Ulmer turns back the wheel of time with his Album INANDOUT. Just a few chords and he is back where everything began. In Detroit, where the gruff guitarist had his first gigs in the bands of organists Hank Marr and Big John Patton. In Minton's Playhouse, New York, with all of those big names, such as Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Rashied Ali, Paul Bley, Larry Young, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Arthur Blythe, David Murray, Julius Hemphill, Pharaoh Sanders, John Zorn, Vernon Reid and Bill Laswell, who were leading him through the improvising wilderness. And with his shining hero, Ornette Coleman, who encouraged Blood to transpose the special harmonies he created to the finger board of the guitar. Ulmer, at age 67, takes stock while at the same time is looking forward. In & Out is the title of a composition by the legendary tenor saxophone player, Joe Henderson, and is also the name of the record company for which Blood recorded this masterpiece. Says James, Joe gave me a job and helped me to become known. I am very grateful to him. He was my friend. And it was for this reason that Ulmer dedicated Song For Joe to Henderson. In addition, there are nine other tunes, created by his trio, which features Mark Peterson on bass and Aubrey Dayle on drums. Blood likes to shake people awake. Not with commercial superficiality, which was never his message. He prefers the suspenseful depth. Those who are full of satisfaction should no longer listen, but for those who still yearn for the truth, I will deliver it. The truth for Ulmer lies deep in his music. This is a musician who, from the very beginning, has been an exception to the rule. James Blood Ulmer has never been driven into the mainstream, but, on principle, always swam against the stream. Blues, time and again, Blues. The only truly free music.
