings are previewing the home video release for the Wicked movie, which will arrive in stores in either February or March of 2025. The standard 4K Ultra HD release will include the theatrical version of the film, along with a sing-along edition.
Turn Back Time with Highlights from THE CHER SHOW
by Team BWW
- November 19, 2024
In celebration of Cher's memoir's release (which also happens to feature an audiobook read by Tony winner Stephanie J. Block), we're turning back time for a special multimedia flashback of the acclaimed Broadway show.
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