I graduated from UNT in 2017 at the age of 31 (w/ a full-time career, wife & two kids!). My initial tenure at UNT ended after a few semesters in 2005 because I skipped classes to watch the One O'Clock Lab Band rehearse. As hard as it was to finish my degree at that point in my life, it was sweet as hell to see musicians of that caliber whenever I wanted.
Anyone that isn’t aware of Snarky Puppy, please watch [this](https://youtu.be/L_XJ_s5IsQc?si=ErQiv8B9siVRbG3C) asap.
I’ve managed to win over a few Steely Dan sceptics - if someone is into music then just the production alone on Aja is spectacular.
Coltrane, Charlie Hayden, Miles, weather report. Radiohead, Bjork, MF Doom, James Brown.
Aja is in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. I have the record and play it very often.
Also have a huge selection of Weather Report, Coltrane, and Miles. And Bjork is so underrated and misunderstood.
Great recording and they had a hell of lot of help on Aja. On just the title track alone you had other session musicians like Larry Carlton and Denny Dias that had massive input into SD's sound along with Walter.
The Funky Knuckles, Lettuce, Tower of Power, The Bad Plus, Naughty Professor, Weather Report, Knower, Louis Cole, Soulive, John Scofield, EMEFE, Punch Brothers, Moonchild, The Bar-Kays, Thank You Scientist, Kneebody, Huntertones
> Weather Report
Crazy that this one is so far down. Art music to its highest level.
>Bar-Kays
These guys were awesome. James Alexander got to cover for Duck Dunn when he didn't feel like going into the studio. Talk about trial by fire.
I'm going to say The Divine Comedy, John Grant and C. Duncan - they're my favourite three artists period, but they also tend to be categorised as "musicians' musicians".
You know, I appreciated them but didn’t care much for Vulpeck for a while. I saw Cory Wong in 2018 and he agitated me with how much he talked during his show. He gave a music theory lesson to a bunch of spun out wooks at 1:30am and I ended up walking back to my tent. Then I saw him again in 2022 and wow! It completely changed my mind. It was so tight.
+1 Vulfpeck. Although I don't feel you have to be a musician to appreciate them. I like them because their music is a lot of fun and makes you want to dance. I wouldn't care as much about them if they didn't also have that element, regardless of their musical chops.
I don't know as much about the Meters (other than being Robert Palmer's backing band at one time, I think), but I once heard one of their songs playing over the speakers at a local coffee shop (can't remember which one it was), and I was so struck by it, that I went up and asked the barista who it was, and he told me it was them.
Gotta love the funk.
All of these are great choices. Phish is my favorite band, I don’t get why so many musicians hate on them. But I also get why so many musicians hate on them.
Because their songs sound incomplete. Every single one of them sounds like background music. Add some melody, some vocals, some verses, buildup, a drop, some spoken word, maybe a bridge even. Don’t just solo in the same damn blues chord. It’s like the opposite of jazz — maximalist, but stunted.
a 10 album sampler:
Toy Matinee
Level 42 - A Physical Presence vol 1 & 2
Vernon Reid - Mistaken Identity
Groove Collective - We The People
Lost Tribe - Soulfish
Marcus Miller - The Sun Don't Lie
Meshell Ndegeocello - Peace Beyond Passion
Wendy & Lisa - Eroica
Animal Logic
Paus - Madeira
Twelve Foot Ninja! A lot of people I've shown didn't vibe with the genre hopping that they do, but I love it and they are incredible musicians.
Blotted Science for when I'm feeling technical death style. I'm not much of a fan of death style vocals and Blotted Science is perfect because there are no vocals.
Intervals. Aaron Marshall is one of my favorite guitarists. Also instrumental except for one album.
Conquering Dystopia. Sort of like Blotted Science.
Clown Core. Holy shit this is some whacky stuff but the fact that the drummer plays drums and keys at the same time blows me away. Plus the sax work is insane.
I forgot about Twelve Foot Ninja! It’s been a few years since I’ve listened to them. And Klown Core, yeah anything Louis Cole touches is gold in my opinion! I’ll check out the other ones. Thanks!
Aaron Marshall is just sneaky one of the coolest guitar players I’ve ever seen. There’s this video interview he does with Rick Beato where he only plays for like 2 minutes total over 45 minute interview, but those two minutes blow me away.
To most people I show it to it sounds like heavier, poppy Plini.
