Sunflower cover

Sunflower

Released

This 1973 album by vibraphonist Milt Jackson features an absolutely killer band: Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and flugelhorn, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums, plus about 20 other musicians creating lush orchestrations behind the core quintet. Jackson’s style is so dignified and stately that even when he’s technically soloing all the way through a piece (closely shadowed by Hancock), it rarely feels that way. Even Hubbard holds back, serving up relatively few of the sky-scraping runs he was famous for, choosing tenderness and beauty instead. This is some of the most sublime ensemble playing you’ll ever hear.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Resistance Is Futile cover

Resistance Is Futile

Steve Coleman and Five Elements
Vitalive! cover

Vitalive!

Vital Information, Steve Smith
Ethiopiques, Vol. 21: Ethiopia Song cover

Ethiopiques, Vol. 21: Ethiopia Song

Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou
Live: Vol. 1 cover

Live: Vol. 1

Robin Eubanks, Eb3
No Beginning No End cover

No Beginning No End

Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner
João Donato JID007 cover

João Donato JID007

Ali Shaheed Muhammad, João Donato, Adrian Younge
Virtue cover

Virtue

Alphonse Mouzon
Lord of Lords cover

Lord of Lords

Alice Coltrane