Pinocchio is a jazz tune composed by Wayne Shorter and first recorded by the Miles Davis Quintet for the album Nefertiti. It was recorded in July 1967 and released in January 1968. The piece is known for its fast, intricate changes and modal flavor, which made it difficult to notate correctly in early Real Books. The Miles Davis lineup on the track includes Miles Davis on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. The tune has sparked ongoing discussion and interpretation, with later versions and analyses from musicians and has inspired performances by other groups such as the Ernie Watts Quartet. An alternate take at a slower tempo shows different bass movement and harmonic color, highlighting the tune’s complexity.
