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March 1-April 13: Saxophonist/composer Javon Jackson and His Quartet Celebrate Legacy of Nikki Giovanni Tenor saxophonist and composer Javon Jackson and his quartet with pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist Danton Boller and drummer Willie Jones III, celebrate the life and legacy of the groundbreaking poet and activist Nikki Giovanni with east coast performances March 1 – April 13, 2025. Jackson and Giovanni released two highly acclaimed albums together: 2023’s The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni and, in August 2024, the powerfully joyful Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies, the final project released by Giovanni before her passing on December 9, 2024. Performances take place: Saturday, March 1 – Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th St. Queens, NY Show at 3 p.m. Tickets $25. Friday & Saturday, March 14 & 15 – Jazz Forum Arts, 1 Dixon Lane, Tarrytown, NY Shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets $35. Saturday, March 22 – Scullers Jazz Club, 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA Shows at 7 p.m. Tickets: $40 and $55. Tuesday–Sunday, April 8-13 – Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, NYC Shows at – 8:00pm & 10:00pm; Tickets: $40. Like The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni, Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies draws on some of Giovanni’s favorite songs – in this case, standards from the Great American Songbook, many of them originally composed for Hollywood classics. But the repertoire this time out draws from a broader range of sources, including three Jackson originals and one from the pen of one of his heroes, Sonny Rollins. The title ends up referring at least as much to the friendship and mutual respect shared by Giovanni and Jackson as it does to the music they’ve chosen to create together. The album has earned wide critical acclaim including a nomination for a 56th NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Jazz Album, and article in DownBeat Magazine and inclusion on numerous Best of 2024 lists. “★★★★ A charming and soulful collaboration that brings together the poetic eloquence of Nikki Giovanni and the masterful tenor saxophone stylings of Javon Jackson.” – Pierre Giroux, All About Jazz “… an album that enduringly resonates with lovers of jazz, movies, and poetry.” – George Kanzler, Hot House Jazz Magazine “the session’s prevailing mood, seems as joyous as the music it produced.” – Bob Weinberg, Jazziz “It’s with this kind of art that spirits are elevated, and our times need it badly. An album that more than deserves to be placed in our ‘Essentials’ category, and we hope you’ll love it as much as we do.” – Thierry ‘Docmac’ Clemensat, Paris Move “You can feel the joy of playing, singing and creating these beautiful songs….Javon Jackson impresses as always with his saxophone playing.” – Jacek Brun, JazzFun (Germany) “In addition to the excellent band and the atmospheric spoken words by Giovanni, what counts is above all is Jackson with his stunning, captivating, straight-forward, warm tone and his ideas. Music that shows a lot of intelligence but primarily comes from the heart.” – Silvano Luca Gerosa, Jazz’N’More (Italy) Javon Jackson Missouri-born tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson left his studies at Berklee College of Music in 1986 to join Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, where he remained a fixture until Blakey’s passing in 1990. In 1991, Jackson made his recording debut with Me and Mr. Jones, featuring James Williams, Christian McBride, and master drummer Elvin Jones. He joined Jones’ group in 1992, appearing on the great drummer’s albums Youngblood and Going Home. Jackson’s 1994 Blue Note debut, When the Time Is Right, was a straight-ahead affair produced by iconic jazz vocalist and bandleader Betty Carter. His subsequent four Blue Note recordings featured wildly eclectic programs ranging from Caetano Veloso, Frank Zappa and Santana to Muddy Waters, Al Green and Serge Gainsbourg. For the Palmetto label he explored a blend of funk, jazz and soul with such stellar sidemen as organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, guitarists Mark Whitfield and David Gilmore, trombonist Fred Wesley and drummer Lenny White. In 2012, he launched his own Solid Jackson Records with Celebrating John Coltrane. His latest releases for the label include The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni, a historic, gospel-tinged collaboration with the renowned African American poet, activist and educator, and the soundtrack to the 2023 documentary With Peter Bradley. Jackson serves as the Director of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz Studies at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. |
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