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HOME | About | Gallery | Video | Organization |
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Creative Jazz Organization
(Previously at Carmichael’s)
The Creative Jazz Organization (CJO), previously located in
the basement of Carmichael’s Diner on Guy Brewer Blvd.,
has moved and is presently located at Manhattan Proper
Café, 217-01 Linden Blvd, St Albans, NY. The dedicated
public and musicians are invited to attend. Mrs. Elaine
Phipps, the late Mr. Hank Turner, and members of the
Creative Jazz Organization were asked how the club started.
(Mr. Hank Turner, 93 years young played the trumpet and
in the past fired Charlie Parker from his band. Mrs. Elaine
Phipps was one of the founders of the CJO).
Mrs. Elaine Phipps stated that in 1975 a Rochdale
Women’s Organization sponsored a play that featured a
band of five musicians, namely, Walter Perkins on drums,
Henry (Hank) Edmonds on piano, Lloyd Buchanon on bass,
Charles I.Williams on saxophone and James Buxton on
trombone. Dwight Gassaway played
the xylophone. These musicians would remain to be the force
behind the CJO for many years. The play was successful and
the band was fabulous.
When Mr. William E. Dunlap; a Rochdale Village board
member, a jazz enthusiast, creator, and one of the founders of
the CJO, realized that there were many in Rochdale who
loved the music, he called meetings to discuss continuing
Wednesday Night Jazz. The club was originally called the
Community Jazz Organization. At first the band played for
free. Later the members of the band would receive $5.00 to
$10.00 at each session depending upon “the take” at the
door. Admission then was only .75 cents. Many members
joined paying $5.00 dues each year.
The club was very successful until the Rochdale’s maintenance
men went on strike. Committees were formed for the purpose of
looking for a new home. The club’s relocation committee
considered Count Basie’s School, and a night club across the
street (now Ambiance) where they played for a short time.
Finally, the club approached Carmichael’s, and they graciously
gave the club the lower level for free.
The CJO held its first outdoor jazz concert in 1976 on the
lawn of the Rochdale Community Center. Making their debut was
the Hank Doughty Big Band. Five hundred Rochdalers and their
guests enjoyed the music. The CJO held their first Jazz Feast
on December 10th, 1976 honoring it’s membership and all of it’s
musicians. A wonderful group of people who truly loved jazz
attended.
The Creative Jazz Organization was organized to promote
jazz & jazz history; to encourage teenagers in their
endeavors and to make Americans proud of America’s only
indigenous art form. Jazz was created from the slaves, the
honky tonks, the untutored class of Americans filled with
their joys and their sorrows.
Many great jazz musicians have played at the club. To
name a few; Dave Carter, Hank Turner, Hank Edmonds, Stan
Hope, Weldon Irvine, Roy Meriweather, Hank Johnson,
Walter Kelly, Harold Ousley, Ed Jackson, Dave Jackson,
Nick Carella,“Winky”Flyth, John Abrams, Hank Turner,
Roy Hayes and Max Roach. The present musicians are: Hank
Wentz, Ed Stoute, Clarence “Tootsie” Bean, Lon Ivey,
Napoleon Revels-Bey, Gerald Lindsey, Mike Fitzbenjamin
and Butch Bateman. The CJO has sponsored two free Jazz
Concerts in Roy Wilkins Park. In June of 2000 the CJO
honored Milt Hinton. This concert occurred before his passing.
The CJO has a Scholarship Program for high school music
graduates who are interested in Jazz. In 2007 a $4,000.00
A $500.00 stipend was awarded to Kashif Coppin and Calvin Bowen, a saxophone player and a drummer respectively.
CJO is currently sponsoring another scholarship recipient.
For some years the CJO hosted Jazz by the Pool at the
home of our music director, Hank Wentz. This was where
members and guests could enjoy an evening of jazz. In 2007
this was changed to an end of summer afternoon Jazz and
Fish Fry. This event is held in the Proctor Hopson VFW
Parking lot. At the present time CJO members are admitted
to weekly Wednesday sessions at a reduced rate and are able to participate in the “CJO Yearly Holiday Meeting” and the
“CJO Yearly Fish Fry.” A CJO circulating library of jazz
books, tapes and CDs are available to the members.
When Mr. Carmichael was hospitalized for failing health,
the club moved to Manhattan Proper in February of 2005.
CJO is still the best place in the City for jammin, and
listening to musicians, young and old, lending their souls to
the creation of music. Creative Jazz Organization has an
“open mike” throughout the sessions for all musicians and
singers. Creative Jazz Organization is the best kept secret for
jazz lovers.
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© 2009 “Creative Jazz Organization." All Rights Reserved.
CJO CARMICHAEL'S 1988
As an extra attraction,
CJO FEATURES: Gail Archer
CJO CARMICHAEL'S 88 Continued
CJO FEATURES: Ed Harris
