Milt Jackson - Sunflower (1972)

I used to collect the LPs put out by Creed Taylor's label, CTI, which championed the sort of pop-jazz fusion that would evolve into the GRP sound in the '80s. It wasn't exactly challenging stuff, at least not by any stretch of the imagination. But the recordings, engineered by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, offered first-rate sound and were alluringly packaged with classy artwork that could be framed.

This mainly mellow ride, which has vibraphonist Milt Jackson in terrific form backed by Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham and Ralph MacDonald, remained a particular favourite of mine for many years.