The Headhunters on KUVO YouTube, Twitch Thursday 4/24

KUVO studios were visited by funk-jazz royalty during the recent Denver Jazz Fest, none other than The Headhunters, led by percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark, with bassist Chris Severin, keyboardist Shea Pierre, and reedman Craig Handy. This exclusive session from our Masterpiece Studio drops on KUVO YouTube and Twitch channels this Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 11 a.m.

The original and unique musical partnership between Summers and Clark goes back 50 years, to Herbie Hancock’s seminal albums Head Hunters, Thrust, Flood, and Man Child. Since then, the tours and a few choice recordings from the updated ensemble have stood the test of time.

In this performance, they present the title track from their well-reviewed 2024 release “The Stunt Man” (Ropeadope Records). They also revisit Wayne Shorter’s “ESP,” and on “Watermelon Man,” Summers recreates the opening other-worldly whistle tones from a beer bottle!

Clark has lost nothing of his razor-sharp funky licks at the kit, and bassist Severin is all up in the pocket with Clark. Shea Pierre at the electric keyboard is the perfect choice with his fresh fusion improvisations. Tenor saxophonist Craig Handy on the Denver date lives up to the billing as well. You will rarely see this tight a jazz quintet anywhere. Now you can say you saw them in Denver!

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Performances on KUVO JAZZ are supported by KUVO Studio Club members, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Drum City Guitar Land, Grace Design Pro Audio, and the donors to the Carlos Lando Musician & Event Fund.

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