Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson is my uncle! Just celebrated his passing last week!! This video is so awesome and thanks for posting!!! Just seeing him with that Gibson L5 which was given to him by Ray Parker Jr. He played on a lot of hit records to include Let’s Get It On, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Car Wash, I Will Survive, Maxwell’s first cd and so many other records!! Miss you Unc but I hear you almost everyday still on the radio!!!! RIP!!!!!!!!

Science fact: listening to this jam instantly makes you at least 30% cooler.

Wah Wah Watson is the best name ever for a guitar player

Whoever put an ad in the middle of this masterpiece is going to hell!!!

An Ad in the middle of a funky groove like this should be a criminal offense

When jazz and funk get perfectly blend together... this monster is the result 😎

Lots of people think im weird for the music I dig but its all good it brings peace to my soul something they'll never understand.

There isn’t a single musician on this video that isn’t in a class by themselves. Amazing.

Ever mean to click on a video for a second, and next thing you know you’ve watched it 2-3 times? THIS.

There's nothing this cool today.

First of all, Paul Jackson is probably the most underrated bassist. Funky is an understatement. Benny Maupin, Wah Wah, are killers. Miss this era of music. Of course, Herbie is the Man!!!

The Saddest day in my life, when I left this Vinyl Masterpiece in the back window of my Buick 76 Duece n a Quarter after a Saturday Night party, woke up on a Bright Sunday afternoon with a Deathly Shudder remembering this was left in a Sealed Oven warped Oh the Agony when I pulled it out the Furnace 😢

Wah Wah Watson was a GOAT. I've been playing guitar 49 years. He's the Truth. I grew up with professional musicians. My Uncle Don Myrick (EWF, Phil Collins, MJ)...comes to mind seeing him in the Pharaohs, rehearsing in the living room turned into a Woodwind/Sax Rehearsal studio, infused with African Incense, African Art. It brings you to time everything was real, not sampled. Instant creativity. I will be picking up some of Wah Wah's funky phrases...

If you were one that read the back of album covers, you know Wah Wah worked plenty. In the ‘70s he was everywhere. As a guitarist myself, I loved his playing. I was a Headhunters fan too. This makes me want to perform again. Let’s see, where is my dashiki?

Wen I was little I loved the music I grew up with in the '70's. What I loved the most is how these awesome musicians were just cool down to earth people. It was all about love, good vibes, oneness. These musicians put out genius stuff but always were humble and brought so much good energy to the people. It wasn't about being a star, or getting rich. Love supreme was the mindset and we need to just keep that going cuz it brings out the best in us all. 👍💕💕💕🦋🦋🦋

R.I.P to the great Mr. WATSON! And all the legendary men of the past that paved the way for a young black musician as my self to even get the opportunities I have now. ❤ Hope I can do the same.

I'm a Metalhead for decades but I also love Funk. This song is groovy as hell.🇦🇹👋

That shirt Paul Jackson is wearing is unstoppable alone

This is criminally funky. Insanely tight groove. Very nice.

It really doesn't get any better than this.

To his nephew, I saw him with Herbie Hancock, Sheila E. ( before Prince). At Red Rocks.What was extraordinary was we got there early and they were setting up the stage. No musicians were out there except for him sitting on a folding chair playing, but it didn’t sound like any guitar sounds . No one was at the keyboard setup and it wasn’t until the show started that we realized it was him the whole time. By the way we are all musicians. One of the high points of my musical life 😢🎉❤

Incredible music, wow. What these guys have left for humanity

Herbie is my favorite jazz musician of ALL time.....................

Every piece fits...and when you step back, listen to everyone as one-instrunent...the picture they paint is glorious!! And jazzy at it is...it's still approchable; it never leaves the audience behind and baffled. And nobody grandstands except the horn man. But they have too; its in their union rules. Just Sublime

camera person did a great job in getting us as close as possible to allow us to feel each musician playing their part.

this tune make me realize we all are in same world but within it we are in different world created by yourself.....

The musical communication here is on another level.

Maupin's sax solo on Herbie's out-chord is so FIRE and SOULFUL! and last Herbie's solo reminds me a "peaceful funk world" :D yeah! 2022, he is doing the same thing! keep doing todays music! what a man! Herbie Forever!

That intro is sick! These guys would be a dream to jam with.

