Search - Irene Kral :: Band & I

A Good One from One of the Great Ones!

Bruce Armstrong | Long Beach, CA United States | 10/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have owned the original LP for 40 years but it had been a few years since I heard it as I no longer own a working turntable! I just received the CD and am happy to report that it is just as I remembered it---a solid program of Irene's vocals with big band accompaniment, including a few vocal treasures to set it above the norm.



Very few artists really rate the title of "special," but Irene was certainly one of them. The younger sister of Roy Kral, Irene never really got her just due from the jazz audience before her death from cancer in 1978 at 46 years of age. She received some public recognition in the last few of years of her life, but the jazz history books usually overlook her. There was a brief moment of (posthumous) acclaim when her music was featured in Clint Eastwood's "The Bridges of Madison County ," which probably accounts for the few CD re-issues that have occurred in recent years.



Irene thought of herself primarily as a ballad singer--although she could swing with the best--and her versions here of "Lazy Afternoon," "Memphis In June" and (my favorite) "The Night We Called It A Day" provide solid evidence of her exquisite ballad style. Her diction, accuracy of pitch and purity of tone should be required listening for any aspiring female (or male) jazz vocalist.



Trumpeter Herb Pomeroy had a great band out of Boston that made some excellent recordings on its own---most now out of print---but they really were not called upon to do anything more than a studio band would have done. Outside of a few brief solos the jazz content is minimal. Charlie Mariano's alto is featured on "Something To Remember You By." The arrangements by Al Cohn and Ernie Wilkins are professional and functional.



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Sublime vocals

James Odom | San Franciso, CA USA | 11/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of those popular jazz vocalists like june christy, nancy wilson or the always sublime carmen mcrae, then irene kral is the singer for you. this album simply oozes jazz. her diction and phrasing are top-notch. every song on this cd simply charms. a great addition to anyone's cd collection. cheers!"

Superb, classical big band/vocal disc rescued from the past

Anthony Weller | San Felice Circeo, Italy | 01/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Long a disc that collectors sought (and paid big money) for, this CD unites one of the finest jazz singers of her era (who, sadly, died young)with an extraordinary big band whose own individual lps earned it the highest reputation among composers, instrumentalists, and cognoscenti of the genre. This one's magnificent in every way, by turns subtle and powerful, and recorded in wondeful detail."