I have been a fan for about as long as I have been listening to jazz/improvised music for more than thirty years. I have collected a large chunk of his discography and have had the opportunity to hear him live several times in various settings - including once when I was involved in presenting him. As the OP suggested there is a lot to go through. I have a particular fondness Impala with Geri Allen, the organ trio and quartet recordings, the Trio 3 recordings with Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille and the big band recording, Wheels. All of these have the right balance of structure/composition and edge/tension that resonates with me.