Irene Kral: Better Than Anything
Label: Äva Records
Year: 1963
Irene Kral’s voice is as smooth as it is stylish, like an Austrian skier descending Arlberg. The title track reels in the ears and the piano of Junior Mance is doing the rocking on “Rock Me To Sleep”. Backing up a jazz singer can be a tricky balancing act for a trio in regard to overplaying and/or underplaying, but have no fear as Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker and Junior put on a clinic of how to walk that tightrope from end to end, standing tall but always making sure the spotlight shines on Irene.
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Her voice is sublime, and the lyrics in the title track take you on a trip through early 1960s American pop culture.