For the recommendations of things pertinent to this thread, here's a start:
Chicagoans:
Roscoe Mitchell: LRG/The Maze/SII Examples (Nessa)
Roscoe Mitchell: Nonaah (Nessa)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Paris Sessions (Pathe)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago: A Jackson in Your House/Message to Our Folks (Charly/Actuel)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago: Certain Blacks (America)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago: 1967-1968 (Nessa), for historical context
Muhal Richard Abrams: Young At Heart/Wise in Time (Delmark)
Muhal Richard Abrams: LifeA BlineC (Novus)
Wadada Leo Smith: The Kabell Years (Tzadik)
Marion Brown/Leo Smith: Creative Improvisation Ensemble (Freedom)
Anthony Braxton: For Alto (Delmark)
Anthony Braxton: New York, Fall 1974 (Arista)
Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (Arista)
Anthony Braxton: Creative Contstruction Company 1 & 2 (Muse)
St. Louis:
Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. (Mbari)
Black Artists' Group: In Paris, Aires 1973 (BAG)
Ofamfa: Children of the Sun (Universal Justice)
Post-AACM integrationists:
Revolutionary Ensemble: Vietnam 1 & 2 (ESP-Disk')
Revolutionary Ensemble: The Psyche (Re: Records/Mutable)
Sirone: Artistry (Of the Cosmos)
Michael Gregory Jackson: Clarity (Bija) incl. L. Smith, O. Lake and D. Murray
Barry Altschul: You Can't Name Your Own Tune (Muse)
NY Loft Jazz:
Frank Lowe: The Flam (Black Saint) w/ L. Smith, J. Bowie, C. Shaw
Rashied Ali/Frank Lowe: Duo Exchange (Survival)
Rashied Ali: Quintet (Survival), w/ Blood Ulmer, Earl Cross, etc.
Noah Howard: Live at the Village Vanguard 1972 (Freedom)
Charles Tyler: Voyage From Jericho (Ak-Ba/Bleu Regard)
Charles Tyler: Saga of the Outlaws (Nessa)
Clifford Thornton: The Gardens of Harlem (JCOA)
I skimp a little on St. Louis, as I've not followed the BAG scene as closely as some others here have. There's a lot of Braxton from the '80s on that I haven't heard, but most of the work from the '60s thru the '70s is pertinent to this discussion, and I included a bit of that here. I err on the side of early AEC, for it is my preference. The earlier Delmark AACM titles I mostly left out, as that may be more of a precedent than anything else. There should be more stuff in the recommendations thread.