Javon Anthony Jackson (born June 16, 1965) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and educator.

Recognized for those diverse styles, he was tapped by producers Lea Reis, Bryant "Moe Doe" Johnson to play on Tupac Shakur's Keep Ya Head Up / Madukey Remix in 1993.

[16] Growing up, his parents both were fans of jazz, exposing him to the music of Ahmad Jamal, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, and Charlie Parker.

[15] He was briefly enrolled at the University of Denver,[16] before spending part of 1985–86 at the Berklee College of Music, which he abandoned to join drummer Art Blakey's band[15] in which he played alongside pianist Benny Green, trumpeter Philip Harper, trombonist Robin Eubanks, and bassist Peter Washington.

Jackson made his Blue Note Records debut in 1993 with When The Time Is Right, produced by the renowned vocalist and bandleader Betty Carter.

[20] According to a 2019 JazzTimes review[21] of For You: "With tradition always in mind but keeping the settings varied, Jackson salutes mentors, inspirations, and family, among others.

His love of Sonny Rollins is clear as day on “I’m Old Fashioned,” he mines Wayne Shorter’s shuffling “Backstage Sally” for all its worth, and he puts the album to rest with some gusty statements on the McCoy Tyner-inspired “88 Strong.” His ray-of-sunshine demeanor also proves to be a key component of the production, lighting up Cedar Walton’s “Simple Pleasure” and bassist David Williams’ tropically infused “Native Son.” When not dealing with searing heat or pure light, Jackson can be found wearing his heart on his horn.

In 2017, for the album Deja Vu (released in 2020), Jackson reunited his lineup from For You: pianist Jeremy Manasia, drummer McClenty Hunter and bassist David Williams for a program of classics “Autumn in New York,” “Limehouse Blues” and “My Shining Hour,” and tunes by Wayne Shorter (“Venus De Mildew”), Cedar Walton (“In The Kitchen,” “Martha’s Prize”), Thelonious Monk (“Raise Four”) and the late Jimmy Heath.

[2] Giovanni is one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 “Living Legends”[23] and a Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2017.

[27] As Jackson noted on Heart and Soul’s website, the album was recorded live at Telefunken Studios in South Windsor, Connecticut, the 10 tunes on The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni were all done without the use of headphones, as he noted: “I really wanted to do it just like if you’re in church, where there’s a preacher talking and all of a sudden the choir begins.”[28] Jackson's first soundtrack and score, With Peter Bradley was released on the Palmetto Records label in early 2023.