Artist: Javon Jackson
Album: The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni
Genre: Post-Bop
Label: Solid Jackson Records
Released: 2022
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
- Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel (4:26)
- Wade in the Water (7:45)
- Night Song (7:30)
- Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (6:44)
- Mary Had a Baby, Yes Lord (5:12)
- Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (6:19)
- I've Been Buked (4:32)
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (5:01)
- Lord, I Want to Be a Christian (4:43)
- I Opened My Mouth to the Lord (5:25)
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- Personnel:
- Javon Jackson - tenor saxophone
- Nikki Giovanni - vocals (#3)
- Christiana Green - narrator (#2)
- Jeremy Manasia - piano
- David Williams - bass
- McClenty Hunter - drums
The 78-year old Giovanni is a renowned African-American poet, Black Arts activist and educator who linked with Jackson when she gave a lecture at his invitation at the university where he teaches. A devout Christian himself, the tenorist then invited her to select 10 spirituals and gospel pieces for his quartet to play and here is the result.
While former Messenger and Elvin Jones sideman Jackson pays tribute to Coltrane’s religious inspiration in his note, there is little of that great artist’s presence in his sound or phrasing since he plays throughout quite softly, allowing his warm, Henderson-like tone to carry these venerable melodies; there are no great fireworks, no convoluted or overtly impassioned passages either. At the same time, there is no conscious use of gospel harmonies or a heavily reverential approach with these performances.
Ms Giovanni sings in her quite frail and rather moving manner on ‘Night Song’; a Nina Simone speciality, the poet having been a close friend of that late artist. The real discovery for this reviewer is pianist Manasia, a New York familiar with an extensive discography who plays throughout with impeccable taste and pleasing creativity. They take ‘Swing Low’ as a calypso in the Rollins manner, ‘Wade In The Water’ has hints of swing and the heartfelt ‘Lord I Want To be A Christian’ is a duet between Jackson and Manasia. Otherwise, quietly done.
Review by Peter Vacher