Paul Bley - Open, to Love (1973)

This 1973 record is a collection of solo piano improv pieces from Paul Bley; it's cold and stark, spare, expansive and chilling. It's like a cross between free jazz and Erik Satie; you ever see a horror movie and just as the main character starts their descent into madness and chops up the town with an axe? Yeah, this is like that- the fragmentary piano runs scattered about in the air, sounding like someone actually losing their marbles...

Except Bley knew exactly what he was doing on this album. Enjoy!

Paul Bley - Open, to Love (1973; ECM Records)

Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert (1975)

This is neither "out" there (it's probably the most accessible live solo piano recording ever) or "obscure" (it's sold something like 3.5 million copies) but The Köln Concert is a must-have for jazz aficionados. I've had it on vinyl for a few years, a friend turned me on to Jarrett from his live recordings at the Blue Note from the '90s.

I think you need to listen to this (best with headphones, late at night).

Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert (1975; ECM Records)