Joining them for this performance were bassist chris severin and. Provided to youtube by sony music entertainment watermelon man herbie hancock head hunters. We share the watermelon man lead sheet pdf version of the real book. Like many jazz songs this is a great crossover piece for blues and jazz tastes alike. A herbie hancock composition from 1962 which became popular after mongo santamaria released a latin version one year later, that reached the top10 in the charts. Herbie hancock s headhunters watermelon man live in. Thankfully my wifes aunt was there as i hummed the tune shes about 20 years older than me.
Herbie hancock head hunters 1973, 8track cartridge. Watermelon man became a hit, and he would later record it with his head hunters band as well in. I bought this album on a whim somewhere at the end of the 70s in 1973 i was definitely still too young, but im sure it was before i knew feets dont fail me now which i also bought later and the 12 disco version of tell everybody, its also on feets dont fail me now but in a completely different version, e. The tribalelectric version of watermelon man reveals. Its an absolute herbie hancock classic and is one of the first songs i actually practiced in a band setting. Fun, funky, hip, groovycall it what you want, this chart is excellent in every way. Head hunters is an album by herbie hancock, released in 1973 on columbia records. How to use the blues scale on piano riff ideas from paddy milner duration. Jan 15, 2014 watermelon man was written by herbie hancock, originally for his 1962 hit record takin off. For beginner to intermediate level learners sheet music free ivory.
Listen free to herbie hancock head hunters chameleon, watermelon man and more. Free piano sheet watermelon man herbie hancock youtube. Jul 31, 2015 herbie hancocks soul jazz classic watermelon man originally drew on his 1940s chicago childhood but went on to be given funk, disco, ska, pop and hiphop makeovers, says mike hobart. Herbie hancock originally recorded watermelon man written by herbie hancock and herbie hancock released it on the album takin off in 1962. Musicnotes pro plus members save 15% plus get pdfs included in every available key. An intriguing road connects the 1962 watermelon man and its updated. Oct 06, 2016 highly influential jazzfunk outfit the headhunters played live at band on the wall on 18th september 2016. Today, we revisit herbie hancock s jazzfunk masterpiece, a. Herbie hancock watermelon man piano tutorial youtube. A single of the tune reached the top 100 of the pop charts.
Hancock s first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by freddie hubbard and dexter gordon. The tribalelectric version of watermelon man reveals just how far the band was willing to goand hancock s use of cuttingedge synthesizer technology made it all the more funky. This came shortly after he had arrived in new york as a member of trumpeter donald byrds quintet. Mason and summers both featured on herbie hancock s headhunters lp, from which this version of watermelon man originates. In reflecting my childhood, the pianist stated in its liner notes, i recalled the cry of the watermelon man making his rounds through the back streets and alleys of chicagos south side.
Herbie hancock possibilities with john mayer, christina aguilera, joss stone, and more. Dee dee bridgewater brings a funky interpretation losely based on the original version. Watermelon man is a jazz standard written by herbie hancock, first released on his debut album, takin off 1962, in a grooving hard bop version that featured improvisations by freddie hubbard and dexter gordon. Watermelon man, a jazz funk classic written by herbie hancock who was just 22 at the time, was first released in 1962 on the album takin off. Reply see 2 replies notify me 1 helpful reeno august 30, 2018 report. In the video lesson below, youre going to get a stepbystep breakdown of how to play the classic herbie hancock jazz standard, watermelon man, on guitar. Herbie hancocks famous watermelon man composition made its first appearance on his 1962 debut solo album takin off. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as descri. Repetitive riffage from the bass, hookyashell melodies from the blazing horn section with hancock behind the drivers wheel, injecting this danceable epic with rhythms that propelled the recordand the sound of jazzinto the future. Piano sheet music watermelon man herbie hancock noviscore. It was later rearranged by hancock for the album head hunters 1973.
Watermelon man, from herbie hancock s 1973 head hunters album. Note that the version here is actually hancock s original version, not santamarias version. Herbie hancock headhunters watermelon man tieftonerzeuger. Watermelon man herbie hancock, 1962 jazziz magazine. Herbie hancock and the headhunters any short list of ideas from the 70s worth reviving should include a reunion of the headhunters, herbie hancock s groundbreaking yet shortlived fusion band. Jul 31, 2019 if youre looking for the watermelon man lead sheet, youve just found it. Gordon goodwin wanted to do something a little different in his arrangement without violating the spirit and intent of the original version, so he scored it as a jazz. Hancock had pushed avantgarde boundaries on his own albums and with miles davis, but he had never devoted himself to the groove as he did on head hunters. The herbie hancock voicing is a richsounding, twohanded minor 11th chord. Herbie hancock is one of the most prolific jazz pianists of the 20th century. Watermelon man is a jazz standard written by herbie hancock for his debut album, takin off 1962. Head hunters is the twelfth studio album by the american pianist and composer herbie hancock, released october, 1973, on columbia records. Chad lb quartet watermelon man herbie hancock youtube.
