Chameleon (composition)
| "Chameleon" | |
|---|---|
| Instrumental by Herbie Hancock | |
| from the album Head Hunters | |
| Released | 1973 |
| Recorded | September 1973 |
| Genre | Funk,[1] jazz-funk[2] |
| Length | 15:41 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
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"Chameleon" is a jazz fusion standard composed by Herbie Hancock with Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson and Harvey Mason,[3] all of whom also performed the original 15:44 full-length version on the 1973 album Head Hunters,[4] and featuring solos by Hancock and Maupin. The 9:41 edit omits an out-of-tune segment, features a new bassline added in at around 6:40 and new instruments added in post-production.
Background[edit]
The song has a characteristic bass line and is set to a funk beat. For the most part, it is built entirely on a two-chord vamp: a i-IV in B♭ Dorian (B♭m7 and E♭7).[5] The piece's signature 12-note bass line was played by Hancock on an ARP Odyssey,[6][7] as was one of the keyboard solos. The other keyboard solo was played on a Rhodes piano.
Chart performance[edit]
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 42 |
| US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[9] | 18 |
Other recordings[edit]
The piece is one of the most widely recognized jazz standards, and has become standard repertoire in many small jazz ensembles. It has been performed by various artists including:
- Maceo Parker
- Buddy Rich
- Stanley Jordan
- Big Sam's Funky Nation
- Maynard Ferguson
- Eddie Jefferson
- Gov't Mule
- Jazz Warriors
- Monty Alexander with Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare
- Michał Urbaniak
- The String Cheese Incident
- Umphrey's McGee
- James Morrison
References[edit]
- ^ Big Gigantic (September 20, 2016). "The 30 Best Funk Songs Ever". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Gorton, TJ (July 30, 2018). "BeatCaffeine's 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs". BeatCaffeine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "Jaime David Vazquez Bass Lines: Herbie Hancock - "Chameleon" vs "Watermelon Man" - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass". bassmusicianmagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ "Deconstructing the bassline in Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon"". The Ethan Hein Blog. 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
- ^ synthhead (2015-04-21). "The Iconic Sounds Of Synthesis: Herbie Hancock's Chameleon Bassline". Synthtopia. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
- ^ "The Art of Synth Soloing: Mr. Hands Himself, Herbie Hancock". KeyboardMag. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 368.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 244.
