Sunflower [Limited Edition]

Milt Jackson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AGX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,426 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. For Someone I Love (What's Your Story)

2. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?

3. People Make the World Go Round

4. Sunflower

5. SKJ

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 40th Anniversary Edition, March 19, 2011

By 

Paul Dunphy - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sunflower (CTI Records 40th Anniversary Edition) (Audio CD)

There's a few CTI releases that I've loved over the years (Red Clay, Straight Life, Sugar) and Sunflower. I bought the LP when it first came out I still love this recording despite some of the overly sweet orchestral arrangements.

The other reviews have commented on the music, I'm just going to focus on the quality of the 40th Anniversary remaster compared to the CTI Legacy version issued in 1997 for the benefit of those who may be considering replacing their current cd with the new Anniversary edition. The CTI Masterworks version is not only remastered, it is also remixed and re-edited which has not been made clear in the marketing or packaging. Here are a couple of examples.

The guitar intro on the 1997 Legacy version of For Someone in Love continues once the band enters. On the new Masterworks version the guitar drops out as soon as the band enters.

The Legacy version of Sunflower is 11:04 long (not 10:01 as indicated in the liner notes) versus an 8:51 long version on the Masterworks release. The main difference is that the Legacy version has a long coda with plenty of good playing.

I don't have the original album any more so I don't know which mix/edit is consistent with the original album. I can say that overall the new Masterworks version is more muffled than the Legacy and has less detail in the percussion and leading edge of notes, especially trumpet and electric piano. Since those two instruments, along with the vibes, are the lead instruments that's a big difference in musical quality on a good stereo or headphones. The Masterworks version has more reverb on the trumpet and a fuller sound on the drums, especially on the toms.

Overall I was surprised to find that I preferred the older Legacy version. I was expecting the Masterworks to be much better since there have been so many good remasters of other recordings released in recent years. The music is still great but this remaster is not an improvement over the 1997 Legacy version of the cd.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cast, but they get in the way of each other sometimes, May 22, 2004

By 

Mark A. Geisler "father mark" (DeKalb, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunflower (Audio CD)

I had never heard of this particular recording by Milt Jackson, even though I have CDs of his spanning the many eras of his career (including MJQ). But I happened to see this in the store,looked at the stellar cast listed on the back, and grabbed it.

Overall, this recording does not disappoint. But,at times, the players seem to be getting into one another's way. It sounds rather "muddy" and cacophonous in these places. For example, the strings seem especially intrusive on the first two tracks. This is not one of Don Sebesky's better arranging efforts. What a difference it is without strings on "People Make the World Go Round!" I particularly liked Herbie Hancock's acoustic piano solo on this track.

But the overall musicianship is, as one might expect, impeccable. I would recommend this for someone who has already listened to some of Milt's other recordings. But this is not the best place to start.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!, May 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sunflower (Audio CD)

Beware, you WILL be captivated by this album. It is music for the soul. Jay Berliner's guitar gently opens the door to your heart on the first song, "For Someone I Love." Freddie Hubbard and Milt Jackson take it from there. You are taken by the hand and gently led into the remaining venue. Milt Jackson's vibes on "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life" will make you weep. The entire album blossoms, like a sunflower.