IRENE KRAL - The Band and I + Better Than Anything (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Band and I pairs Irene Kral with Ernie Wilkins and Al Cohn, whose energetic, robust arrangements capture a dimension of the singer rarely glimpsed on record -- upbeat and persuasive, with little of the spectral melancholy that hangs over her later, more familiar sessions. The titular backing unit in question, led by trumpeter Herb Pomeroy, expertly bridges the gap between traditional big band and modern-era jazz, creating a soulful, lightly swinging showcase that inspires Kral to deliver some of her most appealing performances -- cuts like "This Little Love" and "I'd Know You Anywhere" boast a radiance sadly absent from subsequent sessions. by Jason Ankeny

The Band and I

1 I'd Know You Anywhere 2:14

Jimmy McHugh / Johnny Mercer

2 Detour Ahead 3:43

Lou Carter / Herb Ellis / John Freigo

3 Comes Love 2:36

Lew Brown / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias

4 Everybody Knew But Me 2:01

Irving Berlin

5 Lazy Afternoon 2:56

John Latouche / Jerome Moross

6 What's Right for You 3:01

7 I Let a Song Go out of My Heart 2:46

Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo / John Redmond

8 Memphis in June 2:58

Hoagy Carmichael / Paul Francis Webster

9 This Little Love 2:07

10 The Night We Called It a Day 2:32

Tom Adair / Matt Dennis

11 It Isn't So Good 2:32

12 Something to Remember You By 2:12

Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz

Better than Anythin 

This CD reissues a formerly rare Irene Kral album that was originally recorded for the Ava label, one of only two records that she recorded during 1960-1973. Kral is quite recognizable, although not singing with quite the emotional intensity that she would display during her final three albums (which are all classics). Joined by pianist Junior Mance, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Mickey Roker (whose name is misspelled Rocker), Kral was already a delightful singer. Best are her versions of "Better Than Anything," "The Meaning of the Blues," "It's a Wonderful World," "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry," and "Nobody Else But Me." This enjoyable set is available through the Spanish Fresh Sound label. by Scott Yanow

13 Better Than Anything 2:21

David "Buck" Wheat

14 The Touch of Your Lips 2:22

Ray Noble

15 The Meaning of the Blues 3:11

Bobby Troup / Leah Worth

16 Rock Me to Sleep 2:20

Lou Carter / Paul Vandervoort II

17 No More 3:10

Tutti Camarata / Bob Russell

18 Passing By 1:54

Johnny Hess / Jack Lawrence / Paul Misraki / Charles Trénet

19 It's a Wonderful World 2:34

Harold Adamson / Jan Savitt / Johnny Watson

20 This Is Always 3:23

Mack Gordon / Harry Warren

21 Just Friends 2:40

John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis

22 Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 3:35

Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne

23 Nobody Else But Me 1:54

Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern

- Bonus Tracks -

24 The Meaning Of The Blues

25 Just Friends

26 Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

27 Nobody Else But Me

28 Detour Ahead

29 It's A Wonderful World

30 Forgetful