Search - James Blood Ulmer :: Back in Time

James Blood Ulmer
Back in Time
Genres: Jazz, Pop, R&B

Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
1. Last One
2. Open Doors
3. Happy Time
4. Little Red House
5. Water Tree
6. Love Nest
7. Woman Coming
8. Channel One
9. Let's Get Married
10. Free For Three

CD Details

All Artists: James Blood Ulmer
Title: Back in Time
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Pi Recordings
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 11/29/2005
Genres: Jazz, Pop, R&B
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Funk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 808713001822

Synopsis

Album Description

"Electric guitarist James "Blood" Ulmer ... is one of jazz's great progressives." -- Will Hermes, Entertainment Weekly "Back In Time is the new year's first A+, Ulmer's friskiest since the 1983 Columbia LP from which the trio derives its name." -- Francis Davis, Village Voice "Any written description of Odyssey the band is no longer valid by the time the ink dries. This group redefines itself every few moments." -- Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes Since its original release in November 2005, James "Blood" Ulmer's Back In Time has received rave reviews. Down Beat critics voted Ulmer onto the Blues Artist of the Year chart, and the Village Voice listed the release in its Top 50 of the Year. Of the artists who have risen to prominence on jazz guitar, James "Blood" Ulmer is one of the most notable. From his first days as Ornette Coleman's Harmolodic guitarist in Prime Time, his path to guitar innovator was a fast one. In the ten-year period between 1973, when he began his formal relationship with Harmolodics and Ornette Coleman, and 1983, when he recorded one of the epochal albums of the 1980s (Odyssey), it can be argued that Ulmer's evolution was the logical outgrowth of Hendrix, and just as significant. The band on, including Charles Burnham and Warren Benbrow, has since become known as Odyssey and is recognized today as the quintessential Ulmer band. A return of this group after a seven-year hiatus is a cause for celebration, and a call to those who may have forgotten to take notice. A return as musically engaging and powerful as this one is a reminder of how startlingly original, innovative, and downright forceful James "Blood" Ulmer is as an artist.

CD Reviews

James Blood Ulmer Reunites with the Odyssey Band

Paul Dembinski | Vermont | 08/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you owned JBU's Odyssee on Columbia back in 1983, you will be more than pleasantly surprised at this reunion album- you'll be astonished. Warren Benbow (drums) and Charles Burnham (violin) are back after a 23 year hiatus, which timewise seems forever, but this trio picks up like they've never been apart.

Every track is strong. What I find so amazing is that a trio of drums, guitar and violin sounds so full and beautiful. This is as good, or maybe a tad better than their 1983 release. Also of note is that James Blood Ulmer considers this a full fledged band, hence the title "Back in Time" by the Odyssey Band (no JBU as the stand-out; he's just another member of this critically important group).

I know Mr. Ulmer has been exploring the blues with great success of late (thanks in part to Vernon Reid), and hopefully has won him over new fans. Now with The Odyssey Band on the shelves, how about a Black Rock reunion with Amin Ali (bass) and Grant Calvin Weston (drums)? Another ground breaking trio that changed my life one spring day at the now defunct Lonestar Cafe in the Village.

God Bless James "Blood" Ulmer- a guitar talent like no other!"

ODYSSEY THE BAND: SMOKING THE BLUES, JAZZ, AND BEYOND

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 02/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five IMPRESSIVE Stars!! Famed jazz/blues star James Blood Ulmer is joined in this organic blues and jazz trio by the amazing Charles Burnham on violin, and the hot melodic drumming of Warren Benbow. The effective mixture of basic blues and harmolodic jazz complexities is on full display as the group takes us "back in time" and out into the future of the blues. This is Mr Ulmer's first recording since the highly acclaimed solo recording "Birthright".

The 'Pieces De Resistance', the best of the best, begin with the stark simplicity of "Little Red House", a real trip `back in time' and 'back to basics' with Ulmer effectively singing us some real basic blues memories. The cross-current blues complexities of "Last One" and the yearning "Open Doors" with it's six note percussive underpinning and seven note theme take the music into different areas: Charles Burnham's violin is totally on fire. The fact that there is no bass is no problem as this group generated it's own internal bass propulsion from each member, case in point, "Love Nest" with the bass drum pushing the pulse along. Very electric, very bluesy, very great performances. Highly Recommended. Five BLUE Stars!!"

Good, but you can't repeat history

Hank Schwab | Indianapolis, IN USA | 07/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I still love the first Odyssey album. This does a nice job of revisiting the sound, and the three members play together with an amazing tightness. But I don't really hear anything new here, and the electric effects on the violin get a little annoying after a while. Ulmer doesn't take any extended soloes. For something more current, check out Ulmer's recent blues albums, that's where his energy is going these days."