Search - Irene Kral :: Gentle Rain

Superb

C.A. Arthur | Tacoma, Washington | 10/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the loveliest, most moving vocal albums you will ever hear. Recorded not long before Irene Kral's death (at an early age of breast cancer), this album may be the most gorgeous product of her career. It's a 1977 recording with accompaniment by Alan Broadbent. This is the same team that gave us the glorious album Where Is Love. Don't miss this."

Sublime

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 09/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one is the second album Irene Kral recorded in the duo setting with pianist Alan Broadbent, it happened just a month before her death for breast cancer. It's hard to describe the perfection in singing Irene embodied here. This music will haunts you forever once you'll know it. These Irene's ballads album in duo (this one and "Where is love?")are the greatest to hear her talent in interpretation because she's almost naked in front of you, with all her emotions. Her voice here is reproduced very up front and you can fully appreciate it. Her technique was flawless, her grace special, her vibrato impeccable, her diction, her time everything was perfect. But what I want to tribute in particular is her ability to make a song come to life in its full body of emotions, without bells and whistles. Here you hear a marvellous singer which sings in a "simple" way (apparently) with a story to tell. Irene's talent is in the sophistication, in the subletlies and in her naturality at the same time. There are not flashy moments here. She's on the opposite side comparing her to Sarah Vaughan's explosive and multifacets talent for example. She sings in a very dry manner, very minimalistic in a sense, but the message will hit you like a shot and will send thousands shivers down your spine. By the way, remember that Sarah Vaughan was one of Irene's greatest fans. I am another."