LISTEN: 'The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni' brings together a 黑料吃瓜网 jazz musician and an iconic American poet

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LISTEN: 'The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni' brings together a 黑料吃瓜网 jazz musician and an iconic American poet

黑料吃瓜网 Radio | By Diane Orson

Published February 17, 2022 at 3:56 PM EST

1 of 3 — Nikki Giovanni Javon Jackson

Javon Jackson and Nikki Giovanni, pictured above during a recording of "The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni" on Sept. 23, 2021.

Shaban Athuman / Shaban Athuman

2 of 3 — Nikki{

Javon Jackson, during a recording of "The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni," Sept. 23, 2021.

Shaban Athuman / Shaban Athuman

3 of 3 — Nikki

Nikki Giovanni and Javon Jackson, during a recording of "The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni," Sept. 23, 2021.

Shaban Athuman / Shaban Athuman

鈥淭he Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni鈥� 鈥� an album featuring 黑料吃瓜网 saxophonist Javon Jackson 鈥� was recently released to correspond with Black History Month.

The album features Jackson playing jazz renditions of gospel hymns and spirituals hand-picked by Giovanni. The 78-year-old poet makes a rare vocal performance.

鈥淕ospel spirituals, as I like to categorize them, speak to the story of America,鈥� said Jackson.

is a former member of Art Blakey鈥檚 Jazz Messengers and director of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford. is a renowned poet, activist and educator. She鈥檚 a Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the first person to receive the Rosa Parks Women of Courage Award.

黑料吃瓜网 Radio鈥檚 Diane Orson produced this audio essay.

Listen: 'The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni' brings together a 黑料吃瓜网 jazz musician and an iconic American poet

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Diane Orson

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with 黑料吃瓜网. She is a longtime reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Here and Now; and The World from PRX. She spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.

See stories by Diane Orson

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de 黑料吃瓜网, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programaci贸n que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para m谩s reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscr铆base a nuestro bolet铆n informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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