James Blood Ulmer is arguably the only guitarist to have successfully bridged jazz, blues, and the avant garde. Raised on gospel music, Ulmer cut his teeth as a sideman in the 1970s with heralded jazz men such as Art Blakey, Paul Bley, and Ornette Coleman. By the '80s, Ulmer had fully immersed himself in New York's avant-garde scene and honed his playing into a distinctive style all his own--equal parts blues grit, jazz finesse, and downtown skronk. Early in the new millennium, Ulmer teamed up with guitarist Vernon Reid to record a straight blues set at the legendary Sun Studios. The resulting album, MEMPHIS BLOOD, was a critical and artistic success.