1960s

Marion Brown – Porto Novo

featuring Han Bennik & Maarten van Regteben Altena

Style: Free-Bop, Free Jazz

Moods: Kinetic, Abstract, Suspenseful, Hectic

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Acoustic, Instrumental

Sonny Sharrock – Black Woman

featuring Milford Graves, Linda Sharrock, Sirone & Dave Burrell

Style: Free Jazz, Jazz Fission

Vibe: Ecstatic, Cathartic, Anthemic, Spiritual, Ritualistic, Kinetic, Communal

Musical Qualities: Thematic, Loose, Collective Improvisation, Dynamic

Folk Music & Songs from the Middle East

Style: Lebanese Folk

Moods: Communal, Passionate, Spiritual, Rootsy, Devotional, Ecstatic, Desert, Nocturnal, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Modal, Microtonal, Percussive

Instrumentation: Oud, Group Vocals, Naye, Rabab, Derbake

Ravi Shankar – Six Ragas

Style: Hindustani Classical Music

Moods: Ecstatic, Joyful, Meditative, Spiritual, Warm, Flowing, Energetic, Hypnotic

Musical Qualities: Raga, Improvisation, Acoustic, Percussive, Microtonal

Byard Lancaster – It’s Not Up to Us

featuring Sonny Sharrock

Style: Post-Bop, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Airy, Searching, Peaceful, Hypnotic, Warm, Spring, Uplifting, Devotional

Instrumentation: Flute, Electric Guitar, Congas, Drums, Electric Bass, Upright Bass, Alto Saxophone

The Incredible String Band – Changing Horses

Style: Mystical Folk, Progressive Folk

Moods: Whimsical, Spiritual, Spring, Theatric, Earthy, Eccentric, Pastoral, Communal, Intertwined, Poetic, Mystical

Instrumentation: Choral Vocals, Flute, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Guimbri, Sarang, Electric Bass, Piano, Harmonica, Washboard, Percussion, Vibraphone, Organ, Kazoo, Chinese Banjo, Sitar, Mandolin

Mingus Plays Piano

Style: Jazz, Solo Piano

Moods: Reflective, Personal, Elegant, Introspective, Mellow, Sentimental, Soothing

Musical Qualities: Sparse, Improvisation, Acoustic, Melodic

The Velvet Underground

Style: Folk Rock, Art Rock, Pop Rock

Moods: Bittersweet, Breakup, Alienation, Melancholy, Urban, Autumnal, Mellow, Introspective, Depressive, Intimate, Love, Sombre, Lonely

Musical Qualities: Soft, Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic

Sandy Bull: E pluribus unum

Style: Acid Folk, Folk-Rock Influences: Arabic Folk, Blues, Raga

Moods: Mysterious, Confident, Serpentine, Searching, Psychedelic, Desert, Determined, Earthy, Flowing, Impressionistic, Introspective, Meandering, Meditative, Ritualistic

Musical Qualities: Modal, Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Solo, Bluesy

Instrumentation: Oud, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Electric Bass

The Charles Lloyd Quartet – Journey Within

Style: Post-Bop, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Sunny, Warm, Flowing, Bright, Spiritual, Searching

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Improvisation, Modal, Instrumental, Live

Instrumentation: Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Drums, Piano, Upright Bass

Cream – Disraeli Gears

Style: Acid Rock, Blues Rock

Moods: Psychedelic, Warm, Surreal, Confident, Playful, Sunny, Colorful

Musical Qualities: Riffs, Bluesy, Melodic, Technical

Tim Buckley – Blue Afternoon

Blue Afternoon continues the flowing jazz-folk of Happy Sad while occasionally detouring into the avant-garde atmospheres that manifest more fully on Lorca and Starsailor. The arrangements are characterized by fluid vibraphones, lobbing upright bass, and the virtuosic jazz guitar of Lee Underwood, but what really ties everything together are the vocals and songwriting. Buckley’s voice is so versatile that he is able to express a wide range of emotions, sometimes blurring them from one moment to the next.

