“Moon River” was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, where Audrey Hepburn sang it on a fire escape. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and has since been recorded by Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra and countless jazz musicians. Its lilting waltz melody makes it a favorite at weddings and on cocktail gigs.
The tune is in 3/4 time and is commonly played in C or F major. The form flows in long phrases, with chords moving through the I, IV, iii, vi and ii chords, along with some secondary dominants and a beautiful move to the minor iv. The melody leaps up a fifth at the start, giving the tune its sense of open space and longing. Many jazz players also play it in 4/4 swing for variety.
For improvisation, think in long, flowing lines that match the waltz feel. Use the major scale of the home key and highlight the secondary dominants with their thirds. Over the minor iv chord, use the flat sixth (Ab in C) for a bittersweet color. In 3/4 time, practice phrases that cross the bar line instead of always starting on beat one; it makes the waltz feel less square.
Practice by learning the melody, then playing it in C and F. Practice the waltz feel with a metronome on beat one only, which helps you internalize the 3/4 pulse. Pianists should practice a light “oom-pah-pah” left hand, then move to more sophisticated jazz waltz comping. Try a swing 4/4 version too.
Common mistake: playing it too quickly. It needs space and a gentle, singing tone.
Recordings to study: Audrey Hepburn’s original, Andy Williams’s hit and Bill Evans’s trio version for jazz harmony ideas. Learn more about the composer on Henry Mancini’s Wikipedia page, and find more jazz waltzes on Minedit.