The celebrated saxophonist talks about his place in the jazz tradition, playing with masters of the genre, and his soundtrack for the documentary With Peter Bradley.
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Today, the Spotlight shines On saxophonist and composer Javon Jackson.
Javon sat with us in early October to talk about his film score for the art-world documentary With Peter Bradley, music which came out back in June 2023 on the saxophonist's Solid Jackson Records.
Peter Bradley has had a 50-year career as an abstract artist, but one that saw him getting little acclaim until the last few years. In addition to his work as an artist, the daily practice of which is documented in the film, Bradley was a mover and shaker in various mid-late 20th century modern art scenes. His work is interconnected with his love of jazz, to the point that Javon calls Bradley a “musician whose instrument is paint”.
The score for the film conjures Bradley's favorite jazz icons – Miles, Coltrane and Jackson's former employer, Art Blakey.
I had the opportunity to screen the film before speaking with Javon and I fell in love with the subject, the art and the score. I urge you to check out the music and Peter Bradley’s art.
(The music excerpts heard in this episode are all from Javon Jackson’s With Peter Bradley soundtrack.)
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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:33 Javon's Early Experiences and Influences
02:00 Discussing 'With Peter Bradley'
02:34 Reflections on Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers
03:20 The Art of Individuality in Music
05:34 The Legacy of The Jazz Messengers
06:08 The Influence of Past Artists
06:55 The Challenge of Comparison in Music
09:23 The Evolution of an Artist
21:42 The Role of Presentation in Music
24:45 The Connection Between Sound and Color
27:01 The Role of Peter Bradley as a Mentor
29:14 Reminiscing About Family and Musical Influences
29:32 The Journey of Recording and Musical Collaborations
30:33 The Role of Older Men in Shaping Young Musicians
31:17 The Experience of Being the Youngest in the Band
33:36 The Importance of Listening in Music
35:48 Exploring Different Genres and Musical Influences
50:31 The Intersection of Music and Business
55:05 The Importance of Collaboration in Music
56:17 Closing Remarks and Appreciation
Visit Javon Jackson at https://javonjackson.com/
and on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/imjavonjackson/
Learn more about the documentary With Peter Bradley at https://www.withpeterbradley.com/
and on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/withpeterbradleyfilm/
Listen to Javon Jackson's swinging soundtrack to With Peter Bradley on your streaming platform of choice → https://songwhip.com/javon-jackson/with-peter-bradley
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