1978

Richard & Linda Thompson – First Light

Style: Folk-Pop, British Folk, Singer-Songwriter

Moods: Romantic, Sunny, Uplifting, Passionate, Joyful, Flowing, Warm

Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Lush, Groovy, Polished, Melodic, Chamber Arrangements

Shirley Horn Trio – A Lazy Afternoon

Style: Vocal Jazz

Moods: Uplifting, Sentimental, Elegant, Sunny, Passionate, Heartfelt, Playful, Romantic, Retro

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Technical, Melodic, Lush, Ballads

Instrumentation: Piano, Vocals, Upright Bass, Drums

James Blood – Tales of Captain Black

Style: Free Funk, Avant-Garde Jazz, Abstract Groove, No Wave

Vibe: Frenetic, Knotty, Disjointed, Funky, Angular, Chaotic, Triumphant, Playful, Energetic, Free, Manic, Bombastic

Musical Qualities: Harmolodic, Polyphonic, Polyrhythmic, Collective Improvisation, Dissonant, Uncommon Time Signatures, Instrumental

Sun Ra – Lanquidity [Definitive Edition]

Style: Cosmic Jazz Fusion, Avant-Garde Big Band

Vibe: Mysterious, Elegant, Hypnotic, Nocturnal, Cosmic, Futuristic, Spacey, Ethereal, Groovy, Mellow, Flowing

Musical Qualities: Rhythmic, Atmospheric, Collective Improvisation, Thematic, Polyphonic, Odd Time Signatures, Melodic, Progressive

Instrumentation: Fender Rhodes, Synthesizers (Arp, Minimoog, Crumar Electronic Keyboard), Organ, Piano, Bells, electric Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Group Vocals, Trumpet, Saxophone, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Congo, Baritone Sax, Bass Clarinet, Upright Bass

Robbie Basho – Visions of the Country

Style: American Primitivism, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, Raga?Vibe: Mystical, Nature, Open, Passionate, Pastoral, Peaceful, Airy, Contemplative, Earthy, Impressionistic, Meditative, Morning, Spring, Spiritual,
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Indian-Influenced, Sparse, Technical

Ornette Coleman – Body Meta

Style: Free-Funk, Avant-Garde Jazz, Jazz Fusion

Vibe: Angular, Anthemic, Manic, Kinetic, Driving, Intertwined, Chaotic, Funky, Triumphant

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Collective Improvisation, Rhythmic, Instrumental, Dissonant

Personnel:
Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone, producer; Bern Nix – Electric Guitar; Charlie Ellerbee – Electric Guitar; Jamaaladeen Tacuma – Electric Bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson – Drums

Horace Tapscott & the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra – The Call

Style: Avant-Garde Big Band, Spiritual Jazz, Vocal Jazz (A2)

Vibe: Spiritual, Communal, Epic, Passionate, Active Listening, Energetic, Religious, Triumphant

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Complex, Dense, Acoustic, Thematic, Improvisation, Melodic, Technical, Orchestral

Bill Connors – Of Mist and Melting

Personnel: Bill Connors – Acoustic Guitar, Jack DeJohnette – Drums, Gary Peacock – Upright Bass, Jan Garabek – Saxophone

Style: ECM Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Atmospheric Jazz

Vibe: Airy, Suspenseful, Smooth, Open

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Atmospheric, Technical, Instrumental

Revolutionary Ensemble

Style: Free Jazz, Creative Music

Vibe: Ritualistic, Loose, Cathartic, Complex

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Active Listening, Instrumental, Dynamic, Live

Instrumentation: Violin, Upright Bass, Drums

Weather Report – Mr. Gone

Style: Jazz Fusion

Vibe: Futuristic, Groovy, Surreal, Complex, Energetic

Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Polished, Technical, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Eno, Roedelius, Moebius – After the Heat

Brian Eno and German kosmiche duo Cluster collaborate on a spacey synthesizer album with diverse moods, including peaceful ambient swells, sinister sequencers, industrial drum machine grooves, and suspenseful piano motifs. The release is mostly instrumental but Eno songs sparingly on a couple tracks. The last track features Can’s Holger Czukay playing some pulsing, harmonic bass grooves