Nefertiti (album)

Nefertiti is a studio album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1968 on Columbia Records. Recorded on June 7, June 22–23 and July 19, 1967 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio, the album was Davis' last fully acoustic album. Davis himself did not contribute anything in the way of compositions, which are mostly written by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. The album reached #8 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums charts in 1968. Nefertiti was reissued, CK-65681, in 1998 by Columbia and Legacy Records.

Music
The fourth album by Miles Davis' second classic quintet, Nefertiti is best known for the unusual title track, on which the horn section repeats the melody numerous times without individual solos while the rhythm section improvises underneath, reversing the traditional role of a rhythm section. Also featured are the lilting ballad "Fall", Williams's "Hand Jive", a more boppish composition, and the other pieces showcase the group's unique post-bop approach. Both "Nefertiti" and "Riot" entered the Davis quintet's live set. The music of Nefertiti, while mostly low-key and impressionistic, is rooted in hard bop.

Nefertiti would be the final all-acoustic album of Davis' career. Starting with his very next album Miles in the Sky, Davis would begin to experiment with electric instruments, marking the dawn of his electric period.

Track listing
All songs written by Wayne Shorter, except where noted.

Side one

 * 1) "Nefertiti" – 7:55
 * 2) "Fall" – 6:38
 * 3) "Hand Jive" (Williams) – 8:57

Side two

 * 1) "Madness" (Hancock) – 7:33
 * 2) "Riot" (Hancock) – 3:05
 * 3) "Pinocchio" – 5:08

CD reissue bonus tracks

 * 1) "Hand Jive" [First Alternate Take] - 6:50
 * 2) "Hand Jive" [Second Alternate Take] - 8:17
 * 3) "Madness" [Alternate Take] - 6:45
 * 4) "Pinocchio" [Alternate Take] - 5:08

Recorded on June 7 (#1), June 22 (#3, 7, 8), June 23 (#4, 9) and July 19 (#2, 5, 6, 10), 1967.

Chart history
Billboard Music Charts (North America) – Nefertiti
 * 1968: Top Jazz Albums – #8

Musicians

 * Miles Davis - trumpet
 * Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
 * Herbie Hancock - piano
 * Ron Carter - double bass
 * Tony Williams - drums

Additional personnel

 * Teo Macero – producer
 * Howard Roberts – producer
 * Fred Plaut, Ray Moore – engineer
 * Rob Schwarz – mastering