BILL SUMMERS interview - Herbie Hancock / The Headhunters

Mike and I had a great time talking to Bill Summers (who was in Herbie Hancock's band The Headhunters)!  We talk about various drums, his first meeting with Herbie Hancock, and the famous sound Bill created for one of the best known Jazz songs ever ... called Watermelon Man... Bill even demonstrates for us how the sound was created.

About Bill:
During the 1990s, Summers played with Los Hombres Calientes along with co-leader of the group, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and Jason Marsalis.  However, Summers has a much longer musical career, often working behind the scenes on film scores for various movies such as The Color Purple and the television miniseries Roots with Quincy Jones. He also played with Herbie Hancock during The Headhunters years, and is mentioned in passing by the liner notes of The Headhunters' 2003 release Evolution Revolution as contributing to that recording.  

Check out the Headhunters newest album (sections of 4 of the new songs can be heard on our podcast)
THE HEADHUNTERS - Speakers in the House released in November 2022:

Speakers In The House is the legendary jazz-funk ensemble's first new album in 11 years. Co-lead by percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark with support from NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, The Headhunters latest studio effort arrives just in time to celebrate this American music institution's 50th anniversary in 2023, having formed around Herbie Hancock's classic recording, Head Hunters, in 1973. An eight-track set available on Ropeadope Records, highlights from Speakers In The House include the New Orleans' second-line grooves of "Rocking At The Mole House," the world music-influenced jazz-fusion of "Kongo Square" and a modern post-bop re-imagination of the classic Headhunters' composition "Actual Proof," first released on their 1974 album, Thrust. Joining Summers, Clark and Harrison for the recording are keyboardist Stephen Gordon and bassist Reggie Washington plus special guests Jerry Z on organ, One Drop aka Scott Roberts on drums, Fode Sissoko on Kora and Ashlin Parker on trumpet.

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Visit our YouTube Channel where you can see 3 short video segments from our interviews.  Just search "know good music".

 

Thank you for listening! - Jim 

COPYRIGHT CLAIM: The songs : "WE CALL IT THE BOX" by Bill Summers & Summer Heat / "OVER THE BAR", "STOOP", "STOP WATCH" and "ROCKIN' IN THE MOLE HOUSE" by The Headhunters used with permsission by Greg Lucas