
Vernal Equinox - Jon Hassell (1977)
An early and important touchpoint for ambient and environmental music, especially where it intersected with jazz fusion.
Hassell called his brand of adventurous, electric, atmospheric jazz “fourth world music.” His trumpet is sometimes processed to the point that you’re not sure if it’s a trumpet or not.
His voicing on trumpet was informed by training with a master of North Indian classical singing.
He collects a range of instruments from all over the world to play along, creating a buzzing, swirling swamp of sounds that never seems to get boring.