The Headhunters

Concert Details

The Headhunters, the legendary jazz-funk ensemble co-led by percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark with NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, celebrated the band’s 50^th anniversary in 2023, having formed around Herbie Hancock’s classic recordings: Headhunters in 1973, Thrust in 1974, and Man-Child in 1975. Hancock departed the group after, but Summers and Clark continued the legacy, leading the band through numerous tours and albums.

With a blend of jazz, funk, and rock that has sold over a million albums worldwide, the band’s legacy has inspired musicians of every genre, and their work has been sampled by hundreds of hip hop artists throughout the ’80s and ’90s, continuing to influence countless musicians playing today. The current band consists of a top-notch quintet with Clark, Summers, and Harrison joined by bassist Chris Severin (collaborator of Dr. John, Diana Krall, and the Neville Brothers, among many others) and pianist Kyle Roussel (Preservation Hall Jazz Band), both staples on the New Orleans music scene.

2025 Concert Series sponsored by

Sanderson Lincoln

PNC Bank