Obviously, the music is wildly great but I also just love the esthetic of 70's TV. The overlayed, bluescreen shots they use to feature 2 players at once, the way the sax reflects the studio lights and the camera just can't handle it so it produces that pink glow, muah! Chef's kiss!

From the Manchild album. My favorite Herbie Hancock album. Never gets old.

Growing up as a kid I always wanted to be Herbie Hancock because he was so great at this.

There is no one like this man and it's good to see Mr Hancock at a young age and the original Headhunters but man Mister wild wild Watson was one of a kind God bless him 🙏

Love it… saw them in Terre Haute, Indiana, fall of 1976 … we were wannabe musicians in HS. We stayed after and the band came back to tear down, etc. They talked… nicest, humblest guys… great memories.

Growing up in my Italian American house, I was taught there were 2 legends that we’d never get tired of. Wahwah Watson and King Curtis. Still to this day this music kick starts some movement in my otherwise soulless body! I love this stuff. Thank you for sharing Joe D

oh my, youtube algorithm, thank for for deeming me worthy of this epic jam session. edit: gosh that was about 2 hours too short...LOVED every second of it!!!

The GREAT musician, composer, producer, engineer, etc…Herbie Hancock and the gang. A GREAT human being in general as well. Great respect to such an honorable and accomplished professional. Definitely one of the Greatest of time…🔥🔥🔥🔥💯😎👍🏾. R.I.P to another great in this lineup, “Wah Wah Watson”. He played on so many hits. A spectacular talent. Keep on coming with it Herbie . Blessings…🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 for the memories.

It doesn't get any better than this natural from the soul

Thank you youtube algorithm, your finally coming to your senses.

One of my first funk lps was Elementary by your uncle. I was 15. I'm now 52. This music is my life ❤

The jazzfunk masterclass from the tv right into your living room. That was even rare back then. Anyway its always a pleasure to listen to musicians who can play this tight together. Its a expression of what can ppl do together in a very positive way.

This is why I love KZfaq 👊🏿

the piano & wah wah ad lib finale is incredible!

Raw, uncut, cooked from scratch. Truly magnificent jam, takes me back. I'm full now.

One of the best things about attending concerts during the '70's and '80's was how much the musicians enjoyed experimenting with different sounds on standards and hit recordings. Rarely did they perform a song exactly as it was presented on the album. Concerts were for pushing the envelope and branching out to new horizons.

Funk at its most vibrant. This is a joy to behold. The groove is relentless. Can I be very selfish and ask for more, more, more!!!!

Fourteen and a half minutes' worth of music, and it doesn't get boring for a single second. Geniuses, geniuses of the highest order...

This is next level after miles - I sure hope people talk about herbie later - his audience hasn't even been born yet.

Funky Jazz at its best…a timeless piece of great music. More of this music in these dark times. 🤗🙏

Man, how I like this!!!

This a stone groove my man!

1976 was the pinnacle of cool music and culture. ✌

So glad that such high quality recordings exist. I always love seeing the Northern European tv footage of musicians from this era, as it is usually of superior quality in all aspects. This one doesn't disappoint.

These cats are each in their own world but are playing as one 😎

I play Keyboards, bass and guitar. This is a musical orgasm for me. Best of the best, making music history. Thanks for sharing this iconic performance.

Musicians from the 90’s and back just have a purity you can’t fake or artificially create. Especially 70’s era. They just knew their instruments and were in total sync with them. Thank the human innovation of today that allows us to see them though.

Thanks KZfaq algorithm for suggesting this gold, and cheers Bob for this amazing upload, absolutely banging!!!

Pure genius! IQ level is through the roof on this entire set!

I meannnn the funk on display here is nuts, love herbie, one of the greats

Back for another dose, thanks again!

Saw Herbie in Berlin Germany in early 2000's I could not believe the accoustics, or the funk which he produced. I thought I was inside a speaker cabinet during the whole show.

The KZfaq algorithm was kind to me tonight and put this awesome video in my path. Awesome musicians-

Wah Wah used to come in to the flower shop I worked in on Sunset Blvd. back in the early '80s, he was a friend of the owner. I enjoyed his visits, always upbeat and smiling, RIP.

I love how steady that L5 is on his lap and how his hands so freely move up and down gliding like they are floating on the neck of the guitar. It feels and sound so balanced and graceful.

Yeah this was a hell of a band and all this still sounds good i am listening to this in 2023 The sound man is great

may the algorithm bless this gem. 💎

i love seeing stuff from this era with this much fidelity and care.

