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
Time cover

Time

Larry Nozero
Let ’Em Roll cover

Let ’Em Roll

Big John Patton
Where Have I Known You Before cover

Where Have I Known You Before

Return to Forever, Chick Corea
Body and Soul cover

Body and Soul

David Murray Quartet
Dawn cover

Dawn

Build an Ark
Tough Tenors Again ‘n’ Again cover

Tough Tenors Again ‘n’ Again

Johnny Griffin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
New Ammo cover

New Ammo

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
The Source cover

The Source

Tony Allen
Prayer Meetin' cover

Prayer Meetin'

Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine