Moon River

“Moon River” is the only track on the Trolley Songs album that features a 14-piece string section.  It was arranged by Danny Fratina specifically for vocalist Jen Hirsh for the album, without the aid of a piano or any other musical instrument or device to work out pitches or harmonies.  The band recorded it in the studio in two takes without having rehearsed or even seen the arrangement before.  The released studio version is the second take, though the first take was equally successful. Visit the MUSIC page to listen to an audio sample and to buy the mp3 or the album CD.

The song won an Academy Award for Best Original song in 1961 and was originally sung by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  It also won the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

CREDITS for the “Moon River” studio recording by the Beantown Swing Orchestra:

Jen Hirsh – vocals
Mark Zaleski – alto sax
Rick Stone – alto sax
Leon Cotter – tenor sax
Tucker Antell – tenor sax
Melanie Howell – bari sax
Don Clough – trumpet
Yaure Muniz – trumpet
Vivek Patel – trumpet
Daniel Henderson – trumpet
Ryan Dragon – trombone
Clayton Dewalt – trombone
Randy Pingrey – trombone
David Roth – bass trombone
Takeshi Ohbayashi – piano
Chris Brown – guitar
Genevieve Rose – bass
Shinya Fukumori – drums
Zoya Tsvetkova – violin
Clayton Mathews – violin
Stephanie Skor – violin
Olga Patramanskaya – violin
Marissa Licata – violin
Yasmine Azaiez – violin
Mia Friedman – violin
Yaeko Miranda Elmaleh – violin
Asuka Usui – violin
Joanna Mattrey – viola
Keith Sanders – viola
Emily Deans – viola
Ariel Friedman – cello
Jeremy Harman – cello

• Written by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, ©1961 Sony ATV Harmony (ASCAP).
• Arranged by Danny Fratina.
• Big band recorded by Robert Auld and John Weston at Futura Productions in Boston, MA on February 5, 2011.
• Jen Hirsh’s vocals recorded by Max Coane at Mid City Sound in Los Angeles, CA on February 18, 2011.
• Mixed by Robert Auld at Auldworks in NYC.
• Mastered by Allan Tucker at TuckerSound / Foothill Digital in New Rochelle, NY.