Chameleon is a jazz fusion instrumental written by Herbie Hancock with Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson, and Harvey Mason. It was released in 1973 as the lead track on the album Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, and it features solos by Hancock and Maupin. The tune sits on a funky groove built from a two-chord vamp in B-flat Dorian (Bbm7 - Eb7) and is driven by a distinctive 12-note bass line played by Hancock on an ARP Odyssey, with a Rhodes keyboard solo as well. The original recording runs about 15 minutes and has become a widely recognized jazz fusion standard, frequently performed by small ensembles. In 1974 it charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at around 42 and reached 18 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. The tune has been covered by many artists including Maceo Parker, Buddy Rich, and Maynard Ferguson, and it even inspired Harvey Mason to title a 2014 album Chameleon, which features a track of the same name.
