Javon Jackson - "We Four"

Last Tuesday and Wednesday at Jimmy Maks, Portland jazz fans were treated to a John Coltrane inspired set from Javon Jackson, Mulgrew Miller, Nate Reeves and the legendary Jimmy Cobb (really!).
We heard music from a range of Coltrane numbers; songs like "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Freddie Freeloader".   As I was listening to one of the tunes, I was reminded of the first time I heard "Giant Steps" and immediately noted a mathematical structure to many of the tunes on that disc.  Try listening to a Coltrane tune and think of those days (way, way back) when you first balanced an equation.  Then listen to the tune again.  OK, don't; up to you!
Also, clearly, Javon Jackson, Jimmy Cobb and Mulgrew Miller were the noted players in this quartet but, I was continually drawn to the bass of Nate Reeves as he provided the connective tissue between solos and kept each tune moving at a brisk pace.

This was a special night of music.  Getting to attend a show from such luminaries left me with two thoughts:

• Jimmy Mak has done a fine job of booking some excellent music for our community.
• AND, we have local musicians (Mel Brown, Devin Phillips, Nancy King, and many, many more) that turn out shows just as excellent, every week, throughout our city!

Javon

Jimmy Cobb - 81 years young!

Mulgrew Miller 

Nate Reeves; holding it all together!