"Valse Hot," another Sonny Rollins composition, receives an intimate waltz treatment on Stephen Riley's 2018 album Oleo. The 16-bar form in A-flat unfolds at a gentle waltz tempo of approximately 110 BPM, creating a flowing three-quarter-time feel that contrasts with the album's more driving swing and funk performances. Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli opens the solo section with three graceful choruses that navigate the waltz meter with natural ease. Riley follows with an extended six choruses of tenor saxophone improvisation, using the waltz's circular rhythmic motion as a springboard for some of his most lyrical and exploratory playing on the album. Bassist Jay Anderson contributes two choruses, maintaining the gentle pulse. Rollins recorded "Valse Hot" on his 1956 album Saxophone Colossus, and the composition's elegant simplicity and waltz feel have made it a distinctive entry in the Rollins songbook. Riley's affinity for Rollins's music is evident throughout the Oleo album, and this waltz performance demonstrates a particular sympathy for the composer's more tender side. The extended solo from Riley allows the listener to hear his improvisational process unfold at length, as ideas develop, transform, and connect in the unhurried, organic manner that characterizes his most compelling work.
