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Formed in 1973, The Headhunters are one of the foundations of jazz and funk music, known for their iconic best-selling recordings released in the mid-1970s. The ensemble continues to impress at their live shows and with their album releases today. While 50 years of recording and touring has not included Herbie regularly, his influence is always informing The Headhunters co-leaders and best friends Mike Clark and Bill Summers, who carry forward the legacy with timeless, paradigm-shifting classics:  "Watermelon Man," "Chameleon," "Butterfly," "Sly" and "Palm Grease" to just name a few. 

The Headhunters' latest recording Live at Garcia’s Chicago (out everywhere October 24th, 2025) is a reflection of the band’s 50 year breadth, depth and innovation. The album captures an electric live performance at the new state of the art listening room Garcia's in Chicago's vibrant West Loop with Clark and Summers at the helm, supported by sizzling fleshy tenor sax by Craig Handy, seven string bass by Chris Severin and Hammond organ and keyboards by Kyle Roussel.

The album's A side opens with the band’s perennial jam "4 String Drive," followed by the 2024 original composition "The Stunt Man" before tracks "Warrior Suite" and "Watermelon Man" root the album in the spirituality that “Baba Bill” has infused in The Headhunters since day one in 1973. Side B includes a modern funk rendition of Bob Marley's classic "I Shot the Sheriff" followed by covers of Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Dream" and Chick Corea's "Humpty Dumpty" then morphs into an extended drum and percussion conversation called "Headhunters Drums" to round out the eight song LP. 

Mixed (from the meticulous live recording by Garcia’s lead engineer Gavin Zawacki) at JC Santalis’s Raw Recording in Hudson, NY by JC and Mike Clark, the album is also available as a Dolby Atmos 12.1 surround sound listening experience mixed by Bob Brockman at Los Depressos Studio in Brooklyn. In partnership with Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, NC, there are 300 limited edition vinyl printed and numbered with a signed print of the iconic artwork by Dave Caron/Hoverchair Studios. Pre-order your copy while they last here.

 

Listen to the first single from the album here:
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