Charles Lloyd – Forest Flower

featuring Jack DeJohnnette, Cecil McBee & Keith Jarret

Style: Post-Bop, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Spring, Flowing, Mellow, Spiritual, Warm

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Improvisation, Thematic, Live, Technical

The Soft Machine

Style: Canterbury Scene, Psych Pop, Progressive Pop, Jazz-Influenced

Moods: Surreal, Whimsical, Dadaist, Playful, Joyful, Uplifting

Musical Qualities: Suite, Catchy, Complex, Uncommon Time Signatures, Loose

Coltrane live at Birdland

Style: Post-Bop

Moods: Passionate, Sentimental, Tender, Cathartic, Mournful, Energetic, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Acoustic, Virtuosic, Instrumental

Neil Young – Neil Young

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Country-Rock

Moods: Longing, Introspective, Loner, Bittersweet, Romantic, Alienation, Rustic, Sentimental

Musical Qualities: Melodic, Lush, Polished, Orchestral Arrangements

Albert Ayler – Witches & Devils

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Free Jazz

Vibe: Passionate, Kinetic, Transcendent, Flowing, Free, Responsive, Uplifting

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Thematic, Acoustic, Dynamic, Instrumental

Don Cherry – Where is Brooklyn

Personnel:
Don Cherry – Cornet, Pharaoh Sanders – Tenor Sax, Piccolo; Henry Grimes – Upright Bass; Ed Blackwell – Drums

Style: Free Jazz

Moods: Driving, Energetic, Urban, Communal, Passionate, Playful, Chaotic

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Improvisation, Complex, Acoustic, Rhythmic, Dissonant, Extended Technique

Pearls Before Swine – One Nation Underground

Style: Acid Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Chamber-Folk

Moods: Surreal, Philosophical, Pacifist, Eclectic, Medieval, Cryptic, Melancholy, Spring, Morning, Conscious, Moody, Whimsical, Protest, Political, Psychedelic, Acerbic

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Harpsichord, Organ, Autoharp, Banjo, Mandolin, Vibraphone, Audio Oscillator, Electric Bass, English Horn, Clavioline, Sarangi, Finger Cymbals, Swinehorn

Bert Jansch – Jack Orion

Style: Folk Baroque, English & Scottish Folk Music

Moods: Medieval, Romantic, Storytelling, Rural, Intimate, Morning, Rootsy, Melancholy, Passionate, Mellow

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Fingerstyle, Technical

John Fahey – The Yellow Princess

Style: American Primitive Guitar, Appalachian Folk, Avant-Folk

Moods: Contemplative, Spring, Pastoral, Bluesy, Meditative, Rustic, Mellow, Hypnotic, Rootsy, Nature

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Sparse, Progressive

Sandy Bull – Inventions

Styles: Free-Folk, Jazz-Folk, Classical Guitar, Country Blues

Moods: Searching, Impressionistic, Hypnotic, Meditative, Exploratory, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Acoustic, Improvisation, Virtuosic

Sun Ra – Nothing Is…

Style: Cosmic Jazz, Free Space Music

Feelings: Exploratory, Cosmic, Forest, Mysterious, Abstract, Intense, Energetic, Spacey, Surreal, Warm

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Dense, Live Performance, Dissonant, Complex, Dynamic

John Coltrane & Pharoah Sanders – Live in Seattle

Style: Free Jazz, Spiritual Jazz

Vibe: Apocalyptic, Intense, Transcendent, Epic, Cosmic, Bombastic, Chaotic, Complex, Exploratory, Energetic, Serpentine, Powerful, Passionate, Triumphant, Spiritual, Heavy

Musical Qualities: Dense, Dissonant, Polyphonic, Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Live Recording, Extended Technique, Progressive, Technical

