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The Headhunters: The Stunt Man
by Doug Collette
With the half-century anniversaries of Herbie Hancock's work with the Headhunters having passed in roughly the last year--Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973) and Thrust (Columbia, 1974)--it is appropriate the current configuration of the group has continued regular activity. In fact, under the fitting tutelage of drummer Mike Clark and percussionist Bill Summers, the band has issued two albums of new material in this span of time. Speakers in the House (Ropeadope, 2022) is an album of dashing panache and ...
Continue ReadingThe Headhunters: Speakers In The House
by Doug Collette
Herbie Hancock's Headhunters (Columbia, 1973) remains one of the seminal works of the jazz fusion era. The group's heavy emphasis on rhythm not only separated it from its guitar-oriented peers of the era, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the middle-period Return to Forever, but also from Weather Report: grooves became increasingly more prominent as that band evolved, but never to the depth of Hancock and company's all-encompassing funk. That solid foundation is more than enough distinction for the first ...
Continue ReadingThe Headhunters: Speakers In The House
by Chris May
Although it appears to have been self-released in limited numbers in 2019, this Ropeadope release of Speakers In The House is effectively the Headhunters's first album since Platinum (Owl) in 2011. The band continues to be led and produced by its two Herbie Hancock-era members, percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark, who together have kept the outfit intermittently active since Hancock moved on to other things in the mid 1970s. Summers played on the band's debut, ...
Continue ReadingTony Adamo: Was Out Jazz Zone Mad
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The translation of “Adam" from Hebrew--from which the surname Adamo springs--means from the “ground" or “soil." It also derives from the Hebrew word for red, a la “red clay." Perhaps that is why any work from Tony Adamo is rare earth--gritty, and flaming crimson. Was Out Jazz Zone Mad Adamo's latest, his first for Ropeadope, is all of those things and more.Adamo is the Heavyweight Champion of “hipspokenword," wherein lingo meets vocalizing at the corner of jazz and ...
Continue ReadingTony Adamo: Was Out Jazz Zone Mad
by Chris M. Slawecki
Some African cultures preserved their history not by the written but by the spoken word, kept by oral cultural historians known as griots. On Was Out Jazz Zone Mad, vocalist Tony Adamo aspires to serve in this same role, as a verbal historian of both official and unofficial African-American jazz and blues culture. This type of jazz jive might wear quickly thin but Adamo writes about jazz and jazz musicians with such detailed intimacy and vision that his words snap, ...
Continue ReadingBennie Maupin: The Jewel In The Lotus
by Budd Kopman
For the collector, a first-time issue on CD of any of ECM's early releases is most welcome. Which ones are chosen for release--and when they are issued--may well appear to be arbitrary to the outsider, despite a certain plan internal to the label.That The Jewel In The Lotus, first released in 1974, has finally been issued on CD is worth celebrating for two reasons: first, the music is of the highest quality; and second, Bennie Maupin has not ...
Continue ReadingBennie Maupin: The Jewel in the Lotus
by John Kelman
Of the ECM titles that have remained unavailable on CD, woodwind multi-instrumentalist Bennie Maupin's The Jewel in the Lotus (1974) has long been considered a holy grail for collectors in search of a vinyl copy, and a title that's been on many fans' wish lists for release on CD. Well, it's finally happened and it's been worth the wait. Those familiar will recognize it as still classic thirty years on; for those unfamiliar with its magic, it's time to get ...
Continue ReadingJazz Legends The Headhunters Featuring Founding Members Mike Clark And Bill Summers To Play West Coast Dates
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
New York, NY: The Headhunters have redefined modern funk, world music, and jazz as one of the most innovative groups in history. They recorded for several years with legendary pianist Herbie Hancock, representing a major turning point for Hancock with the formation of this popular band in 1973. The Columbia album Head Hunters became extremely popular, fusing jazz with funk and rock, the album sold over a million copies and attracted many R&B and rock fans, even out— selling Miles ...
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One Track Mind: Bill Summers on "God Make Me Funky," "Watermelon Man," Others
Source:
Something Else!
On this special edition of Something Else! Reviews' One Track Mind, we hand the reins over to percussionist Bill Summers. As he and the rest of the Headhunters are set for the June 14 release of Platinum—a multi-faceted new release that blends jazz, funk, hip hop and Afro-Cuban sounds—Summers remembers a previous Headhunters reunion, then looks back on a classic R&B groove that will still “sno-nuff make you wanna move." Find out which track he simply describes as “nasty" on ...
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Something Else! Interview: Percussionist Bill Summers, of the Headhunters
Source:
Something Else!
The Headhunters, who with Herbie Hancock crafted jazz music's first platinum release, return this month with an aptly titled new project—Platinum. In 2003, their million-selling 1973 debut Head Hunters was ranked No. 498 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Led by longtime drummer Mike Clark and percussionist Bill Summers, the Headhunters had later stand-alone success after Hancock's departure—producing the dance anthem “God Make Me Funky," one of the most sampled fusion songs in history. ...
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Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers On Tour
Source:
All About Jazz
Photos
Music
One For Mganga
From: Kosen RufuBy Bill Summers
Chameleon
From: Wade In The WaterBy Bill Summers
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Bill Summers
Location: New Orleans
Instrument: Percussion
Born: June 27, 1948
