Arcoiris Sandoval
Piano Solo on
Naima

About

Arcoiris Sandoval's piano solo is the sole improvisation on this interpretation of John Coltrane's "Naima" from her 2018 album First Voyage. Sandoval takes three choruses over the 32-bar AABA form in A-flat at a medium 100 BPM with a Latin feel, bringing a fresh rhythmic perspective to one of the most revered compositions in jazz. Coltrane wrote the ballad in 1959 as a dedication to his first wife, and its extraordinary harmonic beauty—built on pedal points and lush chord voicings—has made it a touchstone for jazz musicians. Sandoval's Latin feel reframes the composition's harmonic language in a new rhythmic context, while three choruses allow for substantial exploration of the form.

Arcoiris Sandoval was 30 to 31 years old at the time.