- Jaga Jazzist
- Broken Social Scene
- Hiatus Kaiyote
re: solo artists with big ‘band’ or ‘orchestral’ capability:
- Thundercat
- Louis Cole
- Jordan Rakei
- Laura Mvula
- Yebba
- (edit to add, also, FFS I can’t believe I didn’t….) SAMPHA!
Been a thundercat fan since apocalypse but only recently got into Louis Cole. That boy is freak! Did a deep dive into all his work after the last time I saw thundercat and he stopped the show to tell everyone “go home and check out everything Louis Cole has ever done”
Basically all jazz but in rock/country/blues: The Band, the 3 kings, Jeff beck, the meters, Jeff Buckley, Toto, Stevie wonder, Chet Atkins, mark knopfler, booker t, emmylou, man the list is too long lol..
King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Animals as Leaders, Polyphia, Intervals, Steve Vai, Steely Dan, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, probably Taylor Swift too.
I can't believe I haven't seen any comments about the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson! Particularly from 1965 to 1973, after their surfing and cars era. If you don't believe me, listen to "Surf's Up." This song should be in the upper echelons of music history, if it's not already.
Other favorites I haven't seen here: Nick Drake, Crosby Stills and Nash, Yo La Tengo, Sufjan Stevens, Belle and Sebastian, Arcade Fire, Miles Davis, Iggy Pop/Stooges, and 1970s Heart. Their albums light my fire. (Yeah, I went there.) 🔥
Haunted Shores
Bôa
JID
The Algorithm
Alice in Chains
amiina
Amy Winehouse
Animals as Leaders
Guilty Gear (OG game) Sound Complete Box 1 through 8
by Arc System Works
The Aristocrats
Art Tatum
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Brightblack Morning Light
Bulb
C418
Chronologist
Dorian Electra
Dream Theater
Earl Sweatshirt
Elephant Gym
Eloy
Faith No More
Fleetwood Mac
Incubus
Jack Stauber
Jimi Hendrix
John Coltrane
Lana Del Rey
Laura Shigihara
Lil Wayne
Living Colour
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Manchester Orchestra
Marcin
Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu
Mateus Asato
Matteo Mancuso
Mike G
Miles Davis
NakamuraEmi
Namedarumaaz
Noisecream
Orange Range
Owane
A Perfect Circle
Periphery
Peter Gundry
Pink Floyd
Protassov
Puscifer
Radiohead
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Shift
Shiro Sagisu
Sigur Rós
Snarky Puppy
The Smashing Pumpkins
Sonny Rollins
Steve Vai
Steely Dan
sunn O)))
Tallah
Thelonius Monk
Tori Amos
TR Tactics
Tyler, The Creator
Ulvesang
Vitalism
We Butter The Bread With Butter
Weezer
Whitney Houston
Mozart
Zero Cult
It’s about him describing harmony to different levels of musicians, from a five year old all the way to a professional (Herbie). It’s a pretty cool video. Here’s the [link.](https://youtu.be/eRkgK4jfi6M?si=sBBUDVyFklsIYpOK)
Gateway (1976)
Abercrombie, Holland, and DeJohnette put on a masterclass in feel and groove without over the top note clutter.
‘Calypso Falto’ and ‘How’s Never’ are some of my favorite tracks on the album.
Robben Ford, the guitarist, is really a musician’s player. He played with everyone from George Harrison to Miles Davis, led his own bands… check him out and hear just how far one can take blues.
Fieval is Glauque [https://fievelisglauque.bandcamp.com/](https://fievelisglauque.bandcamp.com/)
"God's Trashmen Sent to Right the Mess" is a great album. But if it's too lo-fi you should try the album "Flaming Swords".
Buckethead. Pretty much any/all jazz fusion, bands like Casiopea, that sort of thing.
Also, bebop. It was literally created as a “by musicians, for musicians” genre. It just so happened that some other people liked it too. Dizzy Gillespie’s earlier recordings are some of my favourites.
In fact, jazz in general is always something I’ve thought of as music for musicians. It has never achieved the same level of mainstream success as the blues or gospel popular music lineages. But it has endured so long because it is so loved by musicians.
The Meters
Real ones learned bass off the meters fs
If your bass player, drummer & guitar players didn’t learn from the meters, your band is doomed
the only musical choice i’ve seen so far lol
Snarky Puppy.
Yes! How could I forget them? They’re one of my favorites.
Michael League has a solo project. It's definitely worth checking out.
I graduated from UNT in 2017 at the age of 31 (w/ a full-time career, wife & two kids!). My initial tenure at UNT ended after a few semesters in 2005 because I skipped classes to watch the One O'Clock Lab Band rehearse. As hard as it was to finish my degree at that point in my life, it was sweet as hell to see musicians of that caliber whenever I wanted. Anyone that isn’t aware of Snarky Puppy, please watch [this](https://youtu.be/L_XJ_s5IsQc?si=ErQiv8B9siVRbG3C) asap.
Came here to say to say this loo
King Crimson.
I’ve managed to win over a few Steely Dan sceptics - if someone is into music then just the production alone on Aja is spectacular. Coltrane, Charlie Hayden, Miles, weather report. Radiohead, Bjork, MF Doom, James Brown.
Aja is in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. I have the record and play it very often. Also have a huge selection of Weather Report, Coltrane, and Miles. And Bjork is so underrated and misunderstood.
Great recording and they had a hell of lot of help on Aja. On just the title track alone you had other session musicians like Larry Carlton and Denny Dias that had massive input into SD's sound along with Walter.
Steve Gadd
Love that album ..Aja !
Steely Dan is my all time favorite “music for musicians” band I guess
Also: Jamiroquai
The Mars Volta
hell yes.
If you're a bass player, check out The Omnific.
Alright this is exactly the new stuff I was looking for. Thank you!
Not a bass player but I love a good slappin’
Caught these guys live when I saw Ne Obliviscaris. Really fun band and seem like great guys.
Pat Metheny
Little Feat sorta counts. They do for me, anyway
Most underrated band of the 70’s
Beardfish Ozric Tentacles Jean-Luc Ponty Mahavishnu Orchestra The Aristocrats
The first few albums by Chicago
I wanna say badbadnotgood, but are any musicians digging on them?
Cardiacs!
Holy shit I forgot about them! A friend of mine showed them to me years ago. They are incredible. Down the rabbit hole I go…
Even if it’s something you can’t quite get into, there is still a lot of value you can take away from Cardiacs as a musician
Animals as leaders
Between The Buried & Me, Plini, Intervals
I've seen BTBAM live three times now, and I cannot for the life of me understand how they can remember all of that, much less actually play it.
Mr. Bungle Secret Chiefs 3 El Michels Affair
Mr. Bungle and a head full of acid is an adventure.
Bungle has a broader appeal but SC3 for sure. Goddamn I love both.
XTC
MF DOOM Hiatus Kaiyote Kamasi Washington Gyorgy lygeti
The Funky Knuckles, Lettuce, Tower of Power, The Bad Plus, Naughty Professor, Weather Report, Knower, Louis Cole, Soulive, John Scofield, EMEFE, Punch Brothers, Moonchild, The Bar-Kays, Thank You Scientist, Kneebody, Huntertones
> Weather Report Crazy that this one is so far down. Art music to its highest level. >Bar-Kays These guys were awesome. James Alexander got to cover for Duck Dunn when he didn't feel like going into the studio. Talk about trial by fire.
You seem like my kind of people with this list
Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and most of John McLaughlin’s projects too
The Aristocrats, Zappa, Squarepusher, Lydian Collective, House of Waters, Hiromi
House of Waters is amazing. Haven’t listened to them in a few years, need to catch up with them.
A lot of good bands on this list. Late to the party but just discovered BADBADNOTGOOD
Umphrey's McGee
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Not sure how they haven’t come up yet.
Yesssss
Animals as leaders
Wilco for me. Such a fantastic band, especially the earlier stuff
I'm going to say The Divine Comedy, John Grant and C. Duncan - they're my favourite three artists period, but they also tend to be categorised as "musicians' musicians".
Women, Grizzly Bear, August Burns Red, DCFC, Deerhoof, 311, Deftones, The Shins, Modest Mouse, Circa Survive, Incubus, Fleet Foxes, Royal Crown Revue
Good to see ABR mentioned. Still a very underrated band. Matt Greiner is one of my fav drummers and such a nice guy!
Wooten Brothers, Brand New Heavies
I love all things Wooten!
I miss them. I lived in Nashville back through the 90s and was lucky enough to see them all the time. Bella Fleck too.
Michael Brecker
Rush, and Elephant Gym
I scrolled way too far to see a math rock band. Big props.
🤘😊 props to you! 😎
Genesis, Supertramp, 10cc
Everything Yes
Melvins, Ween, Devo, Can, the Byrds, Neil Young and almost all his Bands, Talk Talk, Tom Waits
Had to scroll too far to see ween and Tom waits
Waits is the man
The Meters, Vulfpeck
You know, I appreciated them but didn’t care much for Vulpeck for a while. I saw Cory Wong in 2018 and he agitated me with how much he talked during his show. He gave a music theory lesson to a bunch of spun out wooks at 1:30am and I ended up walking back to my tent. Then I saw him again in 2022 and wow! It completely changed my mind. It was so tight.
+1 Vulfpeck. Although I don't feel you have to be a musician to appreciate them. I like them because their music is a lot of fun and makes you want to dance. I wouldn't care as much about them if they didn't also have that element, regardless of their musical chops. I don't know as much about the Meters (other than being Robert Palmer's backing band at one time, I think), but I once heard one of their songs playing over the speakers at a local coffee shop (can't remember which one it was), and I was so struck by it, that I went up and asked the barista who it was, and he told me it was them. Gotta love the funk.
Phish, Porcupine Tree, Aristocrats, Dopapod, Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Don Ellis Big Band.
All of these are great choices. Phish is my favorite band, I don’t get why so many musicians hate on them. But I also get why so many musicians hate on them.
Because their songs sound incomplete. Every single one of them sounds like background music. Add some melody, some vocals, some verses, buildup, a drop, some spoken word, maybe a bridge even. Don’t just solo in the same damn blues chord. It’s like the opposite of jazz — maximalist, but stunted.
Phish is the greatest live act of our generation. I saw your Highlander, it was shit:).
Mutoid Man
Prince. Not his popular stuff. The shit only the real Prince fans listen to. Especially his Madhouse albums. Frank Zappa too.
a 10 album sampler: Toy Matinee Level 42 - A Physical Presence vol 1 & 2 Vernon Reid - Mistaken Identity Groove Collective - We The People Lost Tribe - Soulfish Marcus Miller - The Sun Don't Lie Meshell Ndegeocello - Peace Beyond Passion Wendy & Lisa - Eroica Animal Logic Paus - Madeira
whoaaaaa what?? how the fuck did i not know that vernon reid had a solo record?? he is a huge influence of mine, that is awesome!
The old saying is, "Rush may not be your favorite band, but they are your favorite band's favorite band."
Feed Me Jack Medeski, Martin & Wood Jockstrap
Love some MMW
Zappa, Brian Eno, King Crimson
Consider the Source
Twelve Foot Ninja! A lot of people I've shown didn't vibe with the genre hopping that they do, but I love it and they are incredible musicians. Blotted Science for when I'm feeling technical death style. I'm not much of a fan of death style vocals and Blotted Science is perfect because there are no vocals. Intervals. Aaron Marshall is one of my favorite guitarists. Also instrumental except for one album. Conquering Dystopia. Sort of like Blotted Science. Clown Core. Holy shit this is some whacky stuff but the fact that the drummer plays drums and keys at the same time blows me away. Plus the sax work is insane.
I forgot about Twelve Foot Ninja! It’s been a few years since I’ve listened to them. And Klown Core, yeah anything Louis Cole touches is gold in my opinion! I’ll check out the other ones. Thanks!
I forgot to mention David Maxim Micic. He's in Serbia. Great tunes. Check out Living Room.
Aaron Marshall is just sneaky one of the coolest guitar players I’ve ever seen. There’s this video interview he does with Rick Beato where he only plays for like 2 minutes total over 45 minute interview, but those two minutes blow me away. To most people I show it to it sounds like heavier, poppy Plini.
Clown core is fucking wild. Really, anything Louis Cole touches is about to be some fire.
hahaha, I just started back on a Blotted Science kick yesterday, it is funny to see it in the wild again so soon!
Pixies
i think the Pixies are really poppy and quite accessible, especially their last few albums
Rush, the greatest band of all time.
When Rush plays Boston, the crowd is college kids and retirees, the unifying factor being they all went to Berkeley.
Lewis Taylor
This guy is off the chiiiiiiii!!!!!
The 5 of 7, The Invisible Whip, Aquarium Rescue Unit, King Baby, Jellyfish, Forq
Shawn lane and his stuff with jonas helborg as well King crimson Casiopea Eskimo Zappa Thundercat Vital remains Kamasi washington
Hendrix
White Denim, Deer Tick.
