James Blood Ulmer, the American guitarist and vocalist known for blending blues with jazz and funk and for pushing into more avant-garde territory, dies at age 86. Multiple outlets report that his family announced his death in a statement posted on social media, citing 3 June as the date of his passing. Ulmer’s career is described as rooted in improvisation and experimentation, often drawing on techniques associated with free jazz while applying them to blues structures and other popular styles. The Guardian notes his work combined jazz, funk and blues and highlights that he released music on a major label in the early 1980s, before continuing to be celebrated for risk-taking and originality. Rolling Stone characterizes him as an innovative guitarist who fused the avant-garde to blues and points to influences such as saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Across coverage, Ulmer is portrayed as a distinctive figure in American music whose approach crossed genre boundaries and remained consistent in its willingness to challenge expectations. His family statements emphasize his music and spirit as “fearless.”