David Raksin, music · Johnny Mercer, lyrics · Theme of the 1944 film Laura
Laura
Laura began as the theme of a 1944 film, with music by David Raksin. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics in 1945, and the chords change key every few bars. Woody Herman had a million-selling hit with it, and Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown and Bill Evans recorded it.
Start with two vocals, then follow the tune through a tenor quartet, two string dates, a vibes quartet, a three-horn septet and a piano trio. Each step shows another way to play the same 32 bars.
Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet with Neal Hefti Orchestra1955 · Bebop
Teddy Charles Quartet1956 · Bebop
Coleman Hawkins Septet1957 · Swing
1960sElla Fitzgerald with Nelson Riddle1964 · Vocal
Bill Evans Trio1966 · Post-bop
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Hear the song as a 1945 hit
Woody Herman and His Orchestra · 1945
“Laura (78rpm Version)”, The Essential Woody Herman
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Listen for
Herman sings the tune over the full band, and the whole record runs about three minutes. Follow the voice first, because the later versions in this path all start from this melody.
Try this
Play the first four bars of the chart with one chord per bar (Am9, D7♭9, G6, G6). Hum the tune along with Herman while you play them.
Charlie Parker with strings (Joe Lippman orchestra) · 1950 · Bebop
Charlie Parker with Strings
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Listen for
Parker plays the melody over strings, oboe and harp, and the track is under three minutes. Listen for where the rhythm section of piano, bass and drums sits under the strings.
Try this
Play the melody of the first eight bars and hold the root of each chord under it. Change notes only when the chord changes.
Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet with Neal Hefti Orchestra · 1955 · Bebop
“Laura (With Strings)”, Clifford Brown with Strings
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Listen for
Brown plays trumpet over a string section and a rhythm section that includes a guitar. The track runs just over three minutes, so follow the trumpet line from start to finish.
Try this
Sing the melody and play only the chord on beat one of each bar on a piano or guitar. The strings do the same job here.
The vibraphone plays the lead and Mingus plays bass under it. The track runs a little over five minutes.
Try this
Pick any bass-note pattern for the first eight bars, one root per bar, and play it under the melody. Then follow Mingus's bass for the same eight bars.
Hawkins is joined by a trumpet and a trombone over a piano, guitar, bass and drums rhythm section. Count how many instruments play at once in the opening chorus.
Try this
Play the melody on any instrument, and skip any bar you cannot reach. Rejoin at the next chord.
Evans plays piano with Gomez on bass and Manne on drums, and the track runs about four minutes. Follow the bass line under the piano through the first A section.
Try this
Play the A section chords (Am9, D7♭9, G6, G6, Gm9, C7♭9, Fmaj7, Fmaj7) with the left hand while you hum the tune. Go slowly enough to name each chord before you play it.
G major → F major → E♭ major → G major → F major → C majorkey centers
A8 bars
B8 bars
A8 bars
C8 bars
G
F
E♭
G
G
F
C
The first A section opens in G major with Am9, D7♭9 and G6, then Gm9 and C7♭9 turn toward Fmaj7 for the last four bars. The B section moves to E♭ major (Fm7, B♭7, E♭maj7, Cm7), then returns to G major through Am7♭5, D7 and Gmaj7, and E7♭13 leads back to the A. The A section repeats. The last eight bars, labeled C here, finally settle in C major with Cmaj7, Em7, Am7, D7♭9, G7 and C6, which is why the usual key is C. These key areas follow the iReal Pro chart and leave out passing chords.