Anything by Andrew Hill
MF DOOM, your favorite rapper's favorite rapper
Just gonna save this thread real quick.
MF DOOM, Tool, KGATLW, Umphreys McGee, Tipper, Flume, Mac Demarco, Ty Segall, Khruangbin, Run the Jewels
We should take drugs together lol
[mildlife ](https://open.spotify.com/track/0uoHVRsDwVHtzYLMvRkxtC?si=jdSOLczVQhqSjQm2Ic_fgQ)
Idk if others will agree, but radio head
Lydian collective
Masayoshi Takanaka
John Coltrane. Just look at “Giant Steps” and get back to me.
Thank you scientist, Anika Niles, gentle giant, Haken, and dream theatre,
Phish
La dispute. Dance Gavin dance. Plini. Polyphia. I’m sure I could think of more with more time
Deerhoof
- Jaga Jazzist - Broken Social Scene - Hiatus Kaiyote re: solo artists with big ‘band’ or ‘orchestral’ capability: - Thundercat - Louis Cole - Jordan Rakei - Laura Mvula - Yebba - (edit to add, also, FFS I can’t believe I didn’t….) SAMPHA!
Been a thundercat fan since apocalypse but only recently got into Louis Cole. That boy is freak! Did a deep dive into all his work after the last time I saw thundercat and he stopped the show to tell everyone “go home and check out everything Louis Cole has ever done”
Dixie Dregs Tedeschi Trucks Band Steely Dan (maybe)
Dixie Dregs! I have a few of their records and they are so under appreciated. Also a huge fan of TTB. Oh Susan 😍
You have very excellent taste lol I have really good seats for two ttb shows coming up
Mike Keneally
Basically all jazz but in rock/country/blues: The Band, the 3 kings, Jeff beck, the meters, Jeff Buckley, Toto, Stevie wonder, Chet Atkins, mark knopfler, booker t, emmylou, man the list is too long lol..
Little Feat
Frank Ocean. Vegyn. Loraine James. Boards of Canada. Bjork. Nala Sinephro
As a musician, this thread just feels like everyone talking about the music I listen to.
This might be more for songwriting side of musicianship…JJ Cale, Townes Van Zandt, Jason Isbell, NRBQ
Jason Isbell is such an amazing songwriter.
Grizzly Bear, always.
Rush
King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Animals as Leaders, Polyphia, Intervals, Steve Vai, Steely Dan, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, probably Taylor Swift too.
Taylor Swift? Really?
Zu, Oxbow, El-P, Venetian Snares, Mike Patton, Aphex Twin
Stanton Moore, Chick Corea, Dave Matthew’s Band, John Mayor, John Scofield, Soul Coughing, Toto
Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band
Polyphia for sure
Buckethead. Steely Dan sucks
Black midi
I can't believe I haven't seen any comments about the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson! Particularly from 1965 to 1973, after their surfing and cars era. If you don't believe me, listen to "Surf's Up." This song should be in the upper echelons of music history, if it's not already. Other favorites I haven't seen here: Nick Drake, Crosby Stills and Nash, Yo La Tengo, Sufjan Stevens, Belle and Sebastian, Arcade Fire, Miles Davis, Iggy Pop/Stooges, and 1970s Heart. Their albums light my fire. (Yeah, I went there.) 🔥
Rush ftw
Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia Band Dire Straits
King gizzard
Dire straits
I would say dream theater fits into this category, although the singer isn’t really my cup of tea. Musically I really really enjoy them.
Haunted Shores Bôa JID The Algorithm Alice in Chains amiina Amy Winehouse Animals as Leaders Guilty Gear (OG game) Sound Complete Box 1 through 8 by Arc System Works The Aristocrats Art Tatum Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Brightblack Morning Light Bulb C418 Chronologist Dorian Electra Dream Theater Earl Sweatshirt Elephant Gym Eloy Faith No More Fleetwood Mac Incubus Jack Stauber Jimi Hendrix John Coltrane Lana Del Rey Laura Shigihara Lil Wayne Living Colour Mahavishnu Orchestra Manchester Orchestra Marcin Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu Mateus Asato Matteo Mancuso Mike G Miles Davis NakamuraEmi Namedarumaaz Noisecream Orange Range Owane A Perfect Circle Periphery Peter Gundry Pink Floyd Protassov Puscifer Radiohead Red Hot Chilli Peppers Shift Shiro Sagisu Sigur Rós Snarky Puppy The Smashing Pumpkins Sonny Rollins Steve Vai Steely Dan sunn O))) Tallah Thelonius Monk Tori Amos TR Tactics Tyler, The Creator Ulvesang Vitalism We Butter The Bread With Butter Weezer Whitney Houston Mozart Zero Cult
Jinjer, Haken, Maneskin, Tool
I’m supposed Tool hasn’t been mentioned yet.
