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
Studio album by James Blood Ulmer
Released	1983
Recorded	March–May 1983
Genre	Jazz
Label	Columbia
Producer	James Blood Ulmer
James Blood Ulmer chronology
Black Rock (1982) Odyssey (1983) Part Time (1984)

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 #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]

Professional ratings

Review scores
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

1. "Church" – 4:54
2. "Little Red House" – 4:45
3. "Love Dance" – 5:05
4. "Are You Glad to Be in America?" – 3:40
5. "Election" – 3:26
6. "Odyssey" – 5:01
7. "Please Tell Her" – 4:10
8. "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