REC Jazz Orchestra - Laura

June 2 and 3, 2022 RECJO concerts: Jeff Kula, Music Director.

"This haunting song was written in 1945 by David Raksin and came from a movie of the same name. It was almost never written as the movies director's first choice for the theme was Duke Ellington's 'Sophisticated Lady'. Raksin asked the director for a chance to write the theme himself and Ellington lost a lot of royalty payments!
Billy Strayhorn had written an arrangement of 'Laura' featuring star alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges when the film came out but the band never recorded it commercially.
This version is far more involved and original."

Featured tenor saxophonist - Nathan Unger