James Blood Ulmer-ARE YOU GLAD TO BE IN AMERICA? 1980 Rough Trade Records

James Blood Ulmer- ARE YOU GLAD TO BE IN AMERICA? Rough Trade 1980

Today is James Blood Ulmer's 70th birthday:
He was born in St.Matthew's, South Carolina in 1942.

This is another Ulmer l.p. from around the same period as my previous post.
That is- from early in his recording career as a leader.
This record features the same line-up as the Music Revelation Ensemble's first l.p,(1981) with the addition of a second drummer- G.Calvin Weston (from Ornette Coleman's Prime Time),
alto sax player Oliver Lake, Trumpeter Olu Dara and a rhythm guitarist-William Patterson (on track 4 only).
This record fits the "jazz-funk" designation better than does the Music Revelation Ensemble l.p, and at times (especially on track one) sounds very much like Prime Time, with Calvin Weston's funk rhythms having a lot to do with that. Otherwise, it's a typical Ulmer "pedal to the metal" straight-ahead free jazz-inflected improvising session. Solid stuff.

This is a strange recording, however. The sound is dry and lacks a certain definition.(Especially in the horns).
Some of the tracks fade out at odd moments or are cut off abruptly. One can only guess as to the reasons- too many solos? Solos too long? A desire to have more compositions represented? Disintegration in performance? Since Ulmer has production and mixing credits, one can only presume the result satisfied him. In any case- "Rough 16" is an apt catalogue number. Especially when compared with "Freelancing", from the same period, which is very similar, but- to my memory- more polished.























Side One:

1- Layout
2- Pressure
3- Interview
4- Jazz Is The Teacher (Funk Is The Preacher)
5- See-Through

Side Two:

6- Time Out/
7- T.V. Blues
8- Light Eyed/
9- Revelation March/
10- Are You Glad To Be In America?

James Blood Ulmer- Guitar, Vocals
David Murray- Tenor Saxophone
Oliver Lake- Alto saxophone
Olu Dara- Trumpet
Amin Ali- Bass
Ronald Shannon Jackson- Drums
G. Calvin Weston- Drums
William Patterson- Rhythm Guitar (track 4 only)

Recorded 17th January, 1980, R.C.A. Studios, NYC.

I have had to leave certain tracks linked together (/) as separating them would add an ugly pause to the music.

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Music Revelation Ensemble-NO WAVE (1980) Moers Records

Music Revelation Ensemble- NO WAVE (Moers, 1980)


This is the first Music Revelation Ensemble record.

This album bears stylistic similarities with Ornette Coleman's Prime Time (Ulmer had played and recorded on the album Body Meta before Ornette adopted the name of Prime Time for his electric septet). Though this group is half the size, they make a comparible volume of music.

No Wave also bears unmistakeable Rock influences- particularly the influence of Jimi Hendrix; the last great innovator of electric guitar language and technique, and after whose death development stopped, in Ulmer's opinion.
The momentum and drive of pieces like "Manic Depression" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"could be cited.

Ulmers quick, stabbing attack (even in a relatively laid-back and sexy tune as Big Tree) is perfectly matched by the interval-jumping bass playing of Amin Ali and the powerhouse drum-pummeling of Ronald Shannon Jackson. The trio make a conglomerate sound which is almost impossible to untangle. This is Knotty music at its best. Add to this the Tenor Saxophone and Bass Clarinet of David Murray who is here as aggressive and fiery as he needs to be- and you have a powerful, driving, unrelenting piece of incendiary vinyl.

Though the group has been called a jazz/funk group, I would argue that it bears more resemblence to the post-punk no wave bands like Television and The Voidoids than P-Funk or Sly And THe Family Stone. I think the title of this record is no accident. Still (for what it's worth) - this music is
generally more tuneful (and funky) than another identically-equipped group featuring Shannon Jackson; Last Exit.
-Dr I


















Music Revelation Ensemble - NO WAVE (Moers Records) 1980

Side One:

1: Time Table (10:09)

2: Big Tree (8:53)


Side Two:

3: Baby Talk (9:45)

4: Sound Check (8:29)

All compositions by James Blood Ulmer

James Blood Ulmer- Guitar and Vocals (on track 4)
David Murray- Tenor Saxophone and Bass Clarinet (on track 2)
Amin Ali- Electric Bass
Ronald Shannon Jackson- Drums

Recorded in June, 1980

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