James Ulmer
Encyclopedia
James "Blood" Ulmer is an American jazz
and blues guitar
ist and singer. Ulmer's distinctive guitar sound has been described as "jagged" and "stinging." His singing has been called "raggedly soulful."
. He began his career playing with various soul jazz
ensembles, first in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, from 1959-1964, and then in the Columbus, Ohio
region, from 1964-1967. He first recorded with organ
ist John Patton
in 1969. After moving to New York
in 1971, Ulmer played with Art Blakey
's Jazz Messengers, Joe Henderson
, Paul Bley
, Rashied Ali
and Larry Young
.
In the early 1970s, Ulmer joined Ornette Coleman
; he was the first electric guitarist to record and tour extensively with Coleman. He has credited Coleman as a major influence, and Coleman's strong reliance on electric guitar
in his fusion
-oriented recordings owes a distinct debt to Ulmer.
He formed a group called the Music Revelation Ensemble with David Murray
and Ronald Shannon Jackson
, with whom he recorded throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Different incarnations of the group also featured Julius Hemphill
, Arthur Blythe
, Sam Rivers
, and Hamiet Bluiett
on saxophones and flutes. In the 1980s he co-led, with saxophonist George Adams
, the ensemble
Phalanx
.
1983's Odyssey
, with drummer Warren Benbow
and violin
ist Charles Burnham, was described as "avant-gutbucket," leading writer Bill Milkowski to describe the music as "conjuring images of Skip James
and Albert Ayler
jamming on the Mississippi Delta
."
Ulmer has recorded many albums as a leader, including three recent acclaimed blues
-oriented records produced by Vernon Reid
. He also performs solo.
Ulmer was also a judge for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards
to support independent artists.
In a 2005 Down Beat
interview, Ulmer opined that guitar technique had not advanced since the death of Jimi Hendrix
. He stated that technique could advance "if the guitar would stop following the piano," and indicated that he tunes all of his guitar strings to A
.
In spring 2011, Ulmer joined saxophone luminary James Carter
's organ trio as a special guest along with Nicholas Payton on trumpet for a six-night stand of performances at Blue Note New York.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist and singer. Ulmer's distinctive guitar sound has been described as "jagged" and "stinging." His singing has been called "raggedly soulful."
Biography
Ulmer was born in St. Matthews, South CarolinaSt. Matthews, South Carolina
St. Matthews is a town in Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Calhoun County.St. Matthews is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
. He began his career playing with various soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
ensembles, first in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, from 1959-1964, and then in the Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
region, from 1964-1967. He first recorded with organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
ist John Patton
John Patton (musician)
John Patton , sometimes nicknamed Big John Patton, was a hard bop and soul jazz organist....
in 1969. After moving to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1971, Ulmer played with Art Blakey
Art Blakey
Arthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
's Jazz Messengers, Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than forty years Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note.-Early life:From a very large family with five sisters and nine...
, Paul Bley
Paul Bley
Paul Bley, CM is a pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing.-Biography:...
, Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson was an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.-Biography:...
and Larry Young
Larry Young (jazz)
Larry Young Larry Young Larry Young (also known as Khalid Yasin (Abdul Aziz) (October 7, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey—March 30, 1978 in New York City) was an American jazz organist and occasional pianist. Young pioneered a modal approach to the Hammond B-3 (in contrast to Jimmy Smith's...
.
In the early 1970s, Ulmer joined Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
; he was the first electric guitarist to record and tour extensively with Coleman. He has credited Coleman as a major influence, and Coleman's strong reliance on electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
in his fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
-oriented recordings owes a distinct debt to Ulmer.
He formed a group called the Music Revelation Ensemble with David Murray
David Murray (jazz musician)
David Murray is an American jazz musician. Murray plays mainly tenor saxophone and sometimes bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.-Biography:...
and Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson is an American jazz drummer. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas.Jackson is notable for his unusual approach to his instrument, which draws as much inspiration from military and parade bands as from traditional jazz drumming.He is the only person to have recorded and performed...
