PRESIDENT/CEO

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I joined the Creative Jazz Organization in 2010, and it was by total coincidence. My partner Rodney was a member about four years prior, and he asked me to accompany him to the club. At the time, they were playing at what is known today as Manhattan Proper or The Proper. I must confess that I was not a Jazz enthusiast but had a massive appreciation for the art, and I might say I am slowly being converted. However, now I can say that I can’t wait for  Wednesday nights to come back around to see everyone again. The American Legion Post 483 is our new home; we have bonded and become a family. 

Being a part of CJO for more than 12-years, I have met and became friends with many musicians that live solely to play music, mainly jazz. Their conviction and dedication to this art form are intoxicating. Musicians are a unique group of individuals. I have developed such an appreciation for their sacrifices to keep Jazz music alive. They are DEDICATED.

We are working diligently to own someday our building dedicated strictly to music. Also, soon the organization hopes to be live streaming our music internationally. 

My motto is we must come together as a movement to induce, inspire, influence, encourage and motivate each other. 

I consider myself a professional photographer with over 40 years of experience. I am also the treasurer of Creative Jazz Organization, Inc, and I have more than 30 decades of experience in the airline industry (US Airways and JetBlue Airways). During my airline tenure, I specialized in aircraft parts and tooling logistics throughout all aircraft maintenance cities. My special duties included monthly tooling calibration for all towns to comply with (FAA) Federal Aviation Administration. I am also an active board member of "CART" Caribbean American Repertory in Queens.

Another layer to my personality is my love for outdoor travel, adventure, nature, and I am always excited about meeting new people, cultures, and diverse backgrounds. I am well known for untamed images and am considered a creator of powerful portraits. My theoretical perspective has allowed me to work with different clients on many events and venues. At the age of 58, I have established myself as an influencer in the world of photography, and I am happiest raising my son Richard in his hometown of Cambria Heights, New York.

My journey in Jazz, which ultimately led to my becoming involved with Creative Jazz Organization, Inc, began when I was a child growing up in Harlem on 129th Street in the St. Nicholas Housing Projects. It was 1963, and I was 10years old, helping my mother get dressed for her singing engagement at The Baby Grand, one of the hottest jazz clubs located at 319 West 125th Street next to the Apollo Theater. This engagement was to be her comeback after a hiatus. She had to look just so, donning a Christian Dior dress, peau de sole shoes dyed to match her dress, and her Quo Vadis hairstyle. She talked about how the legendary jazz composer, arranger, and pianist Tadd Dameron had heard her sing, telling her that she had a unique voice. He composed special arrangements for two popular jazz songs just for her, "Almost Like Being  In Love and "He's Funny That Way," which she was to perform that night at the Baby Grand. I remember going with the family to the Baby Grand that night and being heartbroken because I couldn't go in. Another fond memory is of my Uncle Jesse Adams, who lived with us and had an extensive collection of LP vinyl jazz albums, many of which I inherited and have in my collection at home. My mother often said he could write music and "sing circles" around Nat "King" Cole. Another influence in my appreciation of Jazz was my stepfather Arthur Thomas Daniels, known as "Junior Parker," because he admired Charlie Parker and was always referred to as "Bird." He sang with Charlie Parker's Band at the tender age of 19. Having grown up in the business, being a child radio star, he always talked to me about Jazz's importance, especially "dug" the Blues. I moved to Queens from Harlem in 1975. Since that time, I frequented venues with live jazz shows like Carmichaels Diner and The Skylark, where I enjoyed the Walter Perkins Trio, among other fine jazz artists. The African Poetry Theater was another legendary jazz venue. I began covering and writing about many Jazz and Blues performances over the years. My involvement with Creative Jazz Organization, Inc (CJO) began in 2017 when CJO Lifetime Member Leona Shaw Crummell, known affectionately as "Lee," told me about it. I was elated to discover that CJO was an extension of Carmichael's Jazz after the diner closed in 2005. In 2019, CJO President Gail Robergeau warmly welcomed me as the new Corresponding Secretary. A position that I am honored to serve in. I am all in and truly dedicated to "Keeping Jazz Alive," as our motto so aptly states.    

Reuben Bankhead eighty-eight and still going strong, born on 01/12/1930 Alabama, South Carolina, then onto Brooklyn, New York, and now resides in South Richmond Hill in Queens. He married his dutiful wife Alice, and together they have five children, four boys, and one girl. In addition, he has a younger brother and an older sister. 

