Benny Golson's "Stablemates" is given a swinging treatment on Holger Marjamaa's 2019 album Mostly Standards, with the pianist navigating the hard-bop classic's challenging 36-bar ABA form in D-flat major at 191 beats per minute. Marjamaa's extended solo of approximately three and a third choruses demonstrates his command of the bebop vocabulary and his ability to sustain improvisational interest over a substantial solo length. Golson's composition, originally recorded in 1955, features demanding chord changes that have made it a rite of passage for aspiring jazz musicians, and Marjamaa handles the harmonic challenges with fluency and invention. His playing balances technical precision with swinging rhythmic drive, the medium-up tempo providing an ideal framework for melodic development. The inclusion of "Stablemates" on an album titled Mostly Standards positions Marjamaa firmly within the mainstream jazz tradition, demonstrating his respect for the legacy of hard-bop composition while bringing a contemporary perspective to the material. The extended solo format allows the listener to appreciate the arc of Marjamaa's improvisational thinking, from initial melodic statements through harmonic explorations to a satisfying conclusion. The track is one of the album's most energetic performances.
