Sun Ra, Herbie Hancock, Alice Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Horace Tapscott, Keith Jarrett ("The Koln Concert" is a live improvised solo piano record that's maybe the most beautiful album I've ever heard), Matthew Shipp, Muhal Richard Abrams, Weldon Irvine, Dave Burrell, Harry Whitaker (he worked with Roy Ayers in the 70s, but check out his "Black Renaissance" album).
If I had to pick an absolute favorite out of that list, it would probably be Andrew Hill or Horace Tapscott (although if we were talking bandleaders Sun Ra would win hands down).
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