Clef Club
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The Clef Club was an entertainment venue, society, and labour union for African-American musicians in Harlem, achieving its largest success in the 1910s. Incorporated by James Reese Europe, it was a combination musicians' hangout, fraternity club, labour exchange, and concert hall, across the street from Marshall's Hotel.
Conception
The Clef Club was founded by James Reese Europe and his associates on April 11, 1910. The intention behind the creation of the Clef Club was to create an organization that allowed and offered Black American musicians opportunities—similar to other labour unions like the American Federation of Musicians at the time that was only offered to white musicians—to connect with potential employers and higher paying jobs.[1] During early April 1910 at the Marshall Hotel—a hot spot for black musicians to meet and trade information—Jimmy Marshall, the owner of said hotel, told those musicians to find a spot for themselves.[2] Thus James Reese Europe and other Marshall Hotel regulars formed what is now known as the Clef Club. In February 1912 the club came out with a preamble:[1]
We, the members of said organization, have established, organized, and incorporated the Clef Club of the City of New York, in order to inculcate the science of vocal and instrumental music, technique, and execution of vocal and instrumental music, and to promote good fellowship and social intercourse.
Soon after the club's conception on April 28, 1910, Lester Walton released an article on the New York Age exclaiming that membership of the organization had reached upwards of 135.[1]
Historical significance
Reception
The initial reception from black musicians in New York was positive. However, There were many problems that Europe and his associates had to face. The first included raising money in order to rent out office space for conducting their operations. Annual picnic and dance events that combine games, sports, vaudeville and minstrel acts, as well as food—such as those hosted by the C.V.B.A. (Coloured Vaudeville Benevolent Association)[2]—had been shown to produce a high return on investment, thus James Reese Europe and his contemporaries believed that a similar gathering including performances by Clef Club members could work. From this proposal came the novel idea, at the time, to have "a symphony-sized concert orchestra composed entirely of black musicians."[1] on May 27, 1910, the Clef Club's "Musical Melange and Dance-fest" would take place and would also be the first time that the Clef Club Orchestra would perform. Reviews of their performance were strikingly positive. Critics claimed that the players showed the capability of African American musician's ability to "playing music as it is written".[1]
Clef Club today
Unfortunately, the Clef Club no longer exists in New York. There is however the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts located at the corner of South Broad Street and Fitzwater Street.