Search - Javon Jackson :: Have You Heard

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Funk Drummer | 05/21/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My take on this album is the following: A lot of jazz cats are going for this new sound that incorporates jazz, funk, and r&b. Some are even bringing in some drum & bass and techno. If you go out in downtown NYC on any given night, you might catch some of these amazing jazz musicians fusing various styles together to achieve this hybrid sound. I think that's what Mr. Jackson is attempting to do here. Not too far different from Joshua Redman's Elastic Band, he brings some great musicians together and focuses on groove, NOT SWING. If you're a jazz purist, this album is not for you. But if you dig groove and r&b, you'll probably enjoy this cd. It's not the kind of stuff that you're likely to hear being played on your local cool jazz station. But, it's probably not in Wynton's Ipod either. It's somewhere in between. I disagree with the reviewer above about the drumming on this album. Terreon Gulley is one of the best up-and-coming drummers on the scene. If you're a drummer and want to hear some tight grooves, pick up a copy of this cd. In sum, I like the cd. It's made my Ipod rotation. I take it not to be a jazz album, but rather a new take on today's fusion of groove, r&b, funk, and jazz. Even a few nice vocals on this one!"

Javon can do so much better.

Jimmy | California | 06/21/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It makes me sad to hear a great musician like Javon Jackson producing music like this. I just saw Javon in concert last night with Benny Green and Carl Allen and he can tear it up! Unfortunately, that's not what's happening on this disk. I understand that he is trying to reach a larger audience and I know it's difficult to make money playing jazz, but I really don't think playing this smooth R&B stuff is the answer. He would really be better off producing funk-fusion albums in the category of Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay."