Harvey Mason Performs "Chameleon" by Herbie Hancock 

I love that Harvey is still doing his thing. 71 years young and smooth as butter. Drummers of every genre owe a big debt of gratitude to his contributions to drumming and music.

This is as smooth as it gets. Those ghost notes are out of this world...

OMG! He never ceases to amaze me with those ghost notes and subtle rolls in the midst of the groove. Been a fan of Harvey over 40 years. Never gets old.

Every accent is so impactful. Such a full, textured groove

I was in the mood for a good practice session today, then, I watched this video....now I'm eating a whole pizza pie, and won't look at the drums for at least a week. Harvey is smooooth!

I met Harvey at Guitar Center in 1984 when I was 16 and had been playing drums for a few years already. He was such a gentleman giving tips on sticking technique there at the register when he was buying some gear. I will never forget it. I am glad to see him still going strong after all these years. My drum teacher at the time said he was one of the greatest drummers in music and I have always felt that wat to this day.

Stunning performance! Fantastic control and dynamics, truly outstanding! Take note people, this is REAL drumming!

Very smooth drumming! Never seen a flat top hi-hat like that before

What a feel, what a depth, what a musicality! Such an amazing and outstanding musician!

Definition of finesse and smoothness I'd aspire to be this relaxed and in the pocket as this man. Those ghosts notes are so nice.

Our new generation of drummers can learn from this legend. Drummers today makes a lot of noise. Learn young once....soft hands and passion makes the sound. 🔥🎵

He makes it look so easy and effortless!

I feel a longing for those days..Harvey's great drum performance is alive & well! 👍

This reminds me on why I took up drumming this is pure feel and art, not hitting but feeling the kit, so much soul just wonderful.

I may not the greatest connoisseur, but that was the best drum performance I’ve actually seen, I’m speechless ; BRAVO!!!

Harvey 'The Mase' Mason. When I heard Head Hunters as a young drummer I realized that this is art and Harvey was the artist. He is truly an amazing talent an inspiration!

Many years ago, probably around 1988 / 1989, I went to a drum clinic with the drummer in the band I was in. Cuz Bassists and Drummers should hang out socially. (He is one of the most important friendships I ever had in my life.) And Harvey Mason was there, in Montclair, New Jersey. I left that clinic suddenly realising how much could just be done on a hi-hat. He was amazing. There were many drummers there that day. Rod Morgenstein was one of the nicest of them, such a kind guy and amazing musician. He was in Winger at that point, but you wouldn't have known it by the way he was with people. Warm, engaging, smiling, never refused a photo or autograph. I left that clinic not only realising Harvey Mason was going to impact the way I looked at, and heard drums forever, but also that Rod Morgensein is cool in my book. Super cool. I kinda got brought to this listening to the Ohio Players "Love Rollercoaster" and the bass/kick drum work of James "Diamond" Williams. Who was a kick drum ninja. I'd love Drumeo to take a look at his drumming, because he was really doing great things with them between 1974 - 1980.

Such a master musician!!! Thanks for the music Harvey!!!

Not only a drummer, but a a great musician !

Superb playing, nice to hear a musical drummer from time to time they are rare these days.

He doesnt hit drums, he plays them

wow. this just explained the original recording! Harvey adds this relaxed VIBE / pocket. doesnt KILL those hits (like i do) but slowly builds them until the last one. thank you Drumeo....this is epic & old school.

Hands of butter...the scariest ghost notes on the planet.

I gotta say that Harvey is one of the smoothest drummers out there.

Marking time in 16ths on the left foot. You betta Go Man!!

Man, those cymbals sound so nice.

This looks as relaxing as it feels

I feel like now a days we drummers focus a lot on trying to play really complicated and flashy rhythms. But this is something else. This performance teaches us about instinct and feel. This is miles better than what drummers Instagram or TikTok are trying to convey. This is the vibe that I want to incorporate into my playing.

Its not about playing loud or hard but only about grooving!!! #old black chinesse drummer

He's killing those ghost notes (pun intended).

Dynamics, everyone, dynamics!

every little sound is so purposeful.

Harvey Mason what an inspiration.

Living legend, y'all!