As soon as the group started jamming working on a new piece that would eventually be called chameleon, along with a new arrangement of hancock s 1962 hit watermelon man, inspired. Herbie hancock s famous watermelon man composition made its first appearance on his 1962 debut solo album takin off. In reflecting on my childhood, i recalled the cry of the watermelon man making his rounds through the back streets and alleys of chicagos south side. An intriguing road connects the 1962 watermelon man and its updated version eleven years later, on head hunters. Its particularly evident on the rumpbumpin chameleon, and theres more than a subtle nod to sly stone on sly. In the liner notes to his takin off album, hancock wrote. This 1962 mongo satamaria arrangement is of herbie hancock s 1961 original composition of the same name, watermelon man. Herbie hancock sheet music free download in pdf or midi on. Tokyo 2005 herbie hancock, the headhunters on allmusic 2009. She identified it and told me it was from herbie hancock s head hunters.
Cover versions of watermelon man by herbie hancock. Watermelon man lead sheet pdf by herbie hancock minedit. Ive played this song so many times, however it has been years since ive played it that when i just started writing this post i had to just completely register to it. Download for free in pdf midi format, or print directly from our site. For beginner to intermediate level learners sheet music free piano sheet. This classic herbie hancock composition has become one of the most wellknown songs in jazz history.
Note, this is a tab for the orginal version hancock did in the late 60s and not the fushion version he did in the early 70s. The jazz channel presents herbie hancock bet on jazz with cyro baptista, terri lynne carrington, ira coleman, eli degibri and eddie henderson recorded in 2000 2004. Head hunters herbie hancock 1973 full album youtube. This provided the title and musical inspiration for the song. Hancock rerecorded watermelon man for 1973s head hunters at the suggestion of drummer harvey mason. Watermelon man is a jazz standard and has been recorded many times by artists the world over.
Jul 15, 2016 in the video lesson below, youre going to get a stepbystep breakdown of how to play the classic herbie hancock jazz standard, watermelon man, on guitar. If you have a decent bari player, he or she will really love this one. Transcription of watermelon man by herbie hancock as played by yohan kim. A child prodigy, he played with the greats such as donald byrd and miles davis. Dee dee bridgewater watermelon man bass transcription. Herbie hancock watermelon man sheet music piano solo in f.
Feb 15, 2015 watermelon man bass tab by herbie hancock. The wheels of his wagon beat out the rhythm on the cobblestones. Head hunters is the twelfth studio album by the american pianist and composer herbie hancock, released october 26, 1973, on columbia records. Later on herbie hancock released a new version with the headhunters. Hancock had joined the quintet in his native chicago when duke pearson left. The best way to learn the voicing is to memorise these scale degrees and then apply it to any minor key. Watermelon man is one of herbie hancock s best known jazz pieces and was first released on his 1962 debut album takin off. Royalties from watermelon man gave him the freedom to experiment, and he did, moving into fusion in the 70s and taking a turn at electronic music in. The album is a key release in hancock s career and a defining moment in the genre of jazz fusion. Were going to use this as an opportunity to work out some arpeggio shapes up and down the fretboard, and some other cool tricks you can use to spice up your soloing. Watermelon man by herbie hancock digital sheet music. Watermelon man arranged by harvey mason writtenby h.
Print and download watermelon man sheet music by herbie hancock in f major. Herbie hancock watermelon man sheet music in f major. Herbie hancocks headhunters 05 playing watermelon man herbie hancock p lionel loueke gvo terri lyne carrington ds marcus miller. Each sunday, pitchfork takes an indepth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Herbie hancocks head hunters charted a new course for a musician who had. Herbie hancock watermelon man bass ultimate guitar archive.
Editors notes while keyboardist herbie hancock had gone electric with miles davis, and in his outwardlooking solo projects before head hunters, nothing hed done previously packed such a deep funk groove. Herbie hancock watermelon man sheet music piano solo. Recording sessions for the album took place in the evening at wally heider studios and different fur trading co. Herbie hancock head hunters 1973, pitman pressing, vinyl. While chameleon and the pluggedin reading of watermelon man got plenty of airplay, hancock never panders to his listeners. See new and popular herbie hancock songs, uploaded by musescore users, connect with a community. Hancock wrote this tune with the intention of marketing his record, and was the first tune he composed for commercial reasons. What is the difference between this release and herbie hancock head hunters. This is the album that saw hancock transform from a respected jazz genius into a funkified crossover superstar. It adds a latin groove and occasional vocals, and reached greater popularity on the charts than hancock s original song. Check out watermelon man by herbie hancock on amazon music.
Watermelon man was a singular statement of intent from the young pianist and composer. He rerecorded the track for the album head hunters released in 2003. About a month ago the tune watermelon man popped in my head. Herbie hancock s headhunters watermelon man live in japan 2006. Watermelon man bassline as recorded by herbie hancock from the 1962 album takin off music by herbie hancock transcribed by slowhand gtr i e a d g butch warren. Head hunters version of herbie hancock tune, basic outline of arrangement. Watermelon man sheet music for piano, soprano saxophone. Yet its jazz man herbie hancock who wrote and performed it famously funky. It was also covered by david helbocks random control, adam ross us1, pete tex, vanessa rodrigues and other artists. Head hunters, an album by herbie hancock on spotify. Head hunters was a pivotal point in herbie hancock s career, bringing him into the vanguard of jazz fusion. How to play watermelon man by herbie hancock on piano. Watermelon man by herbie hancock song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position.
Hey watermelon man hey watermelon man bring me one that rattles when you plug it one thats erd and juicy when you plug it do you understand watermelon man. The naked camera from his soundtrack for antonionis blowup 1967. If youre looking for the watermelon man lead sheet, youve found it. Watermelon man sheet music for piano, soprano saxophone, bass. This is the crowd pleaser and the band pleasera winwin.
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