Herbie hancocks watermelon man quickly became a jazz standard after being released, having been recorded by lots of artists in less than 5 years after the first release. Some features are writtenout solos for alto and tenor. The herbie hancock box does stand as a more than representative view of the musicians work with columbia and reveals how lasting and influential his contributions have been, as well as how diverse, and thats really the point. Herbie hancock piano freddie hubbard trumpet dexter gordon tenor saxophone butch warren bass billy.
Maiden voyage herbie hancock butterfly herbie hancock maiden voyage herbie hancock arrangements of this song. From watermelon man to cantaloupe island and beyond. 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. While chameleon and the pluggedin reading of watermelon man got plenty of airplay, hancock never panders to his listeners. Watermelon man is one of herbie hancock s best known jazz pieces and was first released on his 1962 debut album takin off.
Watermelon man is a jazz standard and has been recorded many times by artists the world over. This is the album that saw hancock transform from a respected jazz genius into a funkified crossover superstar. Hancocks first version was released as a grooving hard. Still, to physically witness true genius at the top of its game over 50 years in is a. Jazz artist whose time with miles davis second great quintet changed how people saw the rhythm section. Possibilities 2014 isbn 9780670014712 awards edit u.
Hancocks various jazz styles starts here with one of his first composed songs. Columbialegacy this is the album that saw hancock transform from a respected jazz genius into a funkified crossover superstar. Piano sheet music watermelon man herbie hancock noviscore. The first version of watermelon man was written in 1962 as a leader to hancocks debut album takin off.
Herbie hancock bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Watermelon man herbie hancock whats new haggartburke what are you doing the rest of your life legrand. Hancock wrote this tune with the intention of marketing his record, and was the first tune he composed for commercial reasons. But it was the version by cuban percussionist mongo santamaria that turned watermelon man into a top ten american sensation.
Herbie hancock watermelon man lyrics genius lyrics. After college, hancock played with a few jazz greats such as coleman hawkins, oliver nelson, and phil woods. Herbie hancock watermelon man alto, piano, trumpet, bass. Jan 15, 2014 watermelon man was written by herbie hancock, originally for his 1962 hit record takin off. Fun, funky, hip, groovycall it what you want, this chart is excellent in every way. Hancocks first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by freddie hubbard and dexter gordon. Watermelon man by herbie hancock samples, covers and. He was also very uncomfertable at first being a black man releasing a song titled watermelon man. Hours upon hours of pleasure await the listener who drops the cash for this fine artifact. Watermelon man is a jazz standard written by herbie hancock for his debut album, takin off 1962. Jazzfunk, jazz fusion, national recording registry, sampled in more than 80 songs. Check out watermelon man by herbie hancock on amazon music. The eight songs written by herbie hancock range from the funky watermelon man to the modal maiden voyage. Herbie hancock watermelon man sheet music in f major.
Learn how to play herbie hancock songs for alto, piano, trumpet, bass and drums online. He was a child prodigy and performed mozarts piano concerto no. Hancock s various jazz styles starts here with one of his first composed songs. Watermelon man by herbie hancock chords, melody, and music. Written in 1970 a year before the summer of 42, it chronicles the life of this incredible. Herbie hancock watermelon man sheet music piano solo. Watermelon man was written by herbie hancock, originally for his 1962 hit record takin off. Transcriptions request watermelon man herbie hancock.
It was then revisited for his classic headhunters album with a new funk fusion twist. Try amazon prime music 30day free trial herbie hancock watermelon man ratings distribution. Listen free to herbie hancock watermelon man, the ultimate hancock. Musicnotes pro plus members save 15% plus get pdfs included in every available key.
