All the Aylers are essential IMO, especially Spiritual Unity and Ghosts with Don Cherry (aka Vibrations for European release). Although Ayler was a high volume player, I’m always surprised at the detail and transparency of sound from this trio. I’ve since learned that this is largely down to Sonny Murray only ever playing at a volume where he could easily hear the other instruments over his own energetic playing (a lesson I wish other drummers would take on board).
Paul Bley’s Closer is quintessential Bley, with many key compositions that reoccur throughout his career, often reinterpreted in expanded form with different players.
Ornette’s Town Hall Concert 1962 is an early outing for the trio with Charles Moffat and David Izenzon, and includes the momentous Ark. Ornette himself has commented on how well he played on this date, once citing it as possibly his favourite recording of himself.
Lowell Davidson Trio. I can hear Monk and Herbie Nichols influences, and many would probably add Cecil Taylor. But his melodic lines are his own, and interestingly several guitarists have name checked Davidson as an influence (from memory Bill Frisell. John Zorn was also a fan). Unfortunately an accident left Davidson unable to continue playing, so this is all we have. Great interaction with Milford Graves on drums.
New York Art Quartet notably with John Tchicai and Milford Graves, compositions by Rosewell Rudd and Tchicai. Composerley and delicate in comparison to some of the high octane free blowing on some releases. A personal favourite.
Marion Brown - Why Not? and Marion Brown Quartet. I love Brown’s expressive alto sound and melodic lines. Both dates include the fabulous Rashied Ali on drums. Why Not?, a sextet, includes Alan Shorter on trumpet (Wayne’s bother) and a young Bennie Maupin.
Frank Lowe - Black Beings - another high octane, passionate statement from Frank Lowe, with Joseph Jarman on soprano sax and an notable early appearance from William Parker. There is a recent CD reissue with bonus pieces from the same concert, all pieces unedited as the original had to be tailored to the LP format.
Frank Wright - Our Prayer - stunning altissimo control from tenor player Wright, a dense palette with Jack Coursil on trumpet and Muhammad Ali (brother of Rashied) on drums.
All the Sun Ra titles, especially Heliocentric Worlds Vol 1 which even amongst the multitude of Ra titles is outstanding, mainly for Ra’s contribution on marimba which I believe had been left in the studio. This album to my ears has a chamber music feel to it, and was the first Sun Ra album I ever heard loaned from Southport record library whilst doing my A levels.
There are more I periodically return to, but I think that is enough for now.
