"Such Is Life" is an original composition by Harold Mabern from his 2014 album Afro Blue on the Smoke Sessions label. Written in the key of F with a 32-bar AB form, the tune is performed with a Latin feel at 72 beats per minute, giving it a reflective, gently swaying character. The AB form is relatively unusual in jazz, eschewing the more common AABA or blues structures in favor of a two-part design that lends the composition a through-composed quality. Two soloists are featured, each taking a half-chorus. Mabern opens with a half-chorus of piano improvisation that stretches over 55 seconds at the relaxed tempo, allowing him to explore the tune's harmonic terrain with patience and nuance. His playing here emphasizes the melodic and lyrical side of his artistry, the Latin feel encouraging a different kind of rhythmic interplay than his swing-based work. Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt follows with his own half-chorus, bringing a warm, vocal-like quality to his trumpet lines that suits the composition's contemplative mood. The title "Such Is Life" suggests a philosophical acceptance that is reflected in the music's unhurried, meditative character. As one of several Mabern originals on the album, this track showcases his skill as a composer who could create distinctive vehicles for improvisation without relying on conventional formal templates.
