Photo: Christian Sahm Aschaffenburg, Deutschland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Guitarists · 1942–2026

James Blood Ulmer

American jazz and blues guitarist and singer

Born: 2 February 1942
St. Matthews
Died: 3 June 2026
Manhattan
Country: United States
Active: 1964–
Record labels: Columbia Records, DIW Records
Discography: 31 albums

Biography

James Blood Ulmer was a jazz musician who played guitar and voice. James Blood Ulmer was born on 2 February 1942 in St. Matthews and died on 3 June 2026 in Manhattan. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and blues. Record labels: Columbia Records and DIW Records. The discography here lists 31 albums, from “Tales of Captain Black” (1979) to “The Stone Residency 2015 - Day 2 Set 2” (2021).

Willie James "Blood" Ulmer (February 8, 1940 – June 3, 2026) was an American jazz, free funk and blues guitarist and singer. He played a Gibson Byrdland guitar. His guitar sound has been described as "jagged" and "stinging". An article by journalists Peter Margasak and Graham Flashner called Ulmer's singing "raggedly soulful".

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

Tales of Captain Black 1979 · Artists House Are You Glad to Be in America? 1980 · Rough Trade Free Lancing 1981 · CBS Black Rock 1982 · Sony Records Odyssey 1983 · CBS Odyssey 1984 · Columbia Part Time 1984 · Live · Rough Trade

Live at the Caravan of Dreams 1986 · Live

America - Do You Remember The Love? 1987 · Blue Note Wings 1988 · Jazz File Revealing 1990 · In+Out Records Black and Blues 1991 · DIW Blues Preacher 1993 · DIW Harmolodic Guitar With Strings 1993 · DIW Music Speaks Louder Than Words 1996 · DIW Forbidden Blues 1998 · DIW Blue Blood 2001 · Innerhythmic Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions 2001 · Label M Guitar Music 2003 · Dernière Bande No Escape From The Blues - The Electric Lady Sessions 2003 · HYENA Records Birthright 2005 · HYENA Records Bad Blood in the City: The Piety Street Sessions 2007 · HYENA Records In and Out 2009 · In+Out Records

Freelancing Live 2013 · Live

Rock in Blues 2015 · HYENA Records

Baby Talk: Live at Molde International Jazz Festival 2015 2017 · Live

Sesc Jazz: James Blood Ulmer & Memphis Blood Blues Band 2018 · Live

The Stone Residency 2015 - Day 2 Set 1 2021 · Live

The Stone Residency 2015 - Day 2 Set 2 2021 · Live

Odyssey

Stompin and Singin’ the Blues - Festival Sons d’Hiver 2013 · Live

Also plays on

Albums where James Blood Ulmer is credited as a sideman

1973	Multiple — Joe Henderson	guitar
1979	Lenox Avenue Breakdown — Arthur Blythe	guitar
1980	Illusions — Arthur Blythe	guitar
1983	Show Stopper — Jamaaladeen Tacuma	guitar
1985	Children — David Murray	electric guitar
1986	Recording NYC. 1986 — David Murray	guitar
2002	Phrenology — The Roots	guitar

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did James Blood Ulmer play?

James Blood Ulmer is known for playing guitar and voice.

When and where was James Blood Ulmer born?

James Blood Ulmer was born 2 February 1942 in St. Matthews.

What are James Blood Ulmer's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Tales of Captain Black (1979), Are You Glad to Be in America? (1980), Free Lancing (1981), Black Rock (1982) and Odyssey (1983).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.