Trouble soloing on Cantaloupe Island

[Ivarrr]

So for my jazz combo we're playing Cantaloupe Island, everything goes well until it's my turn to solo. For my solos I play pentatonic scales over the chord changes so the Ab , Db, F and Ab pents.

Problem is I keep getting lost and am having trouble making the changes at the correct time.

Are there any tips on how to keep with the time better?

[mambo4]

Count.
learn to play the lead melody, and solo based on that.
work out solo ideas on your own that are designed fill the proper amount of time.

read Ed Fuqua's excellent thread on Really Learning A tune.

[polsab78]

sing the melody or the bassline in your head while you're soloing. i think the melody and bass line for this song are really simple enough that you probably won't have trouble doing it if you try.