Javon Jackson: Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies

PALMETTO RECORDS (RELEASED AUGUST 2024)

Like the poem “Vegetable Soup” that Nikki Giovannni recites under the funky beat and soulful sax of Javon Jackson’s “Have You Heard,” Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies is a blend of tasty ingredients. Start with the trio of pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist David Williams and drummer McClenty Hunter, a group that has been performing with Jackson for more than a decade. Their chemistry speaks for itself on the opening “Time is Right,” an upbeat tune Jackson first recorded in 1994. The group navigates the catchy stop-and-go rhythm with ease. Jackson’s “yeah” at the end of the track is confirmation of a job well done. They show the same finesse with “The Nearness of You” and ‘Theme for Nikki,” a down-home blues Jackson wrote for the session. The quartet also pays homage to Sonny Rollins with a flowing version of his waltz “Valse Hot,” featuring a nice exchange between Williams and Hunter before Jackson comes in to close out this classic tune. To spice things up, add the poems of Nikki Giovanni who appears on three tracks — “Speak Low,” “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” and the aforementioned “Have You Heard.” She recites “That Day,” which is timed perfectly with the Latin groove of Kurt Weill’s “Speak Low”. Her poem “Still Life With Apron,” talks about the erotic splendor of food and cooking while the band does its own cooking on “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.” The final ingredient in this mix is vocalist Nicole Zuraitis who adds her soothing vocals to “How About You,” “I Belong To You and “The Folks Who Live on the Hill.” Jackson and Zuraitis recreate the mood of the classic John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman session. All of these ingredients blend together on Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies, creating an appetizing treat for fans of straight-ahead jazz, poetry, classic vocals, or better yet, all of them!

BOTTOM LINE: In 2022, Jackson and Giovanni explored their mutual passion for hymns and spirituals on The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni. Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies builds on their mutual passion for movies, and although only six of the ten tracks come from movies, the cast and variety of moods make for interesting listening.