Shadow Sculptures: Afro-Eccentricity and Soul Jazz

These avant-jazz cuts show the genre being pushed to its limit, but there's plenty of funk and soul in these grooves, too. Visionaries like the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Alice Coltrane and Sun Ra split the difference, with far-out music that still manages to swing. Meanwhile, pioneers like Archie Shepp and Sonny Sharrock whip up a frenzy, but you can still hear the spiritual cry of the blues.