The legendary jazz-funk ensemble co-led by percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark with NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary in 2023, having formed around Herbie Hancock’s classic recordings.
Their blend of jazz with funk would go on to sell over a million albums worldwide, while the band’s legacy would inspire musicians of every genre for years to come, be sampled by hundreds of hip-hop artists throughout the ’80s and ’90s, and influence countless musicians’ playing today. The Headhunters’ impact remains a global phenomenon and their time with Hancock proved to be a life changing experience. The band has released 8 more albums stepping out on their own sans Hancock’s involvement starting with Survival of the Fittest in 1975.
“What Bill and I and The Headhunters do is experience the moment and explore. We’re not in a gym, this isn’t a competition. This is art. The Headhunters is an act of passion, of love for humanity, and for our planet.” – Mike Clark
“We live this every day. We have some secrets to give to the youth of the world. We’re not musicians, we are physicians. We heal people.” – Bill Summers.