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
RoundAgain cover

RoundAgain

Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade
Love, Love cover

Love, Love

Julian Priester
75th cover

75th

Joe Zawinul
Black Light Collective cover

Black Light Collective

Black Light Collective
Highway Rider cover

Highway Rider

Brad Mehldau
Dennis Coffey cover

Dennis Coffey

Dennis Coffey
Sylva cover

Sylva

Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest
Red Clay cover

Red Clay

Freddie Hubbard
Gary Bartz [JID006] cover

Gary Bartz [JID006]

Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge, Gary Bartz