1970s

Yes – Fragile

Released in 1971 on Atlantic Records Format: LP Style: Progressive Rock Vibe: Triumphant, Epic, Complex, Energetic, Warm, Lush Musical Attributes: Progressive, Polyphonic, Melodic, Odd Time Signatures, Technical

Joe McPhee – Nation Time

Originally released in 1971 on CjR Recorded December, 1970 Superior Viaduct Reissue (2019) Style: Free Funk, Free Jazz, Abstract Groove Vibe: Energetic, Triumphant, Groovy, Confident, Rebellious, Black Pride Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Live, Loose, Raw

David Bowie – Station to Station

Style: Art Rock, Funk
Vibe: Energetic, Groovy, Spacey, Alienation, Anxious, Catchy, Eccentric, Futuristic, Longing, Passionate, Rhythmic, Spacey, Confident, ?

Cecil Taylor – Silent Tongues

Style: Free Jazz, Solo Piano, Free Improvisation

Vibe: Abstract, Complex, Energetic, Intense, Expressive, Exploratory

Musical Attributes: Piano, Solo, Live, Improvisation, Acoustic, Suite, Percussive, Dynamic

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – Bridges

Style: Soul, Jazz-Funk, Singer-Songwriter

Vibe: Conscious, Groovy, Lush, Lyrical, Passionate, Philosophical, Political, Sunny, Triumphant, Uplifting, Urban, Accessible, Bittersweet, Catchy, Confident

Harmonia – Deluxe

Style: Kosmische Musik, Progressive Electronic

Vibe: Spacey, Motorik, Warm, Dreamy, Ethereal, Focused, Futuristic, Pastoral

Musical Attributes: Melodic, Atmospheric, Repetitive, Polished

Eddie Henderson – Realization

Style: Abstract Funk, Jazz Fusion, Spiritual Jazz

Lineup: Eddie Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, Lenny White, Billy Hart, Buster Williams, Pat Gleeson

Vibe: Cosmic, Exploratory, Groovy, Atmospheric, Spacey, Spiritual

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Polyrhythmic, Odd Time Signatures, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

Style: Psychedelic Funk

Vibe: Apocalyptic, Communal, Cryptic, Earthy, Energetic, Epic, Groovy, Heavy, Philosophical, Playful, Political, Psychedelic, Riffs, Stoned, Eclectic

The Taj-Mahal Travelers – July 15, 1972

Originally released in 1972 on CBS Records 2019 Superior Viaduct Reissue Format: LP Style: Free Improvisation, Ambient Jazz, Drone Vibe: Ritualistic, Mysterious, Hypnotic, Open, Meditative, Slow, Psychedelic

Anthony Braxton – Creative Orchestra Music 1976

Style: Avant-Garde Big Band, Free Jazz

Vibe: Cerebral, Bombastic, Energetic, Complex, Abstract

Musical Attributes: Dense, Poly-Free Improvisation, Polyphonic, Dynamic, Instrumental, Technical, Innovative

Pharoah Sanders – Village of the Pharoahs

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Communal, Earthy, Energetic, Hypnotic, Intense, Loose, Mystical, Passionate, Spiritual, Tribal, Uplifting, Warm, Dance
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Complex, Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Dense, Thematic, Suite

The Sea Ensemble – We Move Together

An obscure release from the great creative label ESP-Disk, containing exploratory, mysterious and playful improvisations from The Sea Ensemble—the husband/wife duo of Zusaan Fasteau and Donald Rafael Garrett. While they are both trained musicians and multi-instrumentalists, an uninhibited childish spirit permeates this release, as can be seen in Donald’s crude but visionary cover drawing; Yet the recording also feels imbued with ancient wisdom, as heard in their primal and instinctive vocalizations throughout the album

Mike and Lal Waterson – Bright Phoebus

Style: British Folk, Country-Influenced
Vibe: Contemplative, Earthy, Introspective, Melancholy, Rootsy, Rural, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic, Simple, Sparse

Sam Rivers – Waves

Released  in 1979 on Tomato Records Format: LP, Promo copy Style: Free Jazz Vibe: chaotic, complex, energetic, manic Musical Attributes: Polyphonic, Improvisation, Dense, Instrumental Personnel: Sam Rivers – Saxophone (Soprano and Tenor), Flute, Piano; Dave Holland – Upright Bass, Cello; Joe Daley – Tuba, Baritone Horn; Thurman Baker – Drums, Percussion

Hatfield and the North – Hatfield and the North

Released in 1973 on Virgin Records Format: LP Style: Canterbury Scene, Jazz-Rock, Prog Vibe: Playful, Complex, Eccentric, Uplifting Musical Attribues: Odd Time Signatures, Technical, Suite, Melodic, Progressive

