Number 87 - Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock

 Number 87: Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock

The reason Herbie's a household name

Release: October 26th, 1973
Genre: Jazz
Favorite Tracks: Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Sly

 

Where I heard it: 

Although there exists plenty of arguments against its existence, I've got to admit that I'm so thankful for the rise of music streaming services, specifically Spotify. I've been a member since late 2011, and it's opened the door for so many new musical discoveries that I otherwise would have never uncovered. In mid 2015, Spotify began offering personalized playlists based off of previous listening habits called Discover playlists, which expanded my library even further. My friends and I would share songs that particularly stood out to us, which is when I first stumbled upon Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock. I was listening to plenty of jazz in late 2015, but I hadn't heard anything like the cacophony of sound which preceded Watermelon Man. This song and its resident album Head Hunters definitely has grown on me over the years, and now it's one of my favorite jazz albums ever. Perhaps my palate hadn't matured enough for the flavors Herbie Hancock cooks up on Head Hunters to come through, but it tastes so sweet today.

"Head Hunters states its intent in its name: The music will blow open your skull the second you press play, the instant the bassline from Chameleon comes out of the speakers in full stereo sound"
~ Pitchfork 

 

What to expect:

Maybe you've heard Herbie Hancock's name, but know nothing about him. He's up there on the Mount Rushmore of jazz with the likes of Miles Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane on saxophone, and Buddy Rich on drums. Herbie's unparalleled skills in keyboard and composition already had him on many people's radar by the 1970's, but he was not satisfied yet. Taking heavy inspiration from the rise of funk artists like Sly & the Family Stone (who were the driving force behind the track Sly), Head Hunters masterfully merges the genres of jazz and funk into a blissful journey of songs and sounds. Herbie's discontent with his previous backing band led him to the formation of the eponymous Headhunters, who play a large role in Herbie's shift towards funk music. The synchronicity between the Headhunters is entrancing, almost disorienting in fact. I liken it to chatter among a busy café: droning when ingested all at once, but focus on a particular conversation and there's a ton of nuance in what's being conveyed. Featured soloists steal the spotlight in just about every track, but the excruciating detail in the backing instruments assure something new to be heard with every listen. Each performer on Head Hunters not only plays a technically flawless run, they break ground on conceptually genius ideas with each phrase. Most importantly, the various textures of Herbie's synthesizer shape the mood of every song, from the frantic beat of Sly to the slow burn that paces Vein Melter. Head Hunters' production value paired with its pioneering sound provide an unforgettable listening experience that bridges the gap from jazz to funk.

"Head Hunters (is) an aerodynamic groove machine built around catchy riffs, squelching synths, and airtight, danceable beats." 
~ Rolling Stone

Why it's my favorite: 

When I first heard Head Hunters, I perceived it as some of the most far-out music that I'd listened to at the time. As my tastes began to broaden, it turns out Head Hunters wasn't so much out-of-the-box as it was just new-to-me. Within this juxtaposition lies my love for this album: it's ambitious with its sound without overthinking or overcomplicating itself thematically. Although the average song length on Head Hunters can be a bit daunting at around nine to ten minutes, a short track list of four songs ensures a much more digestible experience that's easier to follow along with. Rest assured however, there's plenty of parts within Head Hunters that even the most seasoned of jazz aficionados can appreciate as well. This album was one of the first that led me to visualize jazz music as a conversation between instruments. There may be voices that are louder than each other in one moment, but the conversation carries on and fluctuates based on the center of focus. Ever since that comparison, I've never listened to jazz music quite the same way. From that perspective, Head Hunters is like a podcast of guests with riveting and thought-inspiring conversation: it just stays with you in your head for a while.