Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) (4:38)

“Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” is a song by Us3 which covers Herbie Hancock’s song “Cantaloupe Island”. It appeared on their 1993 album, Hand on the Torch, which was Blue Note’s first platinum-selling album. It reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was their only big hit. “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” is Blue Note’s first gold single. It is sometimes called “Cantaloop”

The original song (“Cantaloupe Island”) is a 16 bar repeated chart. An F minor chord for 4 measures, Db7 for 4 measures, D minor for 4 measures, then F minor again. “Cantaloop” follows that, but during the verses (rapping) it stays on F major. Then there is an added part which has a new horn part and the chord switches back from F major to Db7. The featured trumpet soloist is Gerard Presencer.

The song makes notable mention of the Birdland jazz club in New York city in its opening line - “Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, we have something special down here at Birdland this evening: a recording for Blue Note Records.” This line, spoken by Pee Wee Marquette, is taken from the Art Blakey Quintet album A Night At Birdland, Vol. 1 - Announcement By Pee Wee Marquette (Live)