Charles Mingus – Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus

Style: Post-Bop, Progressive Big Band

Vibe: Elegant, Romantic, Nocturnal, Bustling, Passionate, Warm, Complex, Energetic

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Progressive, Dense, Technical, Acoustic, Improvisation, Lush, Melodic

Coltrane “LIVE” at the Village Vanguard

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Modal Jazz, Post-Bop

Vibe: Searching, Communicative, Passionate, Bustling, Driving

Musical Qualities: Modal, Improvisation, Acoustic, Live Recording, Technical, Thematic, Dense

John Coltrane – Concert in Japan

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Free Jazz

Vibe: Transcendent, Intense, Passionate, Cosmic, Visceral, Powerful, Complex, Bombastic, Energetic, Chaotic

Musical Qualities: Dense, Instrumental, Acoustic, Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Free, Technical, Virtuosic

Archie Shepp – Live in San Francisco

Style: Free Jazz

Vibe: Sentimental, Heartfelt, Rebellious, Rootsy, Passionate

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Acoustic, Thematic, Spoken Word, Live Recording

Albert Ayler – Love Cry

Albert Ayler – Tenor & Alto Saxophones, Vocals
Alan Silva – Upright Bass
Milford Graves – Drums & Percussion
Call Cobbs Jr. – Harpsichord
Donald Ayler – Trumpet

Vibe: Ecstatic, Passionate, Anthemic, Energetic, Spiritual, Joyful, Deconstructed, Uplifting

Musical Qualities: Thematic, Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Loose, Melodic

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Free Jazz

John Coltrane – Sun Ship

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibe: Cathartic, Transcendent, Triumphant, Passionate, Intense, Chaotic, Powerful, Adventure, Searching, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dense, Dynamic, Complex, Acoustic, Thematic, Dissonant, Technical

The Great Concert of Cecil Taylor

Cecil Taylor – Piano; Jimmy Lyons – Alto Sax; Sam Rivers – Tenor & Soprano Sax; Andrew Cyrille – Drums

Style: Free Jazz

Vibe: Transcendent, Dramatic, Kinetic, Intense, Passionate, Driving, Knotty, Complex, Forceful, Cathartic

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dense, Atonal, Polyphonic, Polyrhythmic, Free Swing, Dynamic, Acoustic, Live, Fast

John Fahey – Volume 2: Death Chants, Breakdowns, & Military Waltzes

Style: American Primitivism, Acoustic Blues, Folk

Vibe: Meditative, Loner, Morning, Rustic, Spring, Spiritual, Pastoral, Bittersweet, Hypnotic, inspiration, Melancholy, Nature, Raw, Warm 

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Technical, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Sparse, Progressive

Miles Davis – Sorcerer

Style: Post-Bop, Modal Jazz

Vibe: Mysterious, Driving, Nocturnal, Complex, Anxious, Intertwined, Sensual, Energetic

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Modal, Acoustic, Instrumental (except B3)


Personnel:

Miles Davis – Trumpet; Herbie Hancock – Piano; Ron Carter; Upright Bass; Tony Williams – Drums; Wayne Shorter – Saxophone

Sun Ra – The Magic City

Style: Cosmic Jazz

Vibe: Cosmic, Mysterious, Chaotic, Epic, Futuristic, Imaginative, Suspenseful, Ominous, Spacey, Surreal, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Dynamic, Collective Improvisation, Dissonant, Atonal, Progressive, Free

Bert Jansch – Birthday Blues

Style: Chamber Folk, British Folk, Acoustic Blues, Jazz-Folk

Vibe: Breezy, Mellow, Contemplative, Autumnal, Uplifting, Melancholy, Warm, Joyful, Love, Intertwined, Reflective, Poetic

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Melodic, Lush, Rootsy, Bluesy, Chamber Arrangements

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Upright Bass, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica

Silver Apples – Silver Apples

Style: Analogue Electronic, Experimental Rock

Vibe: Anxious, Motorik, Mechanical, Dystopian, Futuristic, Ominous, Hypnotic

Musical Qualities: Dissonant, Repetitive, Percussive, Polyrhythmic

Brigitte Fontaine / Areski / Art Ensemble of Chicago – Comme á la Radio

Style: Chanson, Chamber Jazz, Avant-Folk

Vibe: Serpentine, Nocturnal, Mysterious, Ominous, Storytelling, Suspenseful, Open, Beguiling

Musical Qualities: Spoken Word, Collective Improvisation, Thematic, Percussive

Instrumentation: Duet Vocals, Muted Trumpet, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Shenai, Oboe, Flute, Percussion, Drums, Upright Bass, Lute

Julius Lester – Departures

Style: Folk, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter

Vibe: Outsider, Rebellious, Melancholy, Storytelling, Intimate, Philosophical, Personal, Political

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Bluesy, Lyrical

Grant Green – Idle Moments

Style: Modal Jazz, Hard Bop

Vibe: Elegant, Nocturnal, Mellow, Soothing, Straight Ahead

Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Improvisation, Technical, Modal

Tangerine Dream – Electronic Meditation

Style: Space Rock, Free Rock, Kosmische Musik

Vibe: Primordial, Mysterious, Exploratory, Cold, Desolate, Cosmic, Suspenseful, Meandering, Abstract, Amorphous, Cinematic, Psychedelic, Murky

Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Improvisation, Instrumental, Dissonant, Noisy, Raw, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Jackson C. Frank – Jackson C. Frank

Style: Loner Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Folk Blues

Vibe: Introspective, Mellow, Intimate, Longing, Autumnal, Raw, Loner, Simple, Poetic, Melancholy

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Lyrical

Hoyt Axton – My Griffin Is Gone

Style: Progressive Country, Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Vibe: Nature, Autumnal, Morning, Rustic, Pastoral, Sunny, Uplifting, Warm

Musical Attributes: Lush, Melodic, Lyrical, Orchestral

Henry Grimes Trio – The Call

Style: Free Jazz

Vibe: Mysterious, Moody, Complex

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Instrumental, Acoustic, Dynamic

Personnel: Henry Grimes (Upright Bass), Perry Robinson (Clarinet), Tom Price (Drums)

Albert Ayler – Holy Ghost

Style: Free Jazz, Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Abstract, Active Listening, Chaotic, Energetic, Raw, Spiritual
Musical Attributes: Improvisation (Collective, Thematic, Free), Live, Lo-Fi, Instrumental, Acoustic

Albert Ayler – New Grass

One can only imagine how Ayler bringing more commercial styles like R&B, Rock, and Gospel into his avant-garde music messed with critics and fans alike when it came out—the way it looked like commercial pandering to the Free Jazz listeners but was probably still too weird for new listeners. It helps to remember that Ayler came from R&B and went straight to the Free Spiritual Jazz of the early 60s, making Jazz critics highly skeptical skeptical by not climbing the bebop ranks like Coltrane before plunging into freedom. On New Grass, Ayler really started to synthesize the spiritual elements of many forms of Great Black Music, making more accessible music not as a way of selling out, but a way of sharing his beautiful spiritual message and sound with a wider audience. Plus this thing has Bernard Purdie on drums so of course it slaps.
If you dig this LP, I think he succeeded in this sound direction even more on his following albums Love Cry and Music is the Healing Force of the Universe. Albert Ayler was a pure soul that left this world too soon, grateful for the gifts of music and wisdom he left behind.