, with whom he recorded throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Different incarnations of the group also featured Julius Hemphill
Julius Hemphill
Julius Arthur Hemphill was a jazz composer and saxophone player. He performed mainly on alto saxophone; less often soprano and tenor saxophones and flute.-Biography:...
, Arthur Blythe
Arthur Blythe
Arthur Blythe is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. His stylistic voice has a distinct vibrato and he plays within the post-bop subgenre of jazz.- Biography :...
, Sam Rivers
Sam Rivers
Samuel Carthorne Rivers , is an American jazz musician and composer. He performs on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano....
, and Hamiet Bluiett
Hamiet Bluiett
Hamiet Bluiett is an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument is the baritone saxophone, and he is considered one of the finest living players of this instrument...
on saxophones and flutes. In the 1980s he co-led, with saxophonist George Adams
George Adams (musician)
George Rufus Adams was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond...
, the ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Phalanx
Phalanx (band)
Phalanx was a jazz quartet featuring guitarist James "Blood" Ulmer, drummer Rashied Ali, tenor saxophonist George Adams, and bassist Sirone. They released three albums in the 1980s, two for DIW Records....
.
1983's Odyssey
Odyssey (James Blood Ulmer album)
Odyssey is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1983 and released on the Columbia label. It was Ulmer's final of three albums recorded for a major label.-Reception:...
, with drummer Warren Benbow
Warren Benbow
Warren Benbow is a jazz drummer who has worked with Nina Simone, Larry Willis, Eddie Gomez, Olu Dara, Walter Bishop, Jr., and was an original member of James Blood Ulmer's band Odyssey....
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Charles Burnham, was described as "avant-gutbucket," leading writer Bill Milkowski to describe the music as "conjuring images of Skip James
Skip James
Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter, born in Bentonia, Mississippi, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
and Albert Ayler
Albert Ayler
Albert Ayler was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer.Ayler was among the most primal of the free jazz musicians of the 1960s; critic John Litweiler wrote that "never before or since has there been such naked aggression in jazz" He possessed a deep blistering tone—achieved...
jamming on the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
."
Ulmer has recorded many albums as a leader, including three recent acclaimed blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-oriented records produced by Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
. He also performs solo.
Ulmer was also a judge for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists.
In a 2005 Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
interview, Ulmer opined that guitar technique had not advanced since the death of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. He stated that technique could advance "if the guitar would stop following the piano," and indicated that he tunes all of his guitar strings to A
A (musical note)
La or A is the sixth note of the solfège. "A" is generally used as a standard for tuning. When the orchestra tunes, the oboe plays an "A" and the rest of the instruments tune to match that pitch. Every string instrument in the orchestra has an A string, from which each player can tune the rest of...
.
In spring 2011, Ulmer joined saxophone luminary James Carter
James Carter (musician)
James Carter is an American jazz musician.Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet...
's organ trio as a special guest along with Nicholas Payton on trumpet for a six-night stand of performances at Blue Note New York.
As leader
- RevealingRevealing (album)Revealing is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer featuring George Adams, Cecil McBee, and Doug Hammond recorded in 1977 and released on the In + Out label....
(In + Out, 1977) - Tales of Captain BlackTales of Captain BlackTales of Captain Black is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer featuring Ornette Coleman, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and Denardo Coleman recorded in 1978 and originally released on the Artists House label....
(Artists HouseArtists House-Discography:...
, 1978) - Are You Glad to Be in America?Are You Glad to Be in America?Are You Glad to Be in America? is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1980 and originally released on the Rough Trade label in the UK in 1980 and the Artists House label in the US in 1981....
(Rough TradeRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, 1980) - Free LancingFree LancingFree Lancing is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1981 and released on the Columbia label. It was Ulmer's first of three albums recorded for a major label.-Reception:...
(ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, 1981) - Black RockBlack Rock (James Blood Ulmer album)Black Rock is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1982 and released on the Columbia label. It was Ulmer's second of three albums recorded for a major label.-Reception:...
