Podcast 877: A Conversation with Javon Jackson

Javon Jackson turns to one of the finest poets in America for inspiration on his latest release, The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni, on his Solid Jackson label. Jackson,  in addition to leading his own group, is a faculty member of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford and director of its Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. It was in that capacity that he invited Giovanni, one of the world's most well-known African-American poets,  once called "The Poet of the Black Revolution," to speak to his students. Their conversation about jazz influenced gospel music led to Jackson's decision to ask Ms. Giovanni to pick ten of her favorite hymns for his next recording. The result is a kaleidoscopic view of tunes from "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" to "Wade in the Water" to "I've Been 'Buked," all with a strong spiritual feel and jazz sensibility. Jackson's band, composed of pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist David Williams and drummer McClenty Hunter, recorded the album live in a South Windsor, Connecticut studio not far from the Hartt School campus, recording without earphones to bring an additional element of spontaneity. The exception to that was "Night Song," with Ms. Giovanni singing the Nina Simone classic herself, which was recorded near her home in Virginia. Javon has been a force in jazz since he left Berklee to join Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, playing sax in the band until Blakey's death in 1990. Since then he has guested on albums by Ron Carter, Curtis Fuller, Freddie Hubbard and Elvin Jones, while recording twenty plus albums as a leader. Podcast 877 is my conversation with Javon, as we discuss how he interpreted and reimagined gospel songs and hymns, and how his heritage and upbringing in the church helped inspire him. He also pays tribute to the late Dr. Lonnie Smith, with whom he performed and recorded with over the years. Musical selections from The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni include "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?."