One of the greats goes at 86.
Never one for guitar w*nkery, JBU played for all he was worth. And he was worth a lot.
I remember the first time I heard Are You Glad To Be In America…he played like few others.
Wonder if he ever played with Sonny Sharrock. RIP.
I like his playing on the Big John Patton albums - ‘Accent on the Blues’ and ‘Memphis to New York Spirit’. Will dig them out - RIP.
I don’t know those records - I’ll have a listen, thanks!
Both excellent - James Blood Ulmer notably edgier than most of the guitarists on the Blue Note Pattons and he adds an "out there’ edge.
‘Memphis To New York Spirit’ only first came out in the 90s as a ‘Rare Groove’ courtesy Michael Cuscuna but recorded in 1970 I think. It was about to be released by Liberty under the title ‘Memphis To New York Split’ but didn’t happen - probably due to Francis Wolff’s death causing disruption and the title somehow got mangled.
Another to be missed. Did several ‘solo’ records which were wonderfully wild.
A big fan of JBU.
There is one album he did with Bill Laswell as the band The Third Rail that is highly recommended.
South Delta Space Age
I’ve got Are You Glad to Be in America? many years ago and I always meant to listen to more JBU - now I must do so, following some of the suggestions above. There’s also a good thread on the Hoffman forum with a number of YouTube videos linked. Anyhow it’s very sad news as another musician of my generation passes on - RiP James Blood Ulmer.
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