Earth & Blood: James Blood Ulmer & Tracy Nelson

Elemental blues, jazz and country from two performers with deep roots and cosmic connections. In the ’60s, young Tracy Nelson left the midwest for psychedelic San Francisco to front the R & B rock band, Mother Earth. Now deep in the Tennessee hills, she’s looking back to country sounds. From South Carolina to deep space, guitarist James “Blood” Ulmer takes us on his journey from childhood gospel to free form harmolodic jazz with Ornette Coleman. Blood now brings it all to bear on a brutal, personal version of the blues.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: Mother Earth Tracy Nelson
Mother Earth: Livin' with the Animals, Wounded Bird

Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky Michael Doucet
From Now On, Smithsonian Folkways

Snatch It Back and Hold It Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
Hoodoo Man Blues, Delmark

I Need Your Love So Bad Irma Thomas
The Irma Thomas Collection, Razor and Tie

Baptized in Dirty Water Chris Thomas King
Rise, 21st Century Blues

Instrumental: Blues on Purpose Nina Simone
In Concert: I Put a Spell On You, Mercury

Mother Earth Memphis Slim
Chess Blues-Rock Songbook, MCA/Chess

Down So Low Tracy Nelson
Mother Earth: Livin' with the Animals, Wounded Bird

SEGMENT: Tracy Nelson

Instrumental: Rose Time Merle Travis
Walkin' The Strings, Capitol

Tennessee Blues The Sir Douglas Band
Texas Tornado, Collectors Choice

Funny How Time Slips Away Dorothy Moore
Misty Blue, Malaco

Stand by Your Man Merlene Webber
Trojan Reggae Sisters, Trojan

That's Entrainment Van Morrison
Keep It Simple, Lost Highway

HOUR TWO

Ramblin' Ornette Coleman
Beauty is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Rhino

Shake 'Em on Down R.L. Burnside
Too Bad Jim, Fat Possum

Hound Dog Albert King
Blues for Elvis: King does the King's Things, Stax

Home of the Blues Dwight Yoakam
Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room, Reprise

Instrumental: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Etta Baker
Railroad Bill, Sire

South Carolina Rag Willie Walker
The Roots of Rap, Yazoo

Ezekiel Saw the Wheel The Dixie Hummingbirds
Thank You for One More Day, Peacock

SEGMENT: James Blood Ulmer

Instrumental: Rib Joint Sammy Price and the 'Rock' Band with King Curtis & Mickey Baker
Rib Joint, Savoy Jazz

Willie and Laura Mae Jones Shelby Lynne
Just a Little Lovin', Lost Highway

I Heard It Through the Grapevine Bill Frissell
East / West, Nonesuch

Don't Give Up on Me Solomon Burke
Don't Give Up on Me, Epitath

End Bed: Closer Walk with Thee / I Know Michael Doucet
From Now On, Smithsonian Folkways