Duke Ellington
Piano Solo on
Big Nick

About

Duke Ellington's piano solo is the second of two solos on "Big Nick" from the 1962 Duke Ellington and John Coltrane album, following Coltrane's soprano saxophone. He takes one chorus of the 32-bar AABA form at 122 BPM in G, bringing his characteristically idiosyncratic piano voice to Coltrane's composition. At 62 to 63 years old, Ellington's approach is economical and full of personality, his sparse but perfectly placed phrases demonstrating the unique harmonic sensibility that made him one of jazz's most distinctive pianists. The solo provides a fitting closing statement on this relaxed, medium-tempo swinger.

Duke Ellington was 62 to 63 years old at the time.