About
Holger Marjamaa takes an extended solo of nearly three and a half choruses on Benny Golson's "Stablemates," one of the most substantial improvisations on his 2019 album Mostly Standards. The hard-bop classic's demanding 36-bar ABA form in D-flat at 191 BPM presents harmonic challenges that have made the tune a rite of passage for jazz musicians, and Marjamaa handles them with fluency and invention. His playing balances technical precision with swinging rhythmic drive, the medium-up tempo providing an ideal framework for melodic development over the extended solo length. As the sole soloist, the performance allows the listener to appreciate the full arc of Marjamaa's improvisational thinking, from initial melodic statements through harmonic explorations to a satisfying conclusion.
Holger Marjamaa was 26 to 27 years old at the time.
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