Edison Denisov was one of the sometimes nonconformist composers who began to come to prominence in the Soviet Union during the 1960s. One of his interests which was not to the liking of the leaders of official Soviet music was jazz.

This sonata was composed for Jean-Marie Londeix in 1970. It is a twelve-minute work in three movements: Allegro, Lento, and Allegro moderato. None of them is in the classical sonata form, though Denisov has written that the structure of each has the structural meaning of the standard movements. Thus, the brisk first movement functions as an overture, and so forth. The second movement is a monologue for the solo instrument alone, leading directly into the finale. The jazz elements of the score are concealed in the first movement, but come out clearly in the final movement, which is virtuosic in technique.

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