James Blood Ulmer, the innovative guitarist who merged avant-garde jazz with blues and funk into a distinctive sound, has died at 86. He died on June 3, according to a statement from his family, who described him as fearless in both music and spirit.
Born Willie James Ulmer in South Carolina in 1940, he began his music career playing in funk bands across Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Detroit, backing musicians including Jewel Bryner and Hank Marr. After settling in New York in the early 1970s, Ulmer fundamentally changed his approach to music. "I ain't never thought nobody could make no money playing free music," he later reflected. "So I always played structured blues, rhythm playing, dance music, or something like that. And I abandoned it! When I came to New York, it was like I just went totally another way."
In New York, Ulmer performed with Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, and Rashied Ali while studying under avant-garde pioneer Ornette Coleman. Coleman taught him his harmolodic theory, which rejected traditional keys and harmonics in favor of a freer approach to sound. This philosophy would shape Ulmer's entire career, influencing his instinctive, unbounded playing style even as he began writing songs.
Coleman co-produced Ulmer's debut album "Tales of Captain Black." His next release, "Are You Glad to Be in America?" on the British Rough Trade label, featured a spirited social commentary title track that became his signature song. Ulmer went on to support punk and rock bands including Public Image Ltd and Captain Beefheart, bringing an aggressive energy to these collaborations. When addressing crowds at these performances, he was direct: "I'd stand at the microphone and tell them to shut the fuck up. They had five minutes to get into it or get the fuck out!"
Collaborations with saxophonist Arthur Blythe on albums like "Lenox Avenue Breakdown" and "Illusions" led to Ulmer securing a record deal with Columbia. Between 1981 and 1983, he released three progressive albums: "Free Lancing," "Black Rock," and "Odyssey." Rolling Stone hailed him in "Free Lancing" as "the most original electric guitarist to emerge since the late Jimi Hendrix." These records paired virtuosic bluesy guitar work with tight funk arrangements and soulful vocals.
Ulmer also formed the Music Revelation Ensemble with saxophonist David Murray, bassist Amin Ali, and drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, debuting with "No Wave" in 1980. He later founded another group, Phalanx, reconnecting with Ali.
Following his Columbia years, Ulmer continued recording prolifically through subsequent decades, gradually focusing more on blues than jazz. His 2001 album "Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions" earned his only Grammy nomination, for best traditional blues album. He also appeared on recordings by Ry Cooder and hip-hop group the Roots, among others. Ulmer retired in 2024 after performing his final concert at Detroit's jazz festival.