Caldera (Sam Rivers album)

Caldera is a jazz album by American multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers, released in 1970 on the Blue Note label. The album features Rivers on tenor saxophone, flute, and piano, alongside Cecil McBee on bass and Norman Connors on drums. It is considered a significant example of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation. The album consists of two side-long compositions: "Caldera" and "Luminous Monolith." The music is characterized by its intense energy, complex rhythms, and extended instrumental techniques. Caldera is noted for its innovative approach to improvisation and its exploration of the sonic possibilities of the instrumentation. The album has been praised for its originality and its contribution to the development of free jazz.