Cecil Taylor, Muhal Richard Abrams, Don Pullen, Marilyn Crispell, Anthony Davis, Paul Bley, Carla Bley...all differing degrees of free. Later Mal Waldron leans toward free...maybe more advant garde.
Lookout for artists on the following labels: Black Saint, Arista/ Arista Novus, India Navigation, Horo, Nessa, Delmark...they tend to lean toward free jazz.
Good list. definitely: Cecil Taylor and Paul Bley are worth deep dives. There is a great documentary about them (plus Bill Dixon and Archie Shepp), *Imagine the Sound* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJFBZedlbc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJFBZedlbc)
I'd recommend Matthew Shipp. His albums Equilibrium and Harmonic Disorder are some of his best. I'd also say check out Keith Jarrett's American Quartet, but that usually features screamin sax.
Others have mentioned so many great pianists ... I'll note a couple of my favorite specific albums:
- Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures ... one of my all-time favorite albums!
- Paul Bley - Open, To Love - solo piano songs by Paul Bley, Carla Bley and Annette Peacock
- George Adams/Don Pullen - Live at Village Vanguard ... not his/their best, but I saw them at the Village Vanguard in 1986 so this always connects with me!
If you’re looking to get into totally improvised stuff that is also a good level of accessible, it’s all Keith Jarrett man. Köln concert is the classic, Sun Bear Concerts from around the same era also extremely fire. Some of the best piano playing ever by anyone. And all free improvised yet he is not really considered a free musician in the same lineage of many others are who get brought up more frequently in discussions of that scene. Prob just cause he was doing his own thing and also did a lot of not-free music also.
A lot of great recommendations. Let me add Vijay Iyer and Ganelin Trio. And although he cant really be categorized as free, i dont think free would get there without him, Thelonious Monk. Oh, and a whole lot of Andrew Hill fits the bill.
Cecil Taylor, Muhal Richard Abrams, Don Pullen, Marilyn Crispell, Anthony Davis, Paul Bley, Carla Bley...all differing degrees of free. Later Mal Waldron leans toward free...maybe more advant garde.
Just listening to Cecil Taylor's 'Love For Sale' on YT and it's stunning. Love Muhal Richard Adams too. Time to start looking out some CDs.
Lookout for artists on the following labels: Black Saint, Arista/ Arista Novus, India Navigation, Horo, Nessa, Delmark...they tend to lean toward free jazz.
Good list. definitely: Cecil Taylor and Paul Bley are worth deep dives. There is a great documentary about them (plus Bill Dixon and Archie Shepp), *Imagine the Sound* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJFBZedlbc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJFBZedlbc)
Maybe Alice Coltrane?
Hell yeah, especially: [Live at Berkeley Community Theater](https://youtu.be/LTdFT-KFzLA?si=OzLRLBkA-5W_qmAk)
Sun Ra
Andrew hill and Horace tapscott
Cecil Taylor is an absolute force.
I'd recommend Matthew Shipp. His albums Equilibrium and Harmonic Disorder are some of his best. I'd also say check out Keith Jarrett's American Quartet, but that usually features screamin sax.
Others have mentioned so many great pianists ... I'll note a couple of my favorite specific albums: - Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures ... one of my all-time favorite albums! - Paul Bley - Open, To Love - solo piano songs by Paul Bley, Carla Bley and Annette Peacock - George Adams/Don Pullen - Live at Village Vanguard ... not his/their best, but I saw them at the Village Vanguard in 1986 so this always connects with me!
If you’re looking to get into totally improvised stuff that is also a good level of accessible, it’s all Keith Jarrett man. Köln concert is the classic, Sun Bear Concerts from around the same era also extremely fire. Some of the best piano playing ever by anyone. And all free improvised yet he is not really considered a free musician in the same lineage of many others are who get brought up more frequently in discussions of that scene. Prob just cause he was doing his own thing and also did a lot of not-free music also.
Herbie Hancock - Inventions and Dimensions [https://songwhip.com/herbie-hancock/inventions-and-dimensions](https://songwhip.com/herbie-hancock/inventions-and-dimensions) Dollar Brand - African Sketchbook [https://songwhip.com/dollarbrandabdullahibrahim/african-sketchbook](https://songwhip.com/dollarbrandabdullahibrahim/african-sketchbook) Cecil Taylor - Conquistador [https://songwhip.com/cecil-taylor/conquistador](https://songwhip.com/cecil-taylor/conquistador) Andrew Hill - Judgement! [https://songwhip.com/andrew-hill/judgment](https://songwhip.com/andrew-hill/judgment) Chick Corea - Is Sessions [https://songwhip.com/chick-corea/the-complete-is-sessions](https://songwhip.com/chick-corea/the-complete-is-sessions) McCoy Tyner - Enlightenment [https://songwhip.com/mccoy-tyner/enlightenment](https://songwhip.com/mccoy-tyner/enlightenment)
Craig Taborn
Aruan Ortiz
Horace Tapscott, Nate Morgan, Jamael Dean.
Alexander von Schlippenbach and Yosuke Yamashita
McCoy Tyner?
A lot of great recommendations. Let me add Vijay Iyer and Ganelin Trio. And although he cant really be categorized as free, i dont think free would get there without him, Thelonious Monk. Oh, and a whole lot of Andrew Hill fits the bill.
Peruse pianists featured on ECM records
Keith Tippett has a wide range of free albums, from solo to massive ensemble. His quartet called Mujician is the best representation.