James Blood Ulmer

Blues All Night James Blood Ulmer

When Ry Cooder - rather not known as being unassuming - announces, that one of his colleagues is 'one of the best guitarists I've ever heard', then there has to be more than a shred of truth in his words. Receiver of Cooder's high praise is James 'Blood' Ulmer, exceptional virtuoso on his six strings and a gifted composer and singer as well. Always keeping up with the latest developments in music Ulmer has left his indelible mark on jazz rock in the 1980s. In & Out now re-releases a fascinating document which has been unavailable for a long time. Born in 1942 in South Carolina Ulmer started his career in funk bands round Pittsburgh and Ohio. Detroit was an intermediate stop for him on his way to New York where he got influenced by Ornette Coleman whose improvisatory, modal playing became crucial for Ulmer. He managed to link a Hendrix-like rock attitude with blues patterns, vocabulary of funk and the aesthetics of free jazz in an unequalled way. 'Jazz is the teacher, funk is the preacher', he used to say and still does and, this motto especially applies to his more accessible period, leaving behind the experimental years for a straighter, but likewise thrilling sound. This is the case with his work 'Blues Allright'. Ulmers first blues rock album, recorded in 1989 with Ronnie Drayton (g, voc), Amin Ali (b, voc) and Grant Calvin Weston (dr, voc). The album has been out of print for a quite a while and can be enjoyed again after all these years, offering a unique documentary of the late Eighties' sound. You'll witness the steaming and vibrating funk tune 'Calling Mary' or the uptempo banger 'She Ain't So Cold' with a splash of hillbilly flavour. Not to forget the sharp and pulsating blues funk of 'Baby Snatcher' with Ulmers rough vocal lines. The late Eighties become alive again with fresh digital remastering which has to be credited to IN+OUT Records favourite sound Guru Winnie Leyh.