Javon Jackson: From Dylan’s Poetry to Miles’ Precision

Show Notes:

Host Steve Roby sits down with celebrated saxophonist Javon Jackson to explore two landmark projects: his new album Jackson Plays Dylan — a jazz reimagining of Bob Dylan's songbook — and his upcoming live tribute to Miles Davis's Kind of Blue at SF Jazz.

Episode Highlights:

• Discovering Bob Dylan through jazz — How Art Blakey's attorney first introduced Javon to Dylan's catalog in his twenties, and why he heard the songs as jazz-friendly love poetry rather than folk or rock music
• A dual tribute to two poets — The story behind Jackson Plays Dylan, originally conceived with the late poet Nikki Giovanni, who planned to write new poetry and even reach out to Dylan himself before her passing in 2024. The album is dedicated to her memory.
• "Hurricane" — the single — Javon breaks down his soulful, boogaloo-inflected arrangement of Dylan's 1976 protest song about boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, featuring Fender Rhodes and drummer Ryan Sands
• "Gotta Serve Somebody" — featuring Bay Area favorite Lisa Fisher
• The cross-fade concept — How each track on the album teases the next, creating a continuous listening experience
• Kind of Blue at SF Jazz — Javon discusses stepping into the role John Coltrane held on the original 1959 recording and what it means to honor that legacy without imitation
• Art Blakey's lesson — "Don't worry about Wayne Shorter — just be you." How that advice shapes Javon's approach to all tribute performances
• Miles Davis and the power of silence — Blakey's 200-words vs. 10-words parable as a way of understanding Miles's minimalist genius
• The all-star ensemble — Dr. Eddie Henderson (a Miles associate), Lenny White (Bitches Brew), Buster Williams, Donald Harrison, and Patrice Rushen

Links:

• Javon Jackson: jevonjackson.com
• Kind of Blue Tribute at SF Jazz — Minor Auditorium, Saturday, March 21st
• Afternoon show: 4:00 PM | Evening show: 7:30 PM
• Tickets: sfjazz.org
• Jackson Plays Dylan — available now (singles: "Hurricane," "Gotta Serve Somebody")

• Backstage Bay Area hosted by Steve Roby

Visit: https://www.backstagebayarea.com