Worlds Around the Sun, the 1972 debut from Bayeté (an alias of the keyboardist, composer, producer, and conceptual artist, Todd Cochran), serves as a powerful introduction to Cochran’s radical expressionism and multi-faceted talents. The album was written, produced, and arranged by the 21-year-old prodigy, who rose to fame as a sideman for vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson (who joins Cochran on the record, alongside a broad array of celebrated musicians, including Fred Berry, Oscar Brashear, and Wayne Wallace). Through six stylistically dynamic—yet cohesive—tracks, the artist invites listeners on a journey that spans space and time, with selections like the Eastern-influenced “Njeri (Belonging to a Warrior),” the epic “Bayeté,” and “Free Angela (Thoughts… And All I’ve Got to Say),” written for the imprisoned activist, philosopher, and author, Angela Davis. The ambitious composition, which became one of Cochran’s best-known works, was later covered by Santana. Sampled by a range of artists, including Kendrick Lamar and De La Soul.