Univers Zéro – Univers Zero

Style: Chamber Rock, Avant-Prog, Rock In Oppositon

Vibe: Anxious, Angular, Mysterious, Ominous, Dark, Dystopian

Musical Attributes: Instrumental, Complex, Dissonant

Instrumentation: Bassoon , Violin, Viola, Cello, Harmonium, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums

Mike Oldfield – Ommadawn

Style: Celtic New Age, Symphonic Prog

Vibe: Ethereal, Medieval, Spring, Mellow, Meditative, Rainy, Soothing, Cinematic, Eclectic, Epic, Pastoral

Musical Qualities: Suite, Orchestral, Lush, Atmospheric, Progressive, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Instrumentation: harp, electric guitar, acoustic bass, electric bass, bagpipe, uilleann pipes, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, classical guitar, mandolin, bodhran, bouzouki, banjo, spinet, piano, Organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel, percussion, choral vocals, brass, tympani, drums, percussion

Soft Machine – Live at Henie Onstad Art Center 1971

Style: Canterbury Scene, Jazz-Rock, Progressive Rock

Vibe: Exploratory, Complex, Mysterious, Epic

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental, Thematic, Suite, Progressive, Technical, Live, Odd Time Signatures

Anthony Braxton – Five Pieces 1975

Released in 1975 on Arista Records Format: LP Syle:  Avant-Garde Jazz Vibe: Cerebral, Complex, Exploratory, Impressionistic Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Innovative, Melodic, Technical Personell: Anthony Braxton (Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute), Kenny Wheeler (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Dave Holland (Upright Bass), Barry Altschul (Drums)

Agitation Free – Malesch

Style: Kosmische Music, Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock

Influences: Arabic Music, African Music, Prog

Vibe: Exploratory, Psychedelic, Desert, Tribal

Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Studio-as-an-instrument, Sound Collage, Riffs

Gong – Angel’s Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2)

The second Radio Gnome transmission finds Zero the Hero astral projecting to PlanetGong where he meets with Selene the Moon Goddess and the Octave Doctors to learn the infinite powers of their lovewisdom vibrations. This psychedelic journey brings together fantastical imagery of pothead pixies and flying teapots (and a dose of hippy hedonism) with heady spiritual concepts delivered in a quite fun and silly way, but even before digging into the concept I was immediately grabbed by their unique style spacey jazz-rock with its propulsive bass lines, immersive synthesizer atmospheres and serpentine soprano sax soloing.

John Fahey & His Orchestra – Old Fashioned Love

Another interesting one from Fahey, side A consists of some amazingly intricate guitar duets with Woodrow Mann, including my favorite Fahey song “Jaya Shiva Shankarah”. Side B takes a strange turn though…halfway through the title track a 10-piece dixieland band kicks for a few tracks of New Orleans-style jazz. The album closes in a more familiar place with a contemplative solo piece that most Fahey fans would dig.

Charles Mingus – Let My Children Hear Music

Released in 1972 on Columbia Records Late 70’s/Early 80’s Reissue Format: LP Recommended Tracks A1 – The Shoes of the Fisherman’s Wife are some Jive Ass Slippers (Bombastic, Dense, Energetic, Complex) B1 – Hobo Ho (Dramatic, Progressive, Energetic) B2 – The Chill of Death (Dramatic, Poetic, Spoken Word)

Circle – Paris-Concert

While more cerebral than emotive, this live set is a frenzied demonstration of what four virtuosic musicians sound like when they give in to the intuitive whims of collective improvisation. Even when playing a composition, this quartet will stretch and mutate the melody into every possible pattern without ever playing it directly. The group interplay is often bombastic and can be overwhelming, but thankfully they vary the dynamics through mellower sections, as well as solo and duo pieces.

McCoy Tyner – Asante

Released in 1974 on Blue Note Records Recorded September 10th, 1970 at Van Gelder Recording Studio Format: LP

Can – Ege Bamyasi

Originally released in 1972 on United Artists Unofficial Pressing Format: LP, Translucent green vinyl

Creative Construction Company – CCC

Featuring some of Chicago’s finest musicians and founding members of the AACM, (Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Richard Davis, Wadada Leo Smith, and Steve McCall), this 36 minute spontaneous composition doesn’t focus on soloing or instrumental technicality or rambunctious improvisIng, but creating and progressing an initially suspenseful, mysterious mood through focused, cohesive movements, with new sounds, moods, and melodies around every corner. Most of the musicians here play multiple instruments to sustain a versatile color palette.

Anthony Braxton with Muhal Richard Abrams – Duets 1976

“Functionally, the duet situation gives the greatest possibilities for establishing an affinity relationship with another musician on a one to one basis. This is especially true if the more open-ended forms where an improvisation is directly affected by both musicians on an equal plane” – Anthony Braxton

Can – Tago Mago

Originally released in 1971 on United Artists Records Unofficial pressing on purple and brown marbled vinyl Format: LPx2