1987 · Album
A Change of Heart
Warner Bros. · Released: 1987 · Chart Peak (Billboard 200): Number 74 · Chart Peak (R&B Albums): Number 43 · Chart Peak (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums): Number 3
Warner Bros. Caught Sanborn in Transition
A Change of Heart sits awkwardly between Sanborn's commercial peak and his later explorations.
By 1987, David Sanborn had already established himself as a saxophonist who could move between jazz credibility and pop radio play without apology. A Change of Heart, released on Warner Bros., arrived at a moment when that balancing act was getting harder to sustain. The album charted respectfully—number 3 on the contemporary jazz chart—but the broader Billboard 200 placement at number 74 told a different story: mainstream radio was moving on.
The record itself occupies uncertain territory. It's not a full embrace of the smooth jazz formula that was taking over FM airwaves, nor is it a return to the harder-blowing side of Sanborn's earlier work. Instead, it feels like a set of pieces each solving a different problem—some leaning toward pop-soul accessibility, others toward instrumental sophistication. That split aesthetic didn't help its case. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave it two stars, suggesting the critics saw it as competent but forgettable.
In Sanborn's discography, this is a middle-period work that doesn't claim special status. It's not the album to start with, and it's rarely the one fans return to. But it's worth hearing as a snapshot of a working saxophonist in 1987, trying to hold ground between two audiences that were increasingly pulling in opposite directions.
Who's playing
Marcus Millerbass, guitar, keyboard
Anthony Jacksonbass
Dr. Johnpiano
Hiram Bullockguitar
Hugh McCrackenguitar
Nick Morochguitar
Michael Breckersaxophone
Bernard Wrightsynthesizer
Rob Mounseysynthesizer
Michael Colinasynthesizer
Steve Ferronedrums
Steve Gadddrums
Mickey Currydrums
Mino Cinelupercussion
Don Grolnickkeyboard
John Mahoneysynclavier
Philippe Saissekeyboard
Where next?
The musicians on this record
Marcus Miller 1984
Marcus Miller
plays bass here
plays bass here
Michael Brecker 1987
Michael Brecker
plays saxophone here
plays saxophone here
