Odyssey (James Blood Ulmer album)
Odyssey is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer, recorded and released in 1983 on the Columbia label.[1] It was Ulmer's final of three albums recorded for a major label. The musicians on the album later re-united as The Odyssey Band and Odyssey The Band.
Odyssey | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1983 | |||
Recorded | March–May 1983 | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | James Blood Ulmer | |||
James Blood Ulmer chronology | ||||
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Reception
The AllMusic review by Steve Huey stated that "Odyssey stands as James Blood Ulmer's signature masterpiece, the purest and most accessible showcase for his bold, genre-clashing guitar vision... All the pieces come together to produce not only Ulmer's finest album, but a certified classic of the modern jazz avant-garde."[2] It placed at No. 20 in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[3] The album was listed as part of a suggested "core collection" by The Penguin Guide to Jazz.[4]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s | A[5] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [4] |
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [6] |
Track listing
- All compositions by James "Blood" Ulmer
- "Church" – 4:54
- "Little Red House" – 4:45
- "Love Dance" – 5:05
- "Are You Glad to Be in America?" – 3:40
- "Election" – 3:26
- "Odyssey" – 5:01
- "Please Tell Her" – 4:10
- "Swing & Things" – 4:32
- Recorded at the Power Station, New York in March–May 1983
Personnel
- James "Blood" Ulmer – guitar, vocals
- Charles Burnham – violin
- Warren Benbow – drums
References
- James "Blood" Ulmer discography Archived 2009-11-05 at the Wayback Machine accessed July 12, 2010
- Huey, S. AllMusic Review accessed January 29, 2013
- 1983 Pazz & Jop accessed January 15, 2020
- Cook R., Morton B. (2006). Penguin Guide to Jazz, 8th ed. London: Penguin Books, p, 1314.
- Christgau, R. Consumer Guide accessed January 29, 2013
- Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 197. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.