This would have been shortly before she died, a year or less. I grew up next door to her in LA. I remember her just like this. I was just 15 when she passed away. I was friends with her daughter, but she went to live with her dad in Hawaii and I hardly ever saw her again.
Irene Kral's Beautiful diction & angelic voice at this intimate Half Moon Bay Jazz Living Room 'as the once-upon-a-time "Le Cafe" in Sherman Oaks Ca or 'Donte's on Lankershim Blvd 4269 in North Hollywood with Alan Broadbent & Frank De La Rosa on bass
I "discovered" Irene Kral a few years ago, and bought some of her CDs. A great voice, good interpreter of lyrics and a jazz "feel". Thanks for the chance to see her in action. Definitely one of those under-appreciated artists, which is a very great pity.
Irene was greatly appreciated by her peers and fans and got to do what she loved. Her life was sadly cut short. But if you took a poll of just about any well known jazz singer of her time, they all had her records and appreciate her artistry very highly. So in that sense, the important figures knew what she was all about. Being a singer's singer is the highest praise one could hope for in this dumb country.
I have this on a record called "Irene Kral - Live," on the Just Jazz label. Seeing her sing it after listening to this for years is kind of strange! She was so great, one of my favorites, and what fantastic backing, too.
Wonderful! I have multiple connections to this. I've always loved Irene's work,but before this, never seen her work. I've done a lot of live audio recording of live jazz, and I've worked as a photographer. No bones to pick with either art here -- although there are lip sync issues, the video production is first rate, very sensitive to the music. My thanks to all involved!
I cannot believe I didn't know of her, even though she died so young. I was replying to a thread about "The Russians are Coming" and always loved the exquisite "Shining Sea". I just never looked for the vocalist. Of course anyone who sang with Kenton and Ferguson would have gotten notice from me and my mom. I'm glad I finally discovered her.
