“Little Sunflower” is a composition by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, first recorded on his 1967 album Backlash. It’s a modal tune with a Latin feel, alternating between long sections of a minor mode and a brighter major sound. It’s popular with students learning modal improvisation.
The tune is built on long stretches of D minor (D Dorian), with shorter sections that move to an Eb major sound and back. The groove is usually a gentle Latin or bossa feel, and the melody is simple and haunting. Because each chord lasts several bars, there’s plenty of room to develop ideas.
For improvisation, use D Dorian over the minor sections and Eb major or Eb Lydian over the major sections. The move from D minor to Eb major is a half-step shift that should be audible; target G (the third of Eb) to mark it. Build solos from motifs, as modal tunes reward development and space.
Practice with a Latin play-along, focusing on smooth transitions between sections. Experiment with pentatonic scales built on different notes of D Dorian for variety.
Arrangement idea: have the bassist set up a repeating Latin figure for eight bars, then bring in the melody on flugelhorn or flute for a softer color. During solos, let the drummer build intensity gradually. Many bands end with the melody played twice, the second time quieter, before fading on the D minor vamp.
Getting the most from the Little Sunflower Lead Sheet PDF: start by reading the chord symbols without your instrument and humming the roots. Then circle any chord you can’t yet voice or arpeggiate, and make those your warm-up for the week before you play the whole form.
Is it hard to play? It’s beginner to intermediate and an excellent first modal tune. Recordings to study: Hubbard’s Backlash version and his later live performances. Learn more about the composer on Freddie Hubbard’s Wikipedia page, and find more modal jazz lead sheets on Minedit.