The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
This week the ever vigilant Jazz Voyager is watching this new version of the virus creeping back to once again exploit humanity’s complacency relative to the collective health. People are still dying, maybe not at the rate over the past two years but dying. So in the spirit of staying healthy, I am selecting a classic funk~fusion album from the shelves and placing it on the turntable to take a renewed listen. This week it is the album Man-Child by Herbie Hankcock.
It is the fifteenth studio album by the jazz pianist. Recorded between 1974 and 1975, it was released on August 22, 1975 by Columbia Records, it was the final studio album to feature The Headhunters. The album was produced by David Rubinson and Hancock, and was recorded at Wally Heider Studios and Funky Features in San Francisco, California as well as Village Recorders and Crystal Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Departing from the music of his early career, Herbie gives us one of his most funk-influenced albums. Utilizing more funk based rhythms around the hi-hat, and snare drum, the tracks are characterized by short, repeated riffs by both the rhythm section, horns accompaniment, and bass lines. With less improvisation, more repetition of riffs along with brief solos, he re-introduces the electric guitar to this new sound.
The core group of The Headhunters was Paul Jackson, Bill Summers, Harvey Mason, Bennie Maupin, and Mike Clark (who replaced Harvey Mason post-1974). Hancock had toured and recorded with them for the previous three years. This was their final album as a group.
Tracks | 45:17- Hang Up your Hang Ups (Hancock, Melvin Ragin, Paul Jackson) ~ 7:29
- Sun Touch ~ 5:12
- The Traitor (Hancock, Ragin, Louis Johnson, Wayne Shorter) ~ 9:38
- Bubbles (Hancock, Ragin) ~ 9:03
- Steppin’ In It ~ 8:42
- Heartbeat (Hancock, Ragin, Jackson) ~ 5.16
- Herbie Hancock ~ piano, keyboards
- Bud Brisbois ~ trumpet
- Jay DaVersa ~ trumpet
- Garnett Brown ~ trombone
- Dick Hyde ~ trombone, tuba
- Wayne Shorter ~ alto and soprano saxophones
- Bennie Maupin ~ soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, alto and bass flutes, saxello, percussion
- Jim Horn ~ flute, saxophone
- Ernie Watts ~ flute, saxophone
- Dewayne McKnight, David T. Walker ~ guitar
- Wah Wah Watson ~ synthesizer, voice bag, guitar
- Henry E. Davis ~ bass guitar
- Paul Jackson ~ bass guitar
- Louis Johnson ~ bass guitar
- Mike Clark ~ drums
- James Gadson ~ drums
- Harvey Mason ~ drums
- Stevie Wonder ~ harmonica
- Bill Summers ~ percussion
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