James Blood Ulmer
Free Lancing
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1981 UK original. Gold promo stamped on back cover. Featuring David Murray, Oliver Lake and others. "Free Lancing" is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer, released in 1981. This record marks Ulmer's first solo venture with major label Columbia Records and is considered a landmark in the genre of free funk—a fusion of free jazz and funk elements. The album showcases Ulmer's distinctive guitar style, which is characterized by a raw, blues-infused approach and an adventurous use of harmonics and dissonance. The music on "Free Lancing" is rhythmically intense and features complex, improvisational structures, underpinned by a strong rhythm section.

The album consists of seven tracks, each highlighting Ulmer's innovative blending of styles. It features contributions from notable musicians such as drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, bassist Amin Ali, and jazz keyboardist G. Calvin Weston. Standout tracks include "Where Did All the Girls Come From," which combines tight funk grooves with avant-garde jazz sensibilities, and "Jazz Is the Teacher," a track that underscores the album's blend of groove and experimentation. "Free Lancing" is widely regarded as a crucial work in Ulmer's discography and a significant influence on the development of genre-defying jazz music in the 1980s.