Filles de Kilimanjaro

Filles de Kilimanjaro ("Girls of Kilimanjaro") was a 1968 album by Miles Davis, which featured extensive use of looser rhythms and a Fender Rhodes electric piano. It was recorded in June and September 1968. The June sessions featured Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Herbie Hancock on the Fender Rhodes electric piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. The September sessions replaced Hancock with Chick Corea, and Carter with Dave Holland. The album was produced by Teo Macero and engineered by Frank Laico.

The album can be seen as a transitional work between Davis's mainly acoustic recordings with the Second Quintet and his later electric period (for example, Bitches Brew).

"Mademoiselle Mabry" utilizes a direct quote from Jimi Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary", that of the bass walking up three half-steps. It is said that this was a direct response to Hendrix's song, and was in reference to Davis's wife having left him for Hendrix. This is presumably a reference to Betty O. Mabry Davis, who had married Davis in 1968 but divorced him in 1969.

Tracks

1. "Frelon Brun" (Brown Hornet)
2. "Tout de Suite"
3. "Petits Machins" (Little Stuff)
4. "Filles de Kilimanjaro"
5. "Mademoiselle Mabry" (Miss Mabry)

The first and last tracks were recorded in September 1968, the others in June. The CD reissue includes an alternate take of "Tout De Suite".