Jun 9, 2026 10:54 AM
In Memoriam: James Blood Ulmer, 1940–2026
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
A series of short films paired with portions of saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff’s Path Of Totality (Whirlwind) are set to be released through June.
(Photo: Evan Shay)Saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff and his troupe Flux recently issued Path Of Totality (Whirlwind), a recording praised in the February issue of DownBeat as being “a stunning, deep dive of an album, the sort of music in which one could spend hours submersed.”
In addition to issuing that recording, the bandleader has sought out a number of filmmakers to interpret the music in a batch of short films. Below is the debut of the film for “Splatter,” an animated work by Udo Prinsen, who also has collaborated with Dutch drummer Han Bennink.
“I wanted to do something different than a music video, and I’ve always loved animation and film,” Nachoff said of the visual component to Path Of Totality. “The compositions on this recording are very expansive and cinematic in scope; they lend themselves well to a creative visual. I provided each filmmaker the background inspirations for their piece and gave them a lot of freedom in their approach. It’s been fascinating to see how each of them interprets the music—both the differences and similarities.”
Other contributors to the short-film series are _eljka Blak_i_, JiYe Kim, Trent Freeman, Lee Hutzulak and Anne Beal.
For additional information about Path Of Totality, visit the Whirlwind website. DB
To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller and a source of strength.
Jun 9, 2026 10:54 AM
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
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