James Blood Ulmer, one of the "greatest guitarists of all time," solo set; followed by a 2nd set feat. D. Bryant, N. Leonard, F. Williams, and J. K. Jones.
When:
Thursday, Nov 16, 2023 8:00p -
10:00p
Thursday, Nov 16, 2023 8:00p -
10:00p
Where:
Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church
1555 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Admission:
$15
Hosted by:
Categories:
Music, Nightlife
Event website:
https://dbryantmusic.com/third-thursdays/
James Blood Ulmer is included in Rolling Stone’s recent “The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list. This month, JBU is “Third Thursdays” guest artist, in a solo set, followed by a second set with Dave Bryant ("Third Thursdays" host/keys), Neil Leonard (saxophone), Frederick Williams (bass), James Kamal Jones (drums).
James Blood Ulmer is among the most distinctive and influential electric guitarists who has made a career built on left turns and reinvention. One of the most expressive guitarists on the planet, Blood is one of the undisputed keepers of the flame for the “harmolodic movement” created by Ornette Coleman. He takes those fundamentals and applies them at will to any genre he pursues, from rootsy Americana, rock, hyper funk, outside electric, Hendrix-inspired cosmic blues. Blood’s music is rooted in the blues. And yet, he flirts with it.
Born in rural South Carolina and raised by God-fearing Baptist parents, Blood was gifted his first guitar at age 4. His early passion for performing music was sparked by gospel, but it did not take long before other sounds and styles were on his radar. The blues especially. For Blood, the blues—the devil’s music— was alternately alluring and frightening. It got him thrown out of the house.
Over time, as a full-time working and touring musician, performing in a variety of styles, he was inspired to also develop his jazz chops, determined that they match his already solid foundation in gospel and R&B. While struggling to develop his own unique jazz voice, Blood’s career took a dramatic turn when he finally moved to NYC and met Ornette Coleman. While Blood kept one foot in straight-ahead jazz to pay the bills, he steadily fell under the influence of Coleman’s harmolodic theory and free music experimentations. Since then, he has continued to channel his long life’s musical experiences and explorations into the vast blues/jazz/funk/country/freeform musical landscape, cementing his reputation as one of the great American music pioneers.
James Blood Ulmer was recently included in Rolling Stone's “The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list (dated: 10/13/2023): "James Blood Ulmer is fully aware, theoretically and idiomatically—he’s just never been constrained by those concerns. He is a rock. He is unapologetically himself. He is the blues. Itself. Not its rules." (Vernon Reid)
“I’ve made 64 records and none of it’s jazz. It’s all harmolodic as far as I’m concerned.“ (James Blood Ulmer, 2015)
Improvising keyboardist Dave Bryant, host of the monthly “Third Thursdays” harmolodic jazz series, is curating his November’s concert to feature the solo performance of special guest James Blood Ulmer, one of Ornette Coleman’s most important early co-conceptualists. The second half of the evening will include a set performed by Bryant along with his fellow Ornette Coleman collaborators Frederick E. Williams (bass) and James Kamal Jones (drums), joined by Neil Leonard (saxophone). Admission $15/person, available in advance and at the door (cash/check/charge). Concert contact info: [email protected] or 617-447-3030.
