Combining jazz, funk and rock, The Headhunters was formed by 14-time Grammy-winning renowned jazz musician Herbie Hancock in 1973. Their debut album, Head Hunters, sold more copies than Miles' Davis legendary album B****es Brew by appealing to rock and R&B fans as well as jazz.

The original Headhunters lineup featured Hancock on keyboards alongside Bennie Maupin on saxophone and clarinet, Harvey Mason on drums, Paul Jackson on bass, and Bill Summers on percussion. Since then the band has undergone many iterations, lineup changes and musical evolutions. Aside from occasional touring, The Headhunters were thought to be on permanent hiatus until they reformed in late 2021 with Summers, drummer Mike Clark and saxophonist Donald Harrison, as well as Stephen Gordon on keyboards and Reggie Washington on bass.

They released a reunion album, Speakers in the House, in November 2022, which AllMusic said is a "remarkably masterful, fresh-sounding and creatively restless" featuring a band that has successfully continued to reinvent themselves over 50 years.

Don't miss your chance to see these creative masters at work when they come to a city near you.

The Headhunters on Tour

Jazz legend Herbie Hancock formed The Headhunters in 1973, handpicking every member of the band based on their abilities and his desire to create a new, groundbreaking type of jazz. Hancock wanted to take things in a funkier, more modern direction than his prior band Mwandishi, and so the band ended up masterfully incorporating funk, rock, R&B, soul, and gospel. Their unique sensibilities appealed to a wide array of music fans, ended up being sampled by '80s and '90s hip-hop artists, and went on to influence countless musicians.

Drawing on influences including Sly Stone, James Brown and Curtis Mayfield, Hancock wanted to take his music in a new direction. He said, in the liner notes for the 2013 Complete Columbia Albums Box Set, "I was beginning to feel that we (Mwandishi) were playing this heavy kind of music, and was tired of everything being heavy. I wanted to play something lighter. We had this music that we were doing, and the thing was, how could we take this music in a new direction by making it more palatable, but still keep this essence of our original philosophy?"

With Hancock in the driver's seat, The Headhunters took jazz music to new heights, making waves and creating a debut album that ended up being the best-selling jazz record at the time.

Since then they've iterated and evolved, keeping things fresh and delighting a whole new generation of jazz fans.

The Headhunters FAQ

Who founded The Headhunters?

Herbie Hancock founded The Headhunters.

Who were the original members of The Headhunters?

The original members of The Headhunters were Herbie Hancock on keyboards, Bennie Maupin on saxophone and clarinet, Harvey Mason on drums, Paul Jackson on bass, and Bill Summers on percussion.

Has the band undergone any changes since its formation in 1973?

Yes, the band has undergone many iterations, lineup changes, and musical evolutions.

What is the name of the reunion album released by The Headhunters in November 2022?

The name of the reunion album released by The Headhunters in November 2022 is "Speakers in the House."