Headhunters - Evolution Revolution (2003)

Three decades ago, Herbie Hancock stretched the limits of blending jazz with rock, R&B/funk, and a bit of avant-garde on the groundbreaking million selling album Headhunters. Members of that group have reassembled for this stunning 16-track updated brew where they add heavy doses of straight-ahead be-bop ("Take No Prizzonerz," "Woody Shaw"), blues ("Everything," "Fonkyfried"), African music ("Yekola," "Evolution Revolution"), and even smooth jazz ("Headhunting," "Martell on the Rocks") to the '70s hybrid. The keyboard player who originally put percussionist Bill Summers, drummer Mike Clark, and bassist Paul Jackson together wasn't available so the trio did what any 21st century scientists of sound would do, they got Hancock clones--an electric version (Ronald Markham) and an acoustic version (Victor Atkins). The Hancock stamp is all over the fusion tunes, especially "Stick It," featuring an electrified trumpet part from Nicholas Payton that sounds like another Hancock alum, Eddie Henderson. Other guests with Hancock ties include guitarist Wah-Wah Watson, original Headhunters reed man Bennie Maupin, and drummer Harvey Mason. Mason went on to become an original member of the group Fourplay, and Summers, the only musician on every track on this album, went on to help form Los Hombres Calientes. --Mark Ruffin