| There's a non-Head Hunters version of "Watermelon Man"?!
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Thursday morning I sat in with a award winning Jazz Combo (In the Pocket) consisting of some amazing High School and early College musicians. Their bassist was sick so I got the call. In addition to showing up late (had to go to AP Gov first hour then drive 37 minutes (thanks MapQuest) to the gig and hit 2 accidents on the way,) we did not rehearse once, which normally doesn't matter in a jazz gig. I just brought my trusty Real Book and open ears.
Now these guys are slightly uptight, not playing-wise but kind of the "intelligentsia" type. I'm real low-key, genuine, chill, etc, so it was kind of awkward. Anyways, the saxophonist announces we're gonna play "Watermelon Man," and he looks over at me to start the song. So I start with that Eb 10 - E 10 - F 10 riff that's on the Head Hunters version. I see the trumpeter's eyes widen, the drummer scratch his head, and the keyboardist's eyes light up with joy (apparently he wanted to funk it up.) So, the saxophonist and trumpeter adapted their line for the funk version, and it ended up sounding OK.
After the show, they all come up to me and say, "I like how you went into the Head Hunters version of "Watermelon Man." I reply with an innocent, "Isn't that the only version?!" Then I get a lengthy talk about how it was the first song Herbie Hancock ever wrote and yadda yadda yadda.
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Remember, grammar is the difference between, "I helped my uncle Jack off a horse," and "I helped my uncle jack off a horse."
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