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

JULIE LONDON - Julie is her Name, Vol. 1 (1955-2006) RM / MONO / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For a time, Julie London was as famous for her sexy album covers as for her singing. Her debut is her best, a set of fairly basic interpretations of standards in which she is accompanied tastefully by guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Ray Leatherwood. "Cry Me a River" from this album, was her biggest hit, and her breathy versions of such numbers as "I Should Care," "Say It Isn't So," "Easy Street," and "Gone with the Wind" are quite haunting. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Cry Me A River 2:56
Arthur Hamilton
2 I Should Care 3:15
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
3 I'm In The Mood For Love 2:28
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
4 I'm Glad There Is You 2:25
Jimmy Dorsey / Paul Mertz
5 Can't Help Lovin' That Man 3:09
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
6 I Love You 1:50
Cole Porter
7 Say It Isn't So 2:00
Irving Berlin
8 It Never Entered My Mind 2:23
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9 Easy Street 3:12
Alan Rankin Jones
10 S' Wonderful 1:33
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
11 No Moon At All 1:51
Redd Evans
12 Laura 1:42
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin
13 Gone With The Wind 2:06
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel
Credits:
Bass – Ray Leatherwood
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Vocals – Julie London

SHIRLEY HORN - The Main Ingredient (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

 
This Shirley Horn CD is a little unusual, as it was recorded at her home. The four sessions utilized some of her favorite musicians, including bassists Steve Novosel and Charles Ables; drummers Steve Williams, Elvin Jones, and Billy Hart; trumpeter Roy Hargrove (on "The Meaning of the Blues") and Joe Henderson; and Buck Hill on tenors. As usual, virtually all of the songs are taken at slow tempos, with "All or Nothing at All" given a definitive treatment. Other highlights include "The Look of Love," "Fever," and Henderson's playing on "You Go to My Head." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Blues for Sarge 4:16
Ronald R. Dawson
2 The Look of Love 5:22
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
3 Keepin' Out of Mischief Now 3:46
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
4 The Meaning of the Blues 7:55
Bobby Troup / Leah Worth
5 Here's Looking at You 3:27
Carroll Coates
6 You Go to My Head 9:08
J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie
7 Fever 4:42
Eddie Cooley / John Davenport
8 Come in from the Rain 4:50
Melissa Manchester / Carole Bayer Sager
9 Peel Me a Grape 2:55
Dave Frishberg
10 All or Nothing at All 7:10
Arthur Altman / Jack Lawrence
Credits:
Bass – Charles Ables (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9), Steve Novosel (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Drums – Billy Hart (tracks: 9), Elvin Jones (tracks: 6, 10), Steve Williams (tracks: 1 to 5, 7, 8)
Flugelhorn – Roy Hargrove (tracks: 4)
Guitar – Charles Ables (tracks: 1, 8)
Tenor Saxophone – Buck Hill (tracks: 1, 3, 10), Joe Henderson (tracks: 6, 10)
Vocals, Piano – Shirley Horn

CAROL STEVENS WITH PHIL MOORE'S MUSIC - That Satin Doll (1957-1991) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1 In A Mellotone 2:22
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler
2 Satin Doll 2:47
Written-By – Duke Ellington
3 Saved It All For You 3:09
Written-By – Phil Moore 
4 Everywhere 3:10
Written-By – Bill Harris
5 Mood For You 2:30
Written-By – Phil Moore 
6 Lurelei (F. H. C.) 2:38
Written-By – Phil Moore
7 Romance In The Dark 2:57
Written-By – Willie Broonzy, Lil Green
8 Lying In The Hay 2:57
Written-By – Pepper, Roberts, Jean Franc-Nohain, Mireille 
9 I'm Playing With Fire 1:33
Written-By – Irving Berlin
10 Tender As A Rose 3:19
Written-By – Phil Moore 
11 Keep On Doin' What You're Doin' 2:15
Written-By – Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby
12 At Last 2:10
Written-By – Harry Warren, Mark Gordon
Credits:

Bass – Milt Hinton

Bass Clarinet – Bernard Kaufman (tracks: 2, 4 to 7, 9 to 12), Sol Schlinger (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Drums – Osie Johnson
English Horn, Clarinet – Phil Bodner (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Flute – Bernard Kaufman (tracks: 2, 4 to 7, 9 to 12)
Flute [Alto] – Herbie Mann (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Percussion – Phil Kraus (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Piano – Frank Berry
Piano, Directed By [Musical Director] – Phil Moore
Trombone – Eddie Bert (tracks: 1, 3, 8), Warren Covington (tracks: 2, 4 to 7, 9 to 12)
Trumpet – Nick Travis (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Trumpet, Mellophone – Don Elliott (tracks: 2, 4 to 7, 9 to 12)
Vibraphone – Bobby Rosengarden (tracks: 2, 4 to 7, 9 to 12)
Vocals – Carol Stevens
Woodwind – Romeo Penque (tracks: 2, 4 to 7, 9 to 12)