Gruppe Nuova Consonanza – Improvisationen

Style: Free Improvisation, Experimental, Tape Music

Vibe: Suspenseful, Active Listening

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Atonal, Sparse, Dynamic

Instrumentation: Trumpet, Upright Bass, Cello, Trombone, Percussion, Piano, Electro-Magnetic Tape

Ornette Coleman Double Quintet – Free Jazz

Style: Free Jazz

Vibe: Communal, Bombastic, Complex, Energetic, Passionate, Chaotic

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Dense, Instrumental, Acoustic, Dynamic, Polyphonic

Archie Shepp – Fire Music

Released in 1965 on Impulse! Records

Format: LP

Style: Free Jazz

Vibe: Passionate, Complex, Fiery, Political

Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Acoustic, Progressive, Polyphonic, Odd Time Signatures

John Coltrane – Africa / Brass

Released in 1961 on Impulse! Records Red Ring 70s Reissue Format: LP Style: Modal Jazz, Post-Bop Musical Attributes: Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Melodic, Dense, Improvisation, Instrumental, Africa-Inspired, Technical, Modal Personnell: John Coltrane – Tenor Saxophone Elvin Jones – Drums Reggie Workman – Upright Bass McCoy Tyner – Piano Horn section: Eric Dolphy – Arrangements Pat Patrick – baritone …

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Third Ear Band – Alchemy

Style: Free Folk, Chamber Music, Progressive Folk

Vibe: Ritualistic, Hypnotic, Earthy, Tribal, Nature, Meditative, Medieval, Exploratory

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Minimalistic

Instrumentation: Oboe, Violin, Viola, Recorder, Percussion (Tabla, Drums, Chimes), Cello

George Russell – Outer Thoughts

Released in 1975 on Milestone Records Compilation featuring tracks recorded between 1960 and 1962 that were originally released on albums such as Ezz-Thetics and Stratusphunk Format: LPx2

John Fahey – The Voice of the Turtle

Style: American Primitive Guitar, Folk
Vibe: Rootsy, Eclectic, Raw
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Lo-fi, Sound Collage, Vignettes, Bluesy, Instrumental

Gong – Magick Brother

Style: Canterbury Scene, Psych Rock

Vibe: Psychedelic, Whimsical, Joyful, Eccentric, Spacey, Playful

Musical Attributes: Raw, Progressive, lo-fi

Cecil Taylor – Conquistador

Style: Free Jazz
Vibe: Abstract, Energetic, Passionate, Complex
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Polyphonic, Polyrhythmic, Dissonant, Poly-Free

Pearls Before Swine – Balaklava

Released in 1968 on ESP-Disk Format: LP Style: Chamber Folk, Psych Folk Vibe: Peaceful, Mellow, Psychedelic Themes: War, Nature, Love Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Strings, Flute, Banjo, Keyboards, Bass, French Horn

Cecil Taylor – Unit Structures

Album Information: Originally released in 1966 on Blue Note Records Recorded May 19, 1966 1973 Reissue Format: LP Personnel: Cecil Taylor – Piano Alan Silva – Upright Bass Henry Grimes – Upright Bass Andrew Cyrille – Drums Jimmy Lyons – Alto Saxophone Eddy Gale Stevens, Jr. – Trumpet Ken McIntyre – Alto Saxophone, Oboe, Bass …

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The Soft Machine – The Soft Machine [2nd Press]

Style: Canterbury Scene, Psych Pop, Progressive Pop, Jazz-Influenced

Moods: Surreal, Whimsical, Dadaist, Playful, Joyful, Uplifting

Musical Qualities: Suite, Catchy, Complex, Uncommon Time Signatures, Loose

The Ornette Coleman Quartet – This is Our Music

Style: Free Bop, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibe: Kinetic, Joyful, Energetic, Playful, Passionate, Colorful,

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Harmolodic, Rhythmic, Swing, Acoustic, Instrumental, Technical

The Incredible String Band – The Big Huge

Warm, mellow Scottish folk with lyrics that border spiritual, philosophical, and fantasy themes. The arrangements are a bit stripped down from their lush psychedelia of previous releases, but still feature a good amount of sitar, organ, Irish harp, and violin to add some color to the vocals and acoustic guitar-centric songwriting.