The Headhunters
The Stunt Man
**** out of *****
The Headhunters, the remaining members of Herbie Hancock's backing band as well as some modern jazz greats, are experiencing a renaissance lately and the excellent The Stunt Man is another winning addition to their catalog.
Original Headhunters Mike Clark (Drums) and Bill Summers (Percussion) have kept the group alive with help of some of New Orleans finest, Donald Harrison (Alto Saxophone), Kyle Roussel (Keyboards) and Chris Severin (Bass). The combo toured the world in 2023 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album that brought them fame, 1973's Head Hunters.
Following up on that success is The Stunt Man, an album that plays to the group's strengths. The title track starts it off as electro funky keys color the picture with Clark's killer drumming and Summers flourishing percussion stealing the show, both still are able to deliver intriguing patterns and push tunes along without showing off.
Things get a bit smoother for both "Attitude of Gratitude", which features a bass solo from Severin, and the slick "Embraceable You", which flows forward on Harrison's warm horn and Roussel's electro key work. The pumping funk and interlocking playing returns for "ESP" which is an energetic joy, bringing guest Craig Handy's Tenor Saxophone in to spar with Harrison around the skittering drums and funky beats.
"Avant Clark" is a showcase for Clark's inspiring drumming and Summers percussion, while also letting the rest of the players fly free, even if it runs on a bit too long, while "The Sandcastle Headhunter" is a Harrison tune that is coated in slick funk. Even while pushing ten minutes, the winning tune feels like it can keep rolling as the horn runs are expressive, the keys sweet, and the bass/drums are funky as all get out.
The album closes with more experimentation as the group go for the modern R&B/hip-hop route with the brief "New Levels - New Devils" as J Wills and Simone Mosley deliver the vocals and Ryan Tatarian contributes on keyboards ending the record on unique note.
This now marks three albums in three years from The Headhunters and The Stunt Man is the best of the bunch. These legendary jazz artists are still hitting stylistic highs, and nothing seems to stand in their way.
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