Oliver Nelson
Tenor Sax Solo on
Hoe Down

About

Oliver Nelson's tenor saxophone solo is the third and final improvisation on this recording, the composer closing the solo section on his own contrafact. Taking two choruses of the 32-bar AABA form in C at 254 BPM, Nelson handles the demanding tempo with the assurance of a saxophonist who is also a master arranger, his lines exhibiting a structural logic that reflects his dual perspective as both player and composer. The contrafact is built on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm," and Nelson's solo demonstrates his command of this fundamental jazz framework.

Oliver Nelson was 28 to 29 years old at the time.