George Gershwin's "Embraceable You" appears on Wycliffe Gordon's 2001 album Standards Only with pianist Eric Reed taking the featured solo spotlight. The ABAC form in E-flat unfolds at a free, rubato ballad tempo, and Reed delivers a half-chorus piano solo of exceptional beauty and harmonic sophistication. His playing here is characterized by lush voicings, subtle rubato phrasing, and a deep connection to the Gershwin harmonic language that reveals his thorough command of the Great American Songbook. Reed, a longtime member of Wynton Marsalis's groups and a highly respected bandleader in his own right, brings a combination of classical refinement and jazz spontaneity to this performance. The decision to feature the piano as the sole improvising voice on this track demonstrates Gordon's skill as a program builder, varying the textures and featured voices across the album to maintain the listener's interest. "Embraceable You" has been a favorite of jazz pianists since the bebop era, with Charlie Parker's famous 1947 recording establishing it as a vehicle for sophisticated improvisation. Reed's contribution to this tradition is distinctive for its warmth and accessibility, his solo communicating the song's romantic sentiment without resorting to sentimentality. The track serves as a quiet interlude within the album's varied program, its intimacy providing a welcome contrast to the more extroverted performances.
