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JAZZ FUNK FOUNDING FATHERS IN BIRKENHEAD NEXT WEEK…

By Joel Jelen

Jazz Funk icons The Headhunters who have influenced every decade of music since their sound was first heard in the seventies are making a very rare appearance in the UK next week.

The legendary jazz-funk ensemble co-led by percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark with NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, were originally formed around Herbie Hancock’s classic recordings, Head Hunters, in 1973 and Thrust in 1974 and, fortunately for followers of My Planet Liverpool magazine, they are embarking on a European tour from July 21-28, which includes performances at the Bologna Jazz Festival, two nights at the London’s Ronnie Scott’s and a night at the Future Yard, Birkenhead, on the 25th July.

Few bands can boast a history as fortuitous and storied as The Headhunters. What each member brings to the table forged a history that most bands can only dream of. Their blend of jazz with funk and rock 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 and on Straight from the Gate in 1977 and most recently Speakers In the House in 2022 and Live From Brooklyn Bowl in 2023.

“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,” says Mike Clark.

The current band consists of a top notch quintet with Clark, Summers and Harrison joined by bassist Chris Severin and pianist Kyle Roussel. The band is poised for more success throughout 2024, having recorded a new album and an accompanying feature length documentary at the legendary Hyde Street Studios for release in October.

Bill Summers summed up their work beautifully: “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.”

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.ents24.com/birkenhead-events/future-yard/the-headhunters/7080990

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