“Polka Dots and Moonbeams” was composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke in 1940. Frank Sinatra’s recording with Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra made it a hit, and later versions by Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans and others made it a jazz ballad favorite.
The form is a 32-bar AABA, commonly in F major. The A sections move gently through ii-V progressions and secondary dominants, while the bridge shifts to a new key area with a lifted, dreamy quality. The melody is graceful and lyrical.
For improvisation, outline the ii-Vs with guide tones and stay close to the melody’s lyrical character. In the bridge, make the key change clear by targeting the new key’s third. Wes Montgomery’s version shows how to play with warmth and swing at a slow tempo.
Practice at ballad tempo, learning the melody and changes thoroughly. Pianists should practice lush, voice-led voicings.
Section by section: the A sections move gently through ii-V progressions, so use lyrical phrases and guide tones. The bridge shifts to a new key; target its third to mark the change, then return smoothly to the final A. Keep your tone warm and your phrasing relaxed, as Wes Montgomery did on his recordings.
Practice tip: try playing the melody in octaves on guitar or with your instrument’s warmest tone, imitating Wes Montgomery’s sound. It’s a great exercise in phrasing and tone.
Ear training with the Polka Dots and Moonbeams Lead Sheet PDF: before reading along, listen to two different recordings and try to hear where each section starts. Then follow the lead sheet while listening. Connecting what you see to what you hear is how lead sheets turn into tunes you truly know.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey, Wes Montgomery and Bill Evans. Learn more about the composer on Jimmy Van Heusen’s Wikipedia page, and find more jazz ballads on Minedit.