Artist: Herbie HancockTitle: Watermelon Man
Album: Head Hunters
Year Released: 1973
Record Label: Legacy
Catalog #: 65123
The composition "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock first appeared on his album Takin' Off (1962, Blue Note, catalog # 830556) is a traditional sixteen bar blues set to a Latin rhythm (listen here). During his tenure with Mongo Santamaria, the composition was reworked with a heavier Latin feel and became funkier (listen here). Drawing from Mongo Santamaria's influence and funk influences such as Sly & The Family Stone, Herbie Hancock reworked his piece yet another time, this time to give it a jazz/funk fusion feel. This shows the blues influence in funk as well as jazz fusion (Head Hunters is a defining moment is jazz fusion). The techniques Herbie Hancock pioneered on this album also influence much electronic music that is produced nowadays.
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