Music Theorymedium

Kaoru Nishimi Improvises Piano on the Chart 'But Not For Me' - Measures 8-11

Question

In the animated series 'Kids on the Slope' (Sakamichi no Apollon), Season 1 Episode 4, Kaoru Nishimi improvises piano on the chart 'But Not For Me'. Analyze and transcribe measures 8-11.

Jazz analysis of measures 8–11 from 'But Not For Me' in Kids on the Slope.

Key of the Tune

B♭ Major

Standard Gershwin changes with jazz harmony and bebop-style improvisation

1Context of the Performance

In 'Kids on the Slope' (Sakamichi no Apollon) Episode 4, Kaoru Nishimi sits in on a jazz session and improvises over George Gershwin's 'But Not For Me'. The audio was performed by jazz pianist Takashi Matsunaga.

About the Tune

'But Not For Me' is a 32-bar AABA standard by George Gershwin (1930). It uses common jazz chord progressions in B♭ major with ii-V-I turnarounds.

2Harmonic Analysis (Measures 8–11)

The chord progression in these measures follows the turnaround at the end of the first A section:

Measure	Beat 1–2	Beat 3–4	Function
8	Cm7	F7	ii → V
9	B♭Maj7	Gm7	I → vi
10	Cm7	F7	ii → V
11	B♭Maj7		I (resolve)

3Melodic Devices Used

Kaoru's improvisation features several characteristic jazz piano techniques from the 1960s vocabulary:

  Melodic Techniques:

  1. Chromatic Enclosures
     Target note approached from above AND below:
     C♯ → B♭ → C (enclosure of chord tone C)

  2. Bebop Passing Tones
     Chromatic passing tones on upbeats:
     B♭ C D D♭ D E♭ F (chromatic D♭ on 'and' of 2)

  3. Rhythmic Displacement
     Phrases start on the 'and' of beats, creating
     forward momentum and swing feel

4Transcription Notes

The melodic content uses mostly eighth-note lines with occasional triplet figures, staying primarily within the B♭ major pentatonic scale (B♭, C, D, F, G) with chromatic approaches to the 3rd and 7th of each chord.

KeyB♭ Major

FormAABA (32 bars)

Measures analyzed8–11 (end of 1st A)

Primary scaleB♭ major pentatonic + chromatic

Rhythmic feelSwing eighth notes

STYLE1960s bebop piano

Voice Leading in Jazz Piano

Kaoru uses standard jazz voice leading: moving smoothly between chord tones by step while the bass outlines the root motion. The left hand plays rootless voicings (3rd and 7th of each chord) while the right hand improvises.

Historical Context

The anime is set in 1966 Nagasaki. The jazz style accurately reflects the era — hard bop and modal jazz influences, with Horace Silver and Bill Evans as stylistic touchstones for Kaoru's piano approach.

Quiz

Test your understanding with these questions.

What key is 'But Not For Me' typically played in?

Which melodic device does Kaoru NOT use in his improvisation?