"My One and Only Love" is one of the most cherished ballads in the jazz repertoire, composed by Guy Wood with lyrics by Robert Mellin. On Harold Mabern's 2014 album Afro Blue, the tune is performed in B-flat with a 32-bar AABA form at a tender 64 beats per minute, preserving the intimate ballad character that has made it a favorite of jazz musicians since the 1950s. Two soloists share the spotlight, each taking a half-chorus. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander opens with a half-chorus that lasts over a minute at this slow tempo, his lush tone and melodic sensitivity perfectly suited to the romantic harmonic language of the composition. Mabern follows with his own half-chorus on piano, bringing the same emotional depth and harmonic richness, his voicings and single-note lines revealing the influence of his mentors in the Memphis and hard bop traditions. The song gained special prominence in jazz through the iconic 1963 recording by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, and any subsequent jazz version inevitably exists in that recording's long shadow. Mabern and Alexander approach the material with respect for its legacy while bringing their own personalities to the performance. The ballad tempo demands patience and expressiveness from both players, and the half-chorus format keeps the solos focused and emotionally concentrated.