(Columbia, 1982) - OdysseyOdyssey (James Blood Ulmer album)Odyssey is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1983 and released on the Columbia label. It was Ulmer's final of three albums recorded for a major label.-Reception:...
(Columbia, 1984) - Live at the Caravan of DreamsLive at the Caravan of DreamsLive at the Caravan of Dreams is a live album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1985 at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, Texas and released on the Caravan of Dreams label...
(Caravan of Dreams, 1986) - America - Do You Remember the Love? (Blue NoteBlue noteIn jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres. Country blues, in particular, features wide variations from the...
, 1987) - Blues AllnightBlues AllnightBlues Allnight is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1989 and released on the In + Out label.-Reception:Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Blues Allnight" - 5:09# "Calling Marry" - 5:33...
(In + Out, 1989) - Black and BluesBlack and BluesBlack and Blues is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1990 and released on the Japanese DIW label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Burning Like Love" - 5:54# "Crying" - 6:12...
(DIWDIW RecordsDIW Records is a Japanese record label. It is a subsidiary label of Disc Union and specializes in jazz and avant garde music. Kazunori Sugiyama was an executive producer for the label before starting Tzadik Records with John Zorn.-Discography:...
, 1990) Drayton, Ali, Weston - Blues PreacherBlues PreacherBlues Preacher is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1992 and released on the Japanese DIW label and in the US on Columbia/DIW.-Reception:...
(DIWDIW RecordsDIW Records is a Japanese record label. It is a subsidiary label of Disc Union and specializes in jazz and avant garde music. Kazunori Sugiyama was an executive producer for the label before starting Tzadik Records with John Zorn.-Discography:...
/ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, 1992) - Harmolodic Guitar with StringsHarmolodic Guitar with StringsHarmolodic Guitar with Strings is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1993 and released on the Japanese DIW label. The album features Ulmer on guitar with the Indigo String Quartet performing compositions which expand on Ornette Coleman's theory of...
(DIW, 1993) - Live at the Bayerischer Hof (In + Out, 1994)
- Music Speaks Louder Than Words (DIW, 1995)
- Forbidden BluesForbidden BluesForbidden Blues is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1996 and released on the Japanese DIW label in 1998.-Reception:...
(DIW, 1996) - Blue BloodBlue Blood (James Blood Ulmer album)Blue Blood is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 2000 and released on Bill Laswell's Innerhythmic label in 2001. The album features performances by Ulmer with Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Jerome Brailey, and Amina Claudine Myers....
Innerhythmic, (2001) - Memphis Blood: The Sun SessionsMemphis Blood: The Sun SessionsMemphis Blood: The Sun Sessions is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in and released on the Hyena label in 2001. The album features Ulmer covering fourteen blues standards recorded at Sun Studio.-Reception:...
(Hyena Records, 2003) - No Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady SessionsNo Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady SessionsNo Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady Sessions is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in and released on the Hyena label in 2003...
(M, 2003) - BirthrightBirthright (album)Birthright is a solo album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 2004 and released on the Hyena label in 2005.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars and stated "Birthright is the album Ulmer should have made years ago. All that matters is that listeners...
(Hyena, 2005) - Bad Blood in the City: The Piety Street SessionsBad Blood in the City: The Piety Street SessionsBad Blood in the City: The Piety Street Sessions is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in New Orleans at the Piety Street Recording Studios and released on the Hyena label in 2007.-Reception:...
(Hyena, 2007) - In and Out (In & Out Records, 2010)
With Odyssey the Band
- Odyssey (Columbia, 3-5/83) Charles Burnham, Warren Benbow
- Part Time (Rough TradeRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, 1983) - Reunion (Knitting FactoryKnitting FactoryThe Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
, 1997) Burnham, Benbow - Back in Time (Pi Records, 2005) Odyssey the Band: Burnham, Benbow
With Music Revelation Ensemble
- No Wave (Moers, 1980)
- Music Revelation Ensemble (DIW, 1988)
- Electric Jazz (DIW, 1990)
- After Dark (DIW, 1991)
- In the Name of... (DIW, 1993)
- Cross Fire (DIW, 1996)
With Phalanx
- Phalanx (Moers, 1985)
- Original Phalanx (DIW, 1987)
- In Touch (DIW, 1988)
- Got Something (Moers, 1991)
As sideman
- Hank Marr: Sounds from the Marr-ket Place (King, 1967, rec.1964)
- John PattonJohn Patton (musician)John Patton , sometimes nicknamed Big John Patton, was a hard bop and soul jazz organist....
