Review: Following the success of their acclaimed debut album, Mama Terra returns with a vivid tribute to one of their major influences, Herbie Hancock, where the group have reimagined his groundbreaking 1973 masterpiece, 'Head Hunters', in a live setting. Recorded at the Glasgow Jazz Festival 2024, the album captures the band's energetic performance and their deep respect for Hancock's music. Mama Terra stays true to the spirit of the original while adding their own unique flavour, replacing the synth parts with a captivating blend of vocals, saxophone, and effects-laden bass. The album also incorporates elements from other Hancock classics like 'Cantaloupe Island' and 'Butterfly', creating a dynamic and imaginative tribute to a true jazz legend.
Review: Initially inspired by a request by long-term supporters Jazz FM to perform a live remake of one of their favourite albums, Herbie Hancock's peerless Headhunters, Chameleons sees rising British jazz-funk and contemporary jazz combo Mama Terra dive deeper into the great man's catalogue on a set recorded live at a gig in Glasgow. In keeping with their own style, they made a conscious decision to replace the formative synth sounds and future-funk influences prevalent on Hancock's work of the 70s and 80s with acoustic instrumentation. It's a bold move but, thanks to their undoubted quality and deft touch, works well. For proof, check the languid and laidback breeze through 'Butterfly', a wonderfully gritty and low-slung jazz-funk re-make of 'Chameleon' and the triumphant takes on earlier Hancock works 'Cantaloupe Island' and 'Watermelon Man'.
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