RoJaC - Robert's Jazz Corner

James Blood Ulmer Online Archive

James "Blood" Ulmer who sometimes also goes by the Muslim name Damu Mustafa Abdul Musawwir, was born 2.2.1942 in St.Matthews, S.C. He started to play the guitar at the age of 7 with his father's gospel group, the Southern Sons. In the 60s he played with bands such as the Savoys, the Del-Vikings, Jewel Brenner, Hank Marr and his own Blood Brothers. He started to develop own ideas with George Adams whom he had met in Marr's band. In 1967 he lead the Focus Novii in Detroit. By the end of the 60s he played with Doug Hammond (dr), John Danner (b), Adams and Rashied Ali (dr) at Minton's Playhouse. Early 70s Ulmer met Ornette Coleman with whom he lived, played and studied Coleman's harmolodic music theory for a couple of years. In this period he also played with Archie Shepp, Art Blakey and Paul Bley. (Most information about Ulmers early years and records is from the liner notes of his recordings "Revealing" and "Tales of Captain Black")

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