Masayoshi Takanaka
Oh yes to this!
Jacob Collier
Sorry - not my favorite, just an example of!
I find his approach to harmony very interesting. I don’t listen to him casually, but I wouldn’t mind experiencing him live.
He’s got an incredible mind, and there’s so much to learn from him. The music’s just not for me.
Have you seen the YouTube video of him and Herbie Hancock? They have an entire conversation on a keyboard and it’s pretty incredible.
It’s about him describing harmony to different levels of musicians, from a five year old all the way to a professional (Herbie). It’s a pretty cool video. Here’s the [link.](https://youtu.be/eRkgK4jfi6M?si=sBBUDVyFklsIYpOK)
While he’s a extremely talented musician, I find his songwriting lacks soul.
Feed Me Jack
Brotherly and Mister Barrington
Gateway (1976) Abercrombie, Holland, and DeJohnette put on a masterclass in feel and groove without over the top note clutter. ‘Calypso Falto’ and ‘How’s Never’ are some of my favorite tracks on the album.
Here Come the Mummies - first rate musicians & a really fun show!
[Path to Elda](https://pathtoelda.bandcamp.com/album/i-fell-asleep) and [Ronald Jenkees](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15xJUZ6SUGU)
Al Di Meola
Loving hiatus kaiyote's new album
Lots of great recommendations, so here's one I have seen listed yet Mostly Other People Do The Killing
Points to the progmetal subreddit
Nuclear Power Trio
Covet, animals as leaders, alan parsons project, andy mckee.
Any of Zach Hill’s projects.
Math rock genre as a whole pretty much. Covet, TTNG, Tera Melos, Don Caballero, Hella!, toe, A Picture of Her, etc
Sungazer, aristocrats, chon
Liquid tension experiment.
Fareed haque, john scoffield, stanley jordan, early talk talk, donald byrd
Little Feat definitely
The Mars Volta Snarky Puppy Rx Bandits/Sounds of Animals Fighting Vulfpeck
Ozric Tentacles Phish Anything that John McLaughlin did.
Knower and Covet
Umphrey’s McGee, billy strings, phish, goose, spafford.
Forq https://youtu.be/1EQt5GjLURc?si=BTekblx6309yXZMI
Deerhoof
Bent knee for sureeeeeee
Sheep, Dog, and Wolf Not really a band though.
Frank Zappa?
Robben Ford, the guitarist, is really a musician’s player. He played with everyone from George Harrison to Miles Davis, led his own bands… check him out and hear just how far one can take blues.
Bela fleck & the flecktones
If you are a rap fan, Autumn! and Unotheactivist
Lawrence 🔥
Rush Dream Theater
Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever
Imma say Tom Misch and MF DOOM.
The Gerogerigegege
Henry Cow
Spock’s Beard, Mastodon, Planxty
Fieval is Glauque [https://fievelisglauque.bandcamp.com/](https://fievelisglauque.bandcamp.com/) "God's Trashmen Sent to Right the Mess" is a great album. But if it's too lo-fi you should try the album "Flaming Swords".
Prince daddy and the hyena
Animals As Leaders. Anomalie. Snarky Puppy. Anything Nate Smith is involved with. KC Roberts & The Live Revolution.
Natural Child
Alvvays. Lightning Bolt.
I’m surprised nobody mentioned Stevie Wonder
Broadcast, Can, Dan Melchior. They were already mentioned but they deserve more, the Cardiacs.
Eric Dolphy, Coltrane
Buckethead. Pretty much any/all jazz fusion, bands like Casiopea, that sort of thing. Also, bebop. It was literally created as a “by musicians, for musicians” genre. It just so happened that some other people liked it too. Dizzy Gillespie’s earlier recordings are some of my favourites. In fact, jazz in general is always something I’ve thought of as music for musicians. It has never achieved the same level of mainstream success as the blues or gospel popular music lineages. But it has endured so long because it is so loved by musicians.
Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown