John Coltrane
Tenor Sax Solo on
Surrey with the Fringe on Top

About

John Coltrane's tenor sax solo is the second of three solos on this recording, following Miles Davis on trumpet. Spanning two choruses of the 40-bar AABAC form in B♭ at a moderate 129 BPM with a swing feel, Coltrane follows with two substantial choruses of tenor saxophone, his playing more relaxed and melodic than on the faster tracks, revealing a lyrical side that his reputation for intensity sometimes obscures. Coltrane's tenor saxophone work reflects a balance of technical fluency and melodic storytelling, building intensity through the course of the improvisation.

John Coltrane was 29 to 30 years old at the time.