Search - James Blood Ulmer :: Music Speaks Louder Than Words : James 'Blood' Ulmer Plays The Music Of Ornette Coleman

The music DOES speak louder than the words

Jeff Delfield | 06/11/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The good news is that when this record is good, it's GREAT. The bad news is that when it's not good, it's really, really not good. With six cuts of Ornette Coleman covers and a truly great set of side musicians, this could have been a near-perfect recording (definitely 5 stars). Unfortunately, Ulmer includes three originals of sung r&b songs (these aren't terrible songs, it's just that Ulmer's lyrics and singing can't begin to compete with his own incredible guitar playing). On the instrumentals, Ulmer's harmolodic playing has never been better, especially on the opening cut "Lonely Woman." Ironically, the title of the recording might have informed Ulmer (let the music speak for you man, it says so much more than your words). The definitive Ulmer record is still "Tales of Captain Black," and if you can afford the import $, it comes more highly recommended."