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Guitar Innovator James Blood Ulmer Dies at 86
12 Jun
Summary
- Died June 3rd in Manhattan at age 86 from cardiac arrest.
- Blended funk, punk, jazz, and blues, likened to Jimi Hendrix.
- Mentored by Ornette Coleman, explored unique guitar tuning.
James Blood Ulmer, an influential guitarist whose music defied genre boundaries, passed away on June 3rd in Manhattan at the age of 86. His death was attributed to cardiac arrest.
Ulmer, a protégé of saxophonist Ornette Coleman, fused elements of funk, punk, jazz, and blues into a unique avant-garde sound. He was particularly known for his innovative guitar playing, which was influenced by Coleman's theory of harmolodics and Ulmer's own radical approach to guitar tuning.
His career spanned decades, with early roots in gospel and R&B. He became a significant figure in New York's downtown music scene in the 1970s, performing in jazz, rock, and punk venues. Ulmer's albums, including 'Tales of Captain Black,' 'Are You Glad to Be in America?,' and 'Odyssey,' are considered landmarks.
Critics lauded his originality, with some comparing him to Jimi Hendrix. Ulmer's music explored diverse influences, including country and folk, over his career. He received his only Grammy nomination for 'Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions' in the early 2000s.
