Cover image: The 369th Experience Band
© Entrée to Black Paris

On July 3, a concert featuring the music of the band of the 369th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army and music-hall performer Josephine Baker was held in the gardens of the Military Governor of Paris at the  Hôtel National des Invalides.

The 369th Experience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to acknowledging, educating and preserving the legacy of Lieutenant James Reese Europe, Second Lieutenant Noble Sissle, and The 369th Infantry Regiment – the Harlem Hellfighters – organized the music for the event. Four U.S. and seven local musicians played jazz selections from the World War I and World War II eras, including "How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm?" (1919) and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (1941). 

The 369th Experience - U.S. and French musicians
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The U.S. musicians wore historic 369th Infantry uniforms.  They are all HBCU graduates.

Brandy Collot - Florida A&M - Trumpet
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D'Angelo Fluellen - Jackson State University - Trombone
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Jaden Adkins - Delaware State University - Tuba
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Stephen Gregory - Southern University - French Horn
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Several French musicians were recommended by Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington. They were:

Yves Le Carboulec - Trumpet
Malo Mazurie Desgarennes - Trumpet
David Grebil - Drums
Roland Seilhes - Flute
Yannick Cognet - Sax

Other musicians were:

Josiah Woodson (special guest) - Trumpet
Baptiste Capitano - Trumpet

The band was directed by Anthony S. Jones, Sr., who is Assistant Professor at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Anthony S. Jones, Sr. - Band Director for The 369th Experience
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Stephany Neal, founder of The 369th Experience, opened the program.

Stephany Neal - Founder of The 369th Experience
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Along with the music, which was played before and during the event, numerous speakers paid tribute to the valor of the soldiers of the 369th Infantry and to Baker's indomitable spirit as performer and civil rights activist.

Youth who won a contest to create a comic strip that featured an event, an encounter, or an historical fact pertaining to "Sport and War" in the 20th and 21st centuries presented their prize-winning project – a multi-page work called "Le Noir n'est pas une couleur de l'arc-en-ciel" ("Black Is Not a Color in the Rainbow").  It was inspired by the story of the Harlem Hellfighters.

Panel from "Le Noir n'est pas une couleur de l'arc-en-ciel"
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Baker was honored through a presentation by her son, Brian Bouillon-Baker

Brian Bouillon-Baker
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and by American singer Ursuline Kairson, who performed Baker's theme song, "J'ai deux amours."

Ursuline Kairson sings "J'ai deux amours"
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Véronique Peaucelle-Delelis, executive director of the French Combat Veterans and War Victims Office (ONaCVG), addressed the audience, as did ONaCVG Mission Chief Vincent Bervas and Project Manager Edie Branch.

Véronique Peaucelle-Delelis
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Edie Bridge and Vincent Bervas
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With the support of the U.S. Embassy, ONaCVG has created Joséphine Baker : The Serious Game! – a game that is being used as an educational tool to teach youth about Baker's life.  It dubs Josephine "The Voice of Freedom."

Among the guests of honor in attendance were Mattie Sharpless, former U.S. ambassador to the Central African Republic; Helen Patton, granddaughter of General George S. Patton; and Paul Brembly, member of the Golden Gate Quartet.

Mattie Sharpless - Former U.S. Ambassador to the Central African Republic
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Paul Brembly - Member of the Golden Gate Quartet
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The U.S. musicians' trip was made possible through the sponsorship of Ubisoft, the Valient Hearts - Coming Home video game, Jason Moran, the American School of Modern Music, Dr. John H. Morrow, Jr., Mr. Evarard Rutledge, and Daniel Karrenbauer - Chez Paul.  "Coming Home" and "Trench Cuisine," two of the songs that were played during the event, are featured in the video game.

The evening ended, fittingly, with a warm sunset illuminating the façade of Les Invalides.

L'Hôtel National des Invalides