Music by Jimmy Van Heusen, words by Johnny Burke, arranged by Bill Holman
Originally written for the Tommy Dorsey band in 1939, Polka Dots and Moonbeams is another standard ballad from the pen of composer Jimmy Van Heusen. This arrangement is by jazz master Bill Holman, written for the great trombonist Carl Fontana and the Stan Kenton Orchestra.
This particular performance of the arrangement is from a live concert in Berlin, West Germany, April 25, 1956. In fully keeping with Kenton tradition, there's lots of brass in this band:
Ed Leddy, Vinnie Tano, Sam Noto, Lee Katzman, Phil Gilbert (tpt); Carl Fontana, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen (tbn); Don Kelly (b. tbn); Irving Rosenthal, Fred Fox (french horn); Jay McAllister (tuba); Lennie Niehaus (as); Bill Perkins, Don Rendell (ts); Harry Klein (bari); Stan Kenton (pno); Ralph Blaze (gtr); Curtis Counce (bass); Mel Lewis (dr).