In todays listenalong we are going to learn about herbie hancock and his hit song from 1962, watermelon man. Watermelon man herbie hancock, 1962 jazziz magazine. Chords, melody, and music theory analysis of watermelon man by herbie hancock. In his book possibilities he details that he developed the idea from the sound that a local watermelon cart made passing by his cobblestone street. It is a concept album aimed at creating an oceanic atmosphere. Herbie hancock originally recorded watermelon man written by herbie hancock and herbie hancock released it on the album takin off in 1962. 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. If you have a decent bari player, he or she will really love this one. Hancock formed the headhunters, keeping only maupin from the sextet and adding bassist paul jackson, percussionist bill summers, and drummer harvey mason. 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. Watermelon man is one of herbie hancocks best known jazz pieces and was first released on his 1962 debut album takin off. Electronic instruments use technology to make musical sounds. For beginner to intermediate level learners sheet music free piano sheet. Stephen erlewine, in a retrospective summary for allmusic, said, head hunters still sounds fresh and vital three decades.
The song was written with commercial intent but wasnt a real hit until it was. Teresa heinz kerry pose for a photo with the 20 kennedy center honorees shirley maclaine, martina arroyo, billy joel, carlos santana, and herbie hancock at the u. Watermelon man was the single that propelled the record, and when i. Pianokeyboard smp level 7 late intermediate by herbie hancock. Watermelon man, form diagram university of virginia.
Herbie hancock was born in chicago, illinois in 1940. Watermelon man became a hit, and he would later record it with his head hunters band as well in 1973. This is the crowd pleaser and the band pleasera winwin. It was also covered by david helbocks random control, adam ross us1, pete tex, vanessa rodrigues and other artists. Watermelon man, a jazz funk classic written by herbie hancock who was just 22 at. Free piano sheet watermelon man herbie hancock youtube. Download all jazz real book pdfs volume 1, 2, 3 of c, bb, eb and fclef of volume 5. Hancock rerecorded the tune for head hunters 1973, combining synthesizers with a sly stone and james brown funk influence, adding an eightbar section. Watermelon man what a song by the lad, herbie hancock. Hancock did not feel the composition was a sellout however, describing that structurally, it was one of his strongest pieces due to its almost mathematical balance. Transcription of watermelon man by herbie hancock as played by yohan kim. I got a thing, you got a thing, everybodys got a thing.
When the american pianist herbie hancock was composing the soul jazz classic watermelon man for his 1962 blue note debut album takin. Herbie hancock herbie hancock 1975, gatefold, vinyl discogs. May 21, 2010 listen free to herbie hancock watermelon man, the ultimate hancock. Ive never seen the movie and im not sure i want to, since i love the book so much. Watermelon man by herbie hancock on amazon music amazon. Herbie hancocks famous watermelon man composition made its first appearance on his 1962 debut solo album takin off. Watermelon man herbie hancock whole tone trio nice live cover duration. Watermelon man by herbie hancock digital sheet music. Cover versions of watermelon man by herbie hancock.
Herbie hancock and i after his february 2019 show at the flynn center. The album head hunters 1973 was a hit, crossing over to pop audiences but criticized within his jazz audience. The tune watermelon man became an instant classic in the jazz community when nea jazz master herbie hancock released it in 1962. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Head hunters version of herbie hancock tune, basic outline of arrangement. He rerecorded the track for the album head hunters released in 2003. Many of the track titles refer to marine biology or the sea, and the musicians develop the concept through their use of space. Herbie hancock on popularity of watermelon man nea. Watermelon man score only by herbie hancock score sheet.
A single of the tune reached the top 100 of the pop charts. Herbie hancock herbie hancock 1975, gatefold, vinyl. The first version of watermelon man was written in 1962 as a leader to hancock s debut album takin off. Watermelon man sheet music for piano, soprano saxophone. Herman raucher wrote the summer of 42, a book i picked up on accident for a quarter at a garage sale. In this case, the piano chords come straight from the original herbie hancock version. Maiden voyage is the fifth album led by jazz musician herbie hancock, and was recorded by rudy van gelder on march 17, 1965, for blue note records. Watermelon man by herbie hancock discover this songs samples, covers and remixes on whosampled. Herbie is a piano player and a composer of jazz and popular music. Shop and buy watermelon man score only sheet music. Print and download watermelon man sheet music in pdf. A child prodigy on the piano, as early as 11 years old hancock was playing with the chicago symphony orchestra. Watermelon man lead sheet pdf by herbie hancock minedit. Buy jamey aebersold jazz, volume 11 herbie hancock at.