Javon Jackson

Javon Anthony Jackson (born June 16, 1965) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and educator. He first became known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1987 until Blakey's death in 1990. and went on to release 20 recordings as a bandleader and tour and record on over 150 CDs with jazz greats including Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stanley Turrentine and Ben E. King.

In his solo career, his music has been a mix of tradition and neo-jazz, mixing hard bop with soul and funk influences. Recognized for those diverse styles, he was tapped by producersLea Reis, Bryant "Moe Doe" Johnson to play on Tupac Shakur's Keep Ya Head Up / Madukey Remix in 1993.

In 1992, Javon played saxophonist Illinois Jacquet in Spike Lee's Malcolm X. He is featured in the film playing the Lionel Hampton/Benny Goodman standard, "Flying Home".

He became chair of the University of Hartford's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz in 2013. In 2019, Newport Festivals Foundation expanded the reach of its popular Newport Jazz Assembly program with the introduction of the Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Jazz Assembly, under Jackson's direction.Jackson also serves as Artistic Director of Jazz in the Valley, an annual music festival in the historic Hudson Valley, now in its 20th year.

Jackson was born on June 16, 1965, in Carthage, Missouri, and brought up in Denver. Growing up, his parents both were fans of jazz, exposing him to the music of Ahmad Jamal, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, and Charlie Parker. Javon first wanted to play drums but his father thought those were too loud after trying out the trumpet Jackson finally selected the alto saxophone at age 10. At the age of 16, he changed to tenor saxophone and in his teens, he was taught by pianist Billy Wallace. He was briefly enrolled at the University of Denver, before spending part of 1985–86 at the Berklee College of Music, which he abandoned to join drummer Art Blakey's band in which he played alongside pianist Benny Green, trumpeter Philip Harper, trombonist Robin Eubanks, and bassist Peter Washington. Jackson was the Jazz Messenger saxophonist until Blakey's death in 1990.

University of Denver, Denver, CO 1983 (Attended)
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA Bachelor in Music Degree 1999
State University of New York at Purchase, Purchase, NY Master of Music Degree 2003

Jackson has served as Assistant Professor of Jazz at Long Island University in New York (1996-1998) and at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in Purchase, NY (1999-2007). Professor Jackson has been Director of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford since 2013. He serves as Chair of Jazz for the National YoungArts Foundation and is also a member of JEN (Jazz Education Network), where he assists as JENerations Jazz Festival's Artist and Clinician Coordinator.

2009, Full-length score for Alfred Hitchcock's silent film, The Lodger, Syracuse International Film Festival. Conducted Silent Film and Cool Jazz premiere screening, Syracuse International Film Festival, October 15, 2010.

As leader

• Me and Mister Jones (Criss Cross, 1991)
• Burnin′ (Criss Cross, 1991) with Billy Pierce
• New York Unit (Paddle Wheel, 1992)
• When the Time Is Right (Blue Note, 1994)
• For One Who Knows (Blue Note, 1995)
• Blue Spirit (Blue Note, 1996) The Blue Note All Stars collective with Greg Osby, Tim Hagans, Kevin Hays, Essiet Essiet, and Bill Stewart
• A Look Within (Blue Note, 1996)
• Good People (Blue Note, 1997)
• Pleasant Valley (Blue Note, 1999)
• Easy Does It (Palmetto Records, 2002)
• Have You Heard (Palmetto, 2004)
• Now (Palmetto, 2006)
• New York Time (Chesky Records, 2006) with Cedar Walton, Christian McBride, and Jimmy Cobb
• Sugar Hill: The Music of Duke Ellington (Chesky, 2007)
• Once upon a Melody (Palmetto, 2008)
• Celebrating John Coltrane (Solid Jackson, 2012)
• Lucky 13 (Solid Jackson, 2012)
• Expression (Smoke Sessions, 2014)
• Three's Company (Chesky, 2016) with Ron Carter and Billy Drummond
• For You (Solid Jackson, 2018)

As sideman

With Art Blakey

• Hard Champion (Paddle Wheel Records, 1987)
• Blue Moon (Jazz Zounds, 1987)
• Not Yet (Soul Note, 1988)
• Standards (Paddle Wheel, 1988)
• I Get a Kick Out of Bu (Soul Note, 1988)
• The Art of Jazz (In & Out, 1989)
• Chippin' In (Timeless, 1990)
• One for All (A&M, 1990)

With Ron Carter

• Mr. Bow-tie (Somethin' Else, 1995)
• Jazz & Bossa (Blue Note, 2008)

With Curtis Fuller

• Keep It Simple (Savant 2003, [2005])

With Charlie Haden

• Live In Montreal DVD (Image Entertainment, 2002)

With Louis Hayes

• Blue Lou (SteepleChase, 1993)
• The Super Quartet (Timeless, 1994)

With John Hicks

• Sweet Love of Mine (HighNote, 2006)

With Freddie Hubbard

• Feel The Wind (Timeless, 1988) — Freddie Hubbard/Art Blakey session
• Live at Fat Tuesdays (MusicMasters, 1991)
• MMTC (MusicMasters, 1994)

With Elvin Jones

• Youngblood (Enja, 1992)
• Going Home (Enja, 1992)

With Ben E. King

• Heart & Soul (CanAm, 2010)

With New York Unit

• Tribute to George Adams (Paddle Wheel, 1992)

With Lenny White

• Renderers of Spirit (Silva Screen, 1996)