This 1952 recording of Nobody Else But Me from Stan Getz Plays features Jerome Kern's final composition, written for the 1946 revival of Show Boat. Performed at a relaxed swing tempo of approximately 127-129 BPM in E-flat major, the arrangement uses a 36-bar ABAC form, slightly longer than the typical 32-bar structure. Stan Getz delivers a full-chorus tenor saxophone solo, while Jimmy Rowles contributes a piano solo covering roughly half a chorus. The presence of Rowles rather than Duke Jordan places this track among the sessions from the album recorded with a different rhythm section on the West Coast. Getz's solo at this moderate tempo allows him to develop ideas at a conversational pace, building phrases with the unhurried logic of a master storyteller. Rowles, a pianist renowned for his harmonic sophistication and sensitivity as an accompanist, provides a solo that is characteristically elegant and understated. Nobody Else But Me was not widely known in 1952, and Getz's decision to record it reflects his gift for identifying overlooked gems in the standard repertoire. The tune's unusual 36-bar form adds structural interest, and both soloists navigate the extra measures with ease. This performance is a quiet highlight of the album, pairing two deeply musical artists in service of a beautiful and underappreciated composition.