The original Chameleon on the Head Hunters album is my favorite "chill-out" song. Actually, the entire album. Was great as a yoga, meditation vibe back in the day. These ghost notes between the on-and-off beat snare hits are so beautiful but not easy to master given his so light touch.

Watching this with my Improv student. Both of us blown away. Love the way it combines elements of Watermelon Man in the intro and outtro. Thank you Harvey! Keep going, man!

Respect for Harvey!!!!

Loved this track. It's always fun to have a close up drummer view of a great player playing to a great track! :-)

Where's the freakin Lysol??!! Harvey is just too damn funky! One of my all time favorite drummers growing up and apparently he's STILL "got it". And the ghost notes are insane!

Dayummm!!!!! Can’t believe you guys got Harvey Mason this is so cool!!😁😁

What a nice recording quality

Mr Mason 🎶💝🔥

Smooth!!!

Magnificent.

That's just beautiful. Great song, great drumming. Shivers...

I love it, what a great range of sounds out of Harveys kit - beautiful even with that mistake at 49 secs that he smiles his way through, its life. Brilliant.

One of the first professionals I was fortunate to meet and hang with on my very first trip and tour to Cali. Watched him up close playing with Bob James /Gary King on bass for a full week .#GAMECHANGINGMOMENT4LIFE. THX HARVEY.

This is the groove,this is the feel.This is the founding sound.Awesome playing.👏👍

When your neighbors complain about the noise...

Beautiful playing! Fantastic style!

Sublime he’s always had great sounds

Dope...Dope...Dope...MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO JAZZ WAS CHAMELEON...YOUR SOUND IS INTEGRAL TO THAT SOUND...SAW YOUR SON ON TV...MELBA IS DOPE.....IT WOKE MY MEMORY BANKS...FOUND THIS VIDEO...BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAM...ONE OF THE FUNKIEST TO EVER LIVE...

It's tremendous. I enjoy listening to it a lot, there's only delight. Thanks a lot for that

Wow, this sounds wonderful and VERY smooth!!! So nice!

Damnnnnnnn GoooooooooooD!!

I never really listened to him enough and I regret it. It will be fun finding that stuff now.

All you older drummers that quit...buy a set and start playing again. Harvey is better than EVER!!!

Always loved this song, and I always thought it had a great drum part, to see singing play it 👌

One of the funkiest drummers

Free and musical as it can be, so cool played. Very happy to see this 💯🙏🏼✌🏼

Wow, that smooth right there

You've got a very smooth effortless movement around the kit. Not normally my type of thing but I can see your clearly into the groove and that's enough for me to enjoy the video.

MASTER OF THE DRUMS UNIVERSE

He's my GOAT... such calculated but relaxed precision and feel. ~ian

Beautiful Harvey thankyou

Man, that was some tasty drumming!

Hell yeah he is 72 years now.

Just a wonderful performance.

Holy shit he is one great drummer. I could practice for a year straight and not get this

Snare and hats so good

Legend!

His ghost notes are so clean it's driving me nuts

Tailor's his playing to each song beautifully. A true stylist of a Drummer! Talk about today's players butnone like him.Nice Man!

Remember playing this in highschool jazz band.. wasn't as smooth

This needs about 20x the views. Epic playing, jaw=open

Best drummer of true sound

Man, you can learn alot from that!!!!!!!

6:11 love that groove

one of the bests hihats sound I ever heard... and flat top

Legend!!!

fantastic

love it 😍

Footwork is too amazing😄

Great. Cameleon mixed with Butterfly's mood

Remarkable

Sick wicked n badddass.🔥🔥🔥

South Jersey hometown hero.

0:10 funky face mode ON ! He’s the best

Great drummer

RESPECT.

lindo sentimento

Syncopation master. Yeahbaby

Play-along track on VicFirth, your welcome :)

Legend

Nice!

Groove master

feather touch, the master

His pocket is insane!!!

Amazing... one of my biggest funk influences of all time. Headhunters and Man-Child are like the bible to me. And let's get serious, what is this super gnarly version of Chameleon?! Groove machine.

I remember Harvey Mason with the hit "groovin' you".