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
Skin Tight cover

Skin Tight

Ohio Players
Galactic Warrior cover

Galactic Warrior

Santiago Bosch
Both/And cover

Both/And

Randy Brecker, Marc Copland, Victor Lewis, Ed Howard
Perseverance cover

Perseverance

Henry Franklin, Big Black, Phil Ranelin
Seriously Deep cover

Seriously Deep

David Axelrod
Flood cover

Flood

Herbie Hancock
Saudades cover

Saudades

Larry Goldings, Jack DeJohnette, Trio Beyond, John Scofield
Rise Up! cover

Rise Up!

Lonnie Smith