John Coltrane
Soprano Sax Solo on
Big Nick

About

John Coltrane's soprano saxophone solo is the first of two solos on "Big Nick" from the 1962 Duke Ellington and John Coltrane album. He takes two choruses of the 32-bar AABA form at 123 BPM with a medium swing feel in G, the tune being his own composition named for tenor saxophonist Big Nick Nicholas. Coltrane's soprano has a distinctive, earthy quality on this medium-tempo piece, his improvisations carrying a bluesy warmth that honors the musician for whom the tune was written. He is followed by Duke Ellington's one-chorus piano solo.

John Coltrane was 35 to 36 years old at the time.