Performance: Javon Jackson with Nikki Giovanni and Nnenna Freelon
Venue: Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg
Organizations: Nikki Giovanni
Date: Friday, November 3, 2023
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Event Types: Music, Arts & Theatre
Cost:

Description:
The Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech presents a performance by Javon Jackson with Nikki Giovanni and Nnenna Freelon on Friday, November 3, 2023.

A historic collaboration between renowned poet and Virginia Tech legend Nikki Giovanni and saxophonist-composer and former Jazz Messenger Javon Jackson has yielded "The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni". For this intimate jazz performance, Jackson brings his bold-toned, Trane-inspired tenor lines to bear on a series of hymns, spirituals, and gospel numbers hand-picked by Giovanni. They are joined by celebrated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon.

Nikki Giovanni is one of the best-known African-American poets who reached prominence during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her unique and insightful poetry testifies to her own evolving awareness and experiences: from child to young woman, from naive college freshman to seasoned civil rights activist, from daughter to mother. Frequently anthologized, Giovanni’s poetry expresses strong racial pride and respect for family. Her informal style makes her work accessible to both adults and children.

A lung cancer survivor, Giovanni also contributed an introduction to the anthology Breaking the Silence: Inspirational Stories of Black Cancer Survivors (Hilton Publishing, 2005).

Her honors include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1970, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Dedication and Commitment to Service in 2009, three NAACP Image Awards for Literature in 1998, the Langston Hughes award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters in 1996, as well as more than twenty honorary degrees from national colleges and universities. She has been given keys to more than a dozen cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and New Orleans.

Several magazines have named Giovanni Woman of the Year, including Essence, Mademoiselle, Ebony, and Ladies Home Journal. She was the first recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award. She has served as poetry judge for the National Book Awards and was a finalist for a Grammy Award in the category of Spoken Word.

She is currently University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, where she has taught since 1987.

Links:

• http://www.nikki-giovanni.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/NikkiGiovanniAuthor

Joined by an outstanding crew comprised of pianist Jeremy Manasia, bassist David Williams, and drummer McClenty Hunter — the same lineup that appeared on Jackson’s 2018 album,?For You,?and his 2020 follow-up,?Deja Vu?— Jackson interprets gospel staples like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Wade in the Water; Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel; and Leaning on the Everlasting Arms with authoritative tenor tones, deep walking bass lines, and an organic sense of group swing.

Vocalist Nnenna Freelon is a multi-Grammy Award nominee known worldwide as a compelling and captivating live performer. She recently starred in the critically acclaimed show?Georgia on My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles?— no stranger to the music of the master singer, she toured with Ray Charles, as well as many other great jazz artists, including Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Earl Klugh, Take 6, and others.

Accolades and awards have abounded — performances at the White House; headlining the Asia Pacific Economic Summit for 300 presidents, premiers, and heads of state; receiving the YWCA of North Carolina’s inaugural “Legend Award” for her outstanding artistry and her dedication to education; and so much more.

Adults tickets range from $20.00-$55.00 and tickets for Virginia Tech student tickets with ID and youth ages 18 & under are $10.00 each.

To purchase tickets online, visit: https://tickets.artscenter.vt.edu/online/mapSelect.asp?doWork::WSmap::loadMap=Load&createBO::WSmap=1&BOparam::WSmap::loadMap::performance_ids=DB6D0F4F-03BA-4109-B667-98CAC2866FE8.

The Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech is located at 330 Turner Street NW in Blacksburg, VA.

For more information, visit: https://artscenter.vt.edu/performances/jackson-giovanni-freelon.html or https://www.facebook.com/artscenteratvt or https://www.instagram.com/artscenteratvt/ or call 540-231-5300.