"Fools Rush In" is a beloved standard composed by Rube Bloom with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, originally published in 1940. On Harold Mabern's 2014 album Afro Blue, the tune receives a Latin-flavored treatment in the key of F with a 32-bar ABAC form at approximately 100 beats per minute. The Latin feel gives the familiar melody a rhythmic freshness, moving it away from the straight-ahead swing approach heard in most jazz versions. Two soloists are featured, each taking a full chorus. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander opens the improvisation section, his warm, full tone perfectly suited to the tune's romantic harmonic language. Alexander's solo spans about 43 seconds, navigating the ABAC structure with the melodic inventiveness that has made him one of the most respected tenor players of his generation. Mabern follows with his own full chorus on piano, bringing his signature blues-drenched touch to the changes. His solo runs nearly 40 seconds, and the Latin rhythmic framework gives his comping and solo lines a different character than the swing context in which he is most often heard. The duo format of the solo section -- tenor and piano trading full choruses -- creates an intimate dialogue between two musicians with a deep musical partnership spanning many recordings and live performances together.
