The Headhunters is an American jazz fusion band formed by Herbie Hancock in 1973. The group fuses jazz, funk, and rock music.
History and band name Hancock had grown dissatisfied with his prior band, Mwandishi, and wanted to make a band with a stronger funk component. He chose the name of the group, "Headhunters", while doing Buddhist chanting. The name pleased him because it made a triple reference to the jungle, to intellectual concerns, and to sexual activity.
In 1973, the band comprised Hancock (keyboards), Bennie Maupin (saxophone, clarinet), Harvey Mason (drums), Paul Jackson (bass), and Bill Summers (percussion). Their first album, Head Hunters, sold more than one million copies.
After releasing three studio albums together, Hancock departed to pursue other projects, and the band carried on without him with his blessing. Hancock has occasionally returned for one-off projects with the group.
Discography Year Album Label Peak chart positionsPeak chart positions for albums and singles charting on the United States charts:
US US Jazz(Trad) US Jazz(Cont)1973 Head Hunters (Herbie Hancock album)Columbia 21 — —1974 Thrust (Herbie Hancock album)Columbia — ——1975 Flood (live album with Herbie Hancock) CBS/Sony — ——1975 Man-Child (Herbie Hancock album)Columbia — — —1975Survival of the FittestArista12612—1977 Straight from the Gate Arista — ——1998Return of the Headhunters! (with Herbie Hancock)Verve——92003Evolution RevolutionBasin Street———2008On Top: Live From EuropeBHM Productions———2011 Platinum Owl Studios — ——2022Speakers In The HouseRopeadope———2023Live from Brooklyn BowlRopeadope———2024The Stunt ManRopeadope——— "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Chronology
References
External links The Headhunters on AllMusic The Headhunters on discogs