Jazz Articles about Irene Kral

Funk in a Deep Freeze

by Mary Foster Conklin
February 16, 2019

For the Sunday of the Women's March we played new releases by pianist Judy Night, flutist Magela Herrara, Judy Bisantz, Bob Levy and saxophonist Carol Sudhalter with birthday shout outs to Eartha Kitt, Irene Kral, Jose James, Cheryl Bentyne, Peter Eldridge, Sade, and Dolly Parton, among others. Playlist Pam Fleming “Keep It Movin" from Buds (Infinite Room Rpm) 00:00 Rene Marie “A Tiny Seed" from Ice on the Hudson (SMK Jazz) 05:19 Karrin Allyson “Big Discount" from Some ...

Irene Kral: Second Chance

by Jim Santella
July 10, 2011

Singer Irene Kral (1932-1978) communicated with her audience through more than just music; she could make everyone in the room believe in what she had to say and take the message home with them for keeps. Recorded in 1975, this program of jazz standards features a nightclub performance with vocalist, acoustic piano trio and swirling emotions.The lyrics of “Second Chance," by André Previn and Dory Langdon Previn, make it clear that she believed in letting her feelings tell ...

Irene Kral: Just for Now

by Victor L. Schermer
July 4, 2004

Just for Now Irene Kral Jazzed Media JM1003 2004

Irene Kral (1932-1978) was a gem of a vocalist who was brought to the public’s attention by Clint Eastwood, who used excerpts of her recordings in the 1995 movie, “The Bridges of Madison County.” Like Chris Connor, June Christie, and Anita O’Day, she came up the way of the big bands (in her case, those of Joe Burckhardt and Maynard Ferguson) and then established herself ...

Irene Kral: Where is Love?

by Michael P. Gladstone
December 10, 2003

It's really quite amazing to read anything about the late jazz vocalist Irene Kral. I've never seen anything less than superlative adjectives applied to her all-too-brief career. The younger sister of singer-pianist Roy Kral (Jackie & Roy) who died in July 2002, she spent some time with Maynard Ferguson's band in 1957 and Herb Pomeroy's organization in Boston in '58. I've always enjoyed her presence as Eliza Doolittle on Shelly Manne's 1964 My Fair Lady with the Unoriginal Cast, in ...

Irene Kral: Karal Space

by Ron Meyers
January 1, 2001

Long out of print as an LP (on Catalyst) and at a premium when you can find it, Kral Space has finally come to CD. Thank Collectables (#7160) for this. Accompanied as usual by Alan Broadbent and as a bonus the under recorded Emil Richards on vibes and percussion, this CD, only 37:21 has some great Irene Kral vocals, including Frishberg's Wheelers and Dealers. Vocal fans will also want to know that songs by Fran Landesman and Bob Dorough are ...

Irene Kral: Kral Space

by Mathew Bahl
November 1, 2000

Perhaps the great lost jazz singer of her generation, Irene Kral’s career was cruelly cut short by her untimely death from breast cancer on August 15, 1978 at age 46. The younger sister of Roy Kral of Jackie & Roy fame, Irene Kral started her career in the 1950s. She sang on the road with various bands including those of Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and Shelly Manne. She recorded a few albums the best of which was the ...

Irene Kral: You Are There

by AAJ Staff
February 1, 2000

Clint Eastwood's Bridges of Madison County is one film that changed my life. Not that I ended up getting a date with Meryl Streep. Nor that I had a Zen awakening to all the bridges that exist in life and love. No, it was the background crooning of two astonishing vocalists whom I, in my regrettable ignorance, had never before heard. When I saw the movie (and listened to its absorbing soundtrack), I glued my eyes to the credits and ...