With the funk flying from note one,
Head Hunters proudly announced itself a
contemporary jazz recording, one that acknowledged the impact of
Sly and the Family Stone,
Marvin Gaye, and the rich vein of early '70s R&B. Armed with an arsenal of electronic keyboards, and backed by a lean-and-mean electric bassist and drummer, Hancock reinvented his music: What counted now was the
feel of a piece -- virtuoso improvisation could take a back seat. Such tracks as "Sly" (an homage to you-know-who), the electro-groove remake of Hancock's earliest success, "Watermelon Man," and the big hit "Chameleon" come on like sonic valentines to funk itself. The street-beat jazz of
Head Hunters gave Hancock a new audience and established his lasting reputation for cutting-edge fusion.
