The Headhunters

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From the instant funk classic “Chameleon” to the rare groove sound of “God Make Me Funky”, the Headhunters have redefined modern funk, jazz, and world music as one of the most innovative groups in history.
Founded in 1973, they recorded their eponymous debut Head Hunters with Herbie Hancock. The Headhunters, legendary jazz-funk fusion band, immortalized as a result of their long recording and touring stint with jazz giant Herbie Hancock. Hancock's “Headhunters” album was the first to be recorded with the group and has been heralded as the first platinum Jazz/Fusion project in history. Thrust, Flood, Manchild and other historic recordings followed. The band went on to produce more seminal records on their own, including Survival of the Fittest ,which featured the funk anthem "God Make Me Funky," one of the most sampled jazz/fusion songs in modern music history. The Headhunters' music is a complex but harmonious blend of many styles and genres, spanning the globe, from Africa to Broadway. The group is acclaimed for its musical pioneering and innovative concepts BILL SUMMERS To say that BILL SUMMERS is a percussionist is like saying a Steinway is a piano: the noun conveys none of the history and quality of the owner of the title. Born in Detroit Michigan, a veteran of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, knows literally hundreds of African, Cuban & Latin percussion rhythms from decades of study. Bill steers the helm of the Summers Multi-Ethnic Institute of the Arts, and is a musician of the highest order, playing anything from traditional African instruments to pop bottles. Whether collaborating with Quincy Jones on the musical score for "Roots," the soundtrack to "The Color Purple," or interpreting the music of the holiday Kwanza, Summers, a cultural visionary who brings diverse people and ideas together, is cognizant of his heritage and its many contributions to world music A long time resident of New Orleans, late-night sessions at the Summers residence culminated in the formation of Los Hombres Calientes, which became an overnight sensation that ignited stages at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and then the world, with its searing dance music and irresistible rhythms. They have produced five CDs. The success of this Billboard award-winning, Grammy nominated group, Los Hombres Calientes, owes much to the knowledge of the seasoned Summers. This wealth of knowledge can be heard in Summers' inspired playing with The Headhunters, Los Hombres Calientes, as well as musical ventures with his group Summers Heat which led him to a number 1 R&B hit in the 80’s. A musician's musician and worldrenowned musicologist, Bill has recorded with many musical giants such as Stevie Wonder, Sting. Carlos Santana,Ice Tea, Prince, Miles and more.MIKE CLARK Originally from Oakland, California, Mike is credited with pioneering a particular style of East Bay funk drumming along with Dave Garibaldi of Tower of Power fame, and as a child prodigy, Mike grew up playing blues and rhythm and blues, learning on the stages of American music legends such as Bill Doggett, Mose Allison, Maxine Brown, Albert King, and Frogman Henry. He also did a stint with Brand X, the acclaimed British fusion band, founded by Phil Collins. called "the most sampled drummer in hip hop" Mike's beats have been used on tracks by musicians as diverse as NWA, Grandmaster Flash, Britney Spears, Prince and many others. His numerous recording credits, both as a sideman and bandleader include a compilation of his legendary, innovative funk beat samples, Mike Clark- The Headhunter, and a brand new edition of his beats on futureloops.com. His diverse genre-defying talent continues to astound audiences and influence successive generations of drummers since his explosive arrival on the music scene with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters gained worldwide recognition as one of America's foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock's group The Headhunters in the early 1970's.It is widely accepted that Clark is one of the few, in the category of Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, to have changed the fundamental language of the drums. A long-time resident of New York City, Mike has performed with jazz greats from A to Z too numerous to list, but including, in addition to Hancock, Nat Adderly, Chet Baker, Larry Coryell, Gil Evans and his orchestra, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wallace Roney, Wayne Shorter, and Woody Shaw. On Top, title of the New Headhunters release, recorded “Live In Europe”, brings the group full circle. The project features Bill and Mike plus an all star cast which includes, Donald Harrison (sax), Mark Shim (sax), T.M. Stevens (bass) and Jerry Z (keys). This is smoking nonstop flow of contagious energy. The audience response is awesome and you will literally find yourself amongst the crowd as you absorb, listen and move to the groove. This is by far the fattest, hottest recording the Headhunters have produced since their ground breaking efforts with Herbie Hancock. On N.U.M.M RECORDS