So, sitting down with Reuben at my home, I asked him what his favorite kind of music was, and as you may have guessed, he quickly responded Jazz. He said he gained an appreciation for this beautiful artform at the young age of five; he knew then there was something extraordinary about Jazz music. If anyone knows Reuben, you may see that he has a warped sense of humor. I asked him if he played an instrument, and he said the radio was adequate. With that satisfied look on his face that says I just made a funny. On a more serious note, he mentioned as a child, his parents paid for piano, drums, and violin lessons, neither of which he plays today. However, you might say it is in the genes because his son Keith plays the drums and the piano. Curious about the influence that led him to jazz music, he wasted no time and belted out big bands, bee-bop, dizzy, Charlie Parker, Monk, and Lester Young.

I asked if he got to see any of them in concert; he smiled and said I saw dizzy, Parker, Monk, and Roy Haynes, who coincidentally came to Carmichaels regularly. Most times, Roy just wanted to sit out and be convinced to play. For many years, Carmichaels was the home of CJO (Creative Jazz Organization) for those of you who might be novices to the jazz world. It was in South Jamaica Queens on Guy Brewer Blvd and Foch in the basement of the Carmichael's diner. I would be remiss if I painted a picture of CJO buried somewhere in a restaurant's basement. Oh, no. The organization was looking for a new home, and the Carmichael brothers extended generosity to the group. The unofficial organizations' name became Carmichael's, home to some of the most excellent local and well-known Jazz artists, to name a few, Roy Haynes Walter Perkins. 

I digressed. At the start of Reuben's professional career, he worked at the post office for 11 yrs. Then, he joined NYPD and stayed there for 23 yrs. I asked Reuben, who was currently the President of Creative Jazz when he joined the organization, and to the best of his memory, he said around 1996/1997. The excellent news is that a woman was the first President of CJO, and then the reins were passed to him. Reuben became President in 2000. I asked Reuben if he thought he would be doing it this long. He answered a resounding No, but I love the organization. He went on to say that throughout the year, many organizations have come and gone, and there was a time he thought that CJO would have to close. Why I asked, he mentioned for lack of participation. You see, most of our members are now older and can't get around as well, moved away or passed on. 

As I mentioned earlier, the Carmichael brothers, 4/5 brothers, owned a bank, liquor store, garage, and diner in the neighborhood. They opened their doors to us and gave us a tremendous opportunity that changed the newly formed organizations into an institution of greatness. However, their business began to decline as one of the brothers was shot, and the companies began to suffer and lose money. The writing was on the wall, and the time came when the business would be sold, so we had to find another home. Throughout the many relocations the organization had to go through. Did I ask Reuben if any original members still attending the sessions at Thomasina's? Yes, we do. We have quite a few, George Callendar, Wilbur, and Daisy Hutchinson, Alice Brown, Edsel Lindsay, Eve Henderson, Al Raines Pat Hartwell, Joe Katz, Shirley Doig, Mildred Williams (backup singer for Cooty Williams), Ann Batson recently deceased, and Jeanne Ottley recently deceased. 

I asked Reuben if he could tell me his favorite performer from back in the day; he immediately said Charlie Parker, John Coltrane. Then I wondered who it is today; he took a moment to narrow down his list and said Charles and Carl Bartlett, along with Elijah Shiffer, he is a young man that came to us at the age of 16 and has developed into quite an accomplished musician. So, I asked him, if there was anyone alive today that did not know about Jazz music, what would you like them to know? It was birthed as slave music, and then we had the blues with the humming and singing. So, I asked whether you have to like Jazz to appreciate it, he said of course. 

Now, Reuben, St. Albans, has been the home to many Jazz artists. Do you still see that strong influence today? No, not really because there are not too many Jazz clubs left, and they don't teach music in many schools today. So as a community organization, what do you do to help promote the history of Jazz? Well, we have several affiliations with surrounding schools. We advertise through emails; we have a music scholarship program; we support our youth with school supplies and Christmas gifts to remind them of our presents. What plans do you have for CJO in the future? Oh, that's easy. We will continue to do everything we can to "keep Jazz Alive" and educate the youth about Jazz music. Now, you traditionally hear about men in Jazz, what about the women of Jazz? Are there any today. Oh yes, Jazmine Horn, Terry Wilson, Madam Pat Tandy, and a few. 

If you had one person to come back to perform a concert who would you like to see? I would love to enjoy Bross Townsend on piano. He went blind overnight, but it didn't stop his career. John Abraham tenor sax frequented Carmichael's. Bob Cunningham is a fantastic bass player for CJO, Bill Wurtzel's best guitar player I have ever heard, and Lou Vega is also an incredible guitarist.