Glad you liked it! Here are some specific album recs for those remaining artists.

Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica, Ice Cream for Crow
John Zorn - Naked City, Spy vs. Spy, The Circle Maker
Zu - Carboniferous
Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante
Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
This Heat - This Heat, Deceit
John Coltrane - Sun Ship, Ascension, Om
Can - Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi
Silver Apples - Silver Apples
Tim Buckley - Starsailor

Just had to listen to it after having rec'd it to OH.

Just so ****ing incredible.
Screw Cobain and Hendrix, his is probably the saddest untimely death of a musician ever.

My vote goes to Eric Dolphy.

Ayler died young probably suicide

I feel like that one's a little less tragic because it was his own doing. Dolphy's death takes the cake for me because it was 100% preventable and he died without treatment. In a hospital bed.

They were both in their 30's

I think it's very fair to say Ayler was far superior as a lead man. But that's not to say Dolphy contributed less musically.

I try to make it a point not to boohoo musicians' deaths. The only one that hurt me personally was John Lennon. Cobain a little.

Love love love Ayler but I don't think I could rank him above Dolphy. I kind of put them on the same godly level, albeit for somewhat different reasons (f. ex I'd call Dolphy a virtuoso but Ayler, not quite).

It's close. But when I listen to important recordings that Dolphy played on like with Mingus and Trane, I still don't think that adds up to Ayler's masterpieces. Not quite. So close I'm hesitant to say it. I could be wrong.

Both so wonderful. That's for sure.

When I talk about Dolphy, I usually have Iron Man and Out to Lunch! in mind. I always forget how much side stuff he did.

PS

Ayler was a full on revolutionary. I don't know how you define virtuoso but he redefined his instrument when he played.

And I don't want to start an argument. I'm sure you fully respect Ayler.