Personnel:

Irene Kral (vcl), Herb Pomeroy, Lenny Johnson, Bill Berry, Joe Newman (tp), Urbie Green, Gene DiStasio, Bill Legan (tb), Dave Chapman, Charlie Mariano (as), Joe Carusso, Zoot Sims (ts), Danny Bank, Jimmy Mosher (bs), Ray Santisi, Hank Jones (p), Joe Venuto (vib), Jimmy Raney (g), John Neves, Chet Amsterdam (b), Jimmy Zitano, Charles Persip (d), Ernie Wilkins, Al Cohn (arr)

The Band and I was the debut album of the great Irene Kral. On it the outstanding young vocalist, who first came to prominence with Maynard Fergusons band, had the benefit of Herb Pomeroys celebrated big band which, though it had never featured a vocalist before, gave her a backing that no orchestra composed of studio musicians could match. She responded with innate jazz feeling, sensitive phrasing and a warm, unaffected sound. Singer and big band are well served by the excellent Al Cohn and Ernie Wilkins charts.

On Steveireneo!, her second album, she handles