Jerome Kern's Last Song " Nobody Else but Me." Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein created " Showboat" in 1927. It was a landmark development in musical theatre and a distinctive departure from the European influenced shows that marked Kern;s earlier theatrical ventures. " Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine," " Make Believe " " Bill" " Why Do I Love You?" and, of course " Old Man River" are songs that are still well known and performed.
In 1946, there was another revival of " Showboat" for which Kern and Hammerstein wrote a new ( and which was to be Kern's last melody) called " Nobody Else But Me." Alec Wilder described it as " Avery beautiful song though far from simple. It was characteristic of Kern, Wilder relates " To undertake unusual melodic innovations and he raised song writing to the level of highly distinguished melodic composition." Comparing Kern;s later compositions with the operetta style of his earlier career demonstrates the extraordinary advancement in composition. Wilder notably concludes that " I must note that to me perhaps the most striking quality of " Nobody Else But Me" is its " American soundingness." It serves as a perfect epitaph to his career."
I have heard a great many jazz instrumental and vocal interpretations of this song which is further testament to the rich melodic and harmonic elements that jazz players are always seeking.
Betty Bennett, a little-known but excellent singer provides an interpretation of the song as it would have been performed in a musical theatre performance.
Pianist Brad Mehldau, in vivid contrast to a formal stage performance,, demonstrates the jazzman's improvisational delight in the dramatic chord changes of Kern's last song.
vOCAL LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khc7TaBtd20
Instrumental LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9QF5hFYt4c
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