Wow. This is pure talent and energy. I was a kid in the 70's and I thank my elementary school music teacher for introducing me to Mr. Hancock's music. I fondly remember sitting in the "listening corner," headphones on, enjoying stellar jazz, world music and fusion. It broadens the mind, body and spirit. Forever a fan.

This is PHENOMENON! ATOMIC! 5 Masters of Jazz-Funk! WHAT A DISCOVERY! Wah-Wah Watson is definitely monumental.

Many have no idea that this man is playing on the song" Cloud 9" by the Motown Temptations & that changed the sound of soul in the late 60's and early 70's. I played on the stage with him myself( as my mom and dad watched)along with the soon to be Drummer and song writer for the Jimmy Caster Bunch(Elwood Henderson). And on our break at a local club in his and our hometown of Richmond VA. He was with Motown and told us about 5 young cats from Gary Indiana he had done sessions with. Exactly 2 weeks later the Jackson 5's 1st hit came over the local Radio airwaves, "I WANT YOU BACK". And the rest was history.The bassist also with him went on to play with Bobby Taylor and the Van Cougars and then with Donny Hathaway his name was( bassie )Irvin Saunders and can be seen on the flip Wilson 70's show with Donnie Hathaway.Elwood and myself were kids of 16 years old at the time. The year was 1969.

So much sonic texture here and self-awareness in regards to the impact of volume levels. Nothing is ever in your face, everyone is pulling together for one lush and groovy ride. Spectacular!

I’m amazed….the art of musicianship lives on. Bassist keeping a groove Drums tight in that pocket Wah Wah doing Wah Wah things Herbie is a genius Sax putting the icing on the cake

all of these guys are masters of the craft

Listening to this song is therapeutic. Honestly, I could put this song on repeat and listen to it nonstop for a couple of hours.

dude straight cold on it with the golden camel necklace and the most beautiful vintage gibson jazz box ive ever seen

Such a solid and inspired video broadcast, too.

This ensemble took place back in an era where the radio, vinyl & reel-to-reel tapes played some of the most creatively enjoyable music ever played in human history. These particular gents, those who are still with us ARE virtuosos!

I would love to have seen more of those awesome bass runs that i'm hearing.

Ahhh! When music was a whole vibe and energy by itself and the words/lyrics where sold separately! lol Rock on brothers, rock on!

His bass groove is nasty AF 🔥💃☝️

This is a funking band right here. Love it. I have this on vinyl

My ear’s really liked what they heard…but my eyes really loved what they seen!! Dig it!!!

Stage Manager: "Mr. Hancock. How many keyboard do you need tonight?" Herbie Hancock: "Yes."

👍👍Wow, at that time, the artist name, music, fashion & tv visual all freaking cool. 👍👍

That timing shoulder is everything!

I want VR to make it feel like I’m walking into some random night club in Manhattan and this just happened to be the band playing. Pam Grier is at the table next to me, Miles is chillin’ in the corner, rubbing his nose, everyone has platforms, bell bottoms and is all dressed up and just groovin’ having their minds blown. Take my money now! I was born too late but just early enough to be teased by knowing what I missed.

This is so awesome. I was born in the early 80s so I grew up on this type of music via my parents. Thank you for posting this!

This is Insane good,,,what I call real funk,,70s style,,,,

"WoW" I have known about Herbie for the longest time but Wah-Wah Watson, I never heard of before!! Just like the late Eva Cassidy after she died in 1996, the music industry realized her work & 'worldwide' she became popular & she was selling cd's out of the trunk of her car when she was playing, she died at age 33!!

this is criminally funky & brilliant

Herbies a King and man a genious and the musicians with you on this kick ass they good

Bennie Maupin …adds another dimension to the headhunters…funk on!!!! 😊

Wah Wah scratching records as early as '76!!

Groove!!!!!

Lots of fancy video setups (par for the day) and I love it. Thanks for posting.

Des musiciens monstrueux, un véritable régal de funk de jazz. MERCI !

So I stumbled on this beautiful gem and also discovered that Mr. Herbie Hancock recorded a live version of this track in Chicago in 1977, with none other than JACO PASTORIUS on the bass! Just when you think it can’t go next level, Jaco is added to the mix.

Damn, these guys are talented - really impressed… and I’m hard to impress.

Maybe the best video on the internet ?

Wow, amazing! What a joy!