"I'll Take Romance" is a jazz standard composed by Ben Oakland with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, originally written for the 1937 film of the same name. On Harold Mabern's 2014 album Afro Blue, the tune is reimagined as a waltz in C major, set in a 64-bar AABA form at 170 beats per minute. The waltz feel gives this familiar standard a distinctive rhythmic identity, transforming its character from the more common 4/4 swing treatments heard in most jazz interpretations. Mabern is the sole featured soloist, taking one full chorus of piano improvisation that stretches over a minute due to the extended 64-bar form. Playing in three-quarter time allows Mabern to explore a different kind of rhythmic phrasing than the swinging eighth-note vocabulary that dominates most hard bop piano. His solo navigates the long form with the structural awareness of a seasoned musician, building melodic ideas across the AABA sections while maintaining the waltz's lilting momentum. The choice to recast a standard in waltz time reflects the creative ambition that marked Mabern's later career, as he sought fresh approaches to familiar material rather than simply running through well-worn arrangements. This track provides a welcome change of rhythmic palette within the album's varied program.
