Blues Preacher
James Blood Ulmer · 1993
61 min · 10 tracks · blues
A vibrant fusion of blues and jazz, marked by Ulmer's expressive guitar work and impassioned vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Jazz Is the Teacher — This track showcases Ulmer's intricate guitar techniques and deep understanding of jazz harmony, making it a standout representation of the album's innovative spirit.
-
→
Justice for Us All — With its socially conscious themes and powerful lyrical content, this song highlights Ulmer's ability to fuse narrative depth with compelling musicality.
-
→
Blues Alnight — The title track encapsulates the soulful essence of the album, blending traditional blues motifs with Ulmer's signature avant-garde style.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends blues and jazz through improvisational guitar and varied vocal styles, creating a distinct sound.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a lively tone, followed by a gradual shift to more introspective pieces in the middle.
- Ulmer's guitar work features frequent improvisation, often deviating from traditional blues structures to incorporate jazz elements.
- Several tracks feature call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the interactive feel of the music and engaging the listener.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- soulful storytelling with grit
- introspective moments of solitude
- dynamic interplay of instruments
- patient grooves that unfold gradually
- uplifting energy for late nights
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- fans of short, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1993, Blues Preacher was James Blood Ulmer's follow-up to his acclaimed 1991 album, Odyssey. At this point in his career, Ulmer was integrating his unique blend of blues and jazz into a more expansive sonic palette, establishing himself as a key figure in the avant-garde music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ornette Coleman· Sonny Sharrock· Albert Ayler
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Cheering 6:47
- 2 Alone to Wonder 6:18
- 3 Let Me Take You Home 5:18
- 4 Who Let the Cat Out of the Bag? 4:37
- 5 Jazz Is the Teacher 6:49
- 6 Justice for Us All 5:04
- 7 Nobody but You 5:42
- 8 Blues Alnight 6:32
- 9 Get Up 7:36
- 10 Angel 7:11
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.