"Laura" opens Jonathan Kreisberg's 2008 album Night Songs, a collection of standards and nocturnal ballads that highlights the guitarist's exceptional sensitivity as an interpreter of the Great American Songbook. Kreisberg performs on acoustic guitar here, a departure from his more frequently heard electric work, and his single chorus over the 32-bar ABAC form unfolds with the intimacy of a private recital. David Raskin's hauntingly beautiful melody, originally composed for the 1944 film noir of the same name, is given a tender ballad treatment at 90 beats per minute in G major. Pianist Gary Versace follows with a single chorus of his own, his restrained touch and harmonic refinement complementing Kreisberg's approach. Bassist Matt Penman and drummer Mark Ferber round out the quartet, providing the understated rhythmic support that characterizes the album's aesthetic. Night Songs was released on the New For Now label and represents a mature artistic statement from Kreisberg, who by 2008 had established himself as one of the most technically accomplished and harmonically sophisticated guitarists on the New York jazz scene. The acoustic guitar timbre on "Laura" lends the performance a warmth and directness that make it an ideal opening statement.
