“Cantaloupe Island” | Listener Picks, April 16

Pianist Herbie Hancock recorded his composition “Cantaloupe Island” for his 1964 album, Empyrean Isles, with Freddie Hubbard on cornet, Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums.

Tune in today as we celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with some of this compositions most notable covers!

A member of the Miles Davis Quintet at the time, Hancock’s composition incorporates elements of modal jazz, inspired by the music Davis’s band was performing at the time.

“Cantaloupe Island” became the most famous tune from the 1964 album, one of Hancock’s most diverse records.

American-Chicano rock and soul group El Chicano covered “Cantaloupe Island” on their 1970 album Viva Tirado. Jazz-rap group Us3 sampled the tune for their 1993 song “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia),” further boosting its popularity.

A ubiquitous jazz composition, “Cantaloupe Island” has been performed by Hugh Masekela, Brian Bromberg, Poncho Sanchez, Donald Byrd, Pat Metheny, Claude Nougaro, Jean-Luc Ponty, Tanghetto, Jack DeJohnette, Kai Winding, Yonderboi and Milton Nascimento.

In 2012, Music Matters reissued Empyrean Isles in a vinyl edition fully capturing the richness and depth of the music, brining listeners a new experience from the familiar tunes. 

There are more than 150 recordings of Cantaloupe Island. Tune in today as we celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with some of this compositions most notable covers!