Javon Jackson: Jackson Plays Dylan

On Jackson Plays Dylan, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, an admirer of Bob Dylan, aims his jazz arsenal toward the iconic singer and songwriter in hopes of reworking Dylan's folk/pop music into a framework that jazz enthusiasts might consider creative and pleasing.

So how does that play? For the most part, rather tediously, which is surely not what Jackson's quartet had in mind. As it turns out, Dylan's themes sans lyrics do not lend themselves readily to the jazz idiom, no matter how adroit and talented the musicians or how hard they work to recast Dylan's ideology. Jackson is among the jazz world's foremost tenors, and his supporting crew is hardly new to the game either.

Even so, they labor to enliven Dylan's music, even bailing on such well-known themes as "Blowin' in the Wind," "The Times They Are A-Changin,'" "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." The charts definitely play a large role in that, as tempos tend to drag, and there is far too much reliance on fading in and fading out. One tune that sustains momentum was not written by Dylan but by Jackson, his opening "One for Bob Dylan," wherein everyone seems focused and comfortable. "Tambourine Man" also generates a fair amount of heat, but that is about it. The rest is calm and peaceful.

There are two vocals, one apiece by Lisa Fischer ("Gotta Serve Somebody") and Nicole Zuraitis ("Forever Young"), but neither does much to enrich the landscape. Jackson's rhythm section, which is seldom called on to exert itself, consists of pianist Jeremy Manasia (who doubles on Fender Rhodes), bassist Isaac Levien and drummer Ryan Sands. Although they do what they can to hold things together, with a name like Javon Jackson on the marquee—playing music by the legendary Bob Dylan—one can hardly be faulted for expecting something more.

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