: Accent on the BluesAccent on the BluesAccent on the Blues is an album by American organist John Patton recorded in 1969 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 3 stars and stated "Accent on the Blues is among the most atmospheric music Patton has ever made...
(Blue Note, 1969) - John Patton: Memphis to New York SpiritMemphis to New York SpiritMemphis to New York Spirit is an album by American organist John Patton recorded in 1969 and 1970 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1996.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1970) - Larry Young: Lawrence of Newark (Perception/Castle, 1973)
- Rashied Ali Quintet: Rashied Ali Quintet (Survival/Knitting Factory, 1973)
- Arthur BlytheArthur BlytheArthur Blythe is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. His stylistic voice has a distinct vibrato and he plays within the post-bop subgenre of jazz.- Biography :...
: Lenox Avenue BreakdownLenox Avenue BreakdownLenox Avenue Breakdown is an album by jazz alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe. Columbia Records released the album in 1979, and Koch Jazz re-issued the title in 1998...
(Columbia, 1979) - Arthur Blythe: IllusionsIllusions (Arthur Blythe album)-Track listing:# "Bush Baby" - 6:28# "Miss Nancy" - 7:24# "Illusions" - 4:10# "My Son Ra" - 5:59# "Carespin' With Mamie" - 7:04# "As of Yet" - 5:04*Recorded at CBS Recording Studios, New York in April & May 1980.-Personnel:*Arthur Blythe - alto saxophone...
(Columbia, 1980) - Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Show Stopper (Gramavision, 1982–83)
- David MurrayDavid Murray (jazz musician)David Murray is an American jazz musician. Murray plays mainly tenor saxophone and sometimes bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.-Biography:...
: ChildrenChildren (David Murray album)Children is the eighth album by David Murray to be released on the Italian Black Saint label. It was released in 1984 and features performances by Murray, James "Blood" Ulmer, Don Pullen, Lonnie Plaxico and Marvin "Smitty" Smith....
(Black Saint, 1984) - David Murray: Recording N.Y.C. 1986Recording N.Y.C. 1986Recording N.Y.C. 1986 is an album by David Murray released on the Japanese DIW label. It was released in 1986 and features six quartet performances by Murray with Fred Hopkins, James Blood Ulmer and Sunny Murray.-Reception:...
(DIW, 1986) - RiotRiot (band)Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career....
: The Privilege of PowerThe Privilege of PowerThe Privilege of Power is Riot's seventh album, released in 1990. It was more experimental than their previous work, being an attempt at a concept album and also including a horn section on some of the tracks. "Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway" is an Al Di Meola cover. "Killer" is about...
(CBS, 1990 / Collectables, 2003) - Rodolphe Burger: Guitar Music (Dernière Bande Records, 2003)
- J. Cortez & the Firesplitters: Borders of Disorderly Time (2003)
- James CarterJames Carter (musician)James Carter is an American jazz musician.Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet...
: Out of Nowhere (Half Note, 2004) - World Saxophone QuartetWorld Saxophone QuartetThe World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
: Political BluesPolitical Blues-Track listing:# "Political Blues" - 9:04# "Hal's Blues" - 2:54# "Mannish Boy" - 7:26# "Let's Have Some Fun" - 7:23# "Amazin' Disgrace" - 5:55# "Bluocracy, Part 1" - 5:03...
(Justin Time, 2006)
External links
- Hyena Records
- A 1998 Interview
- James Blood Ulmer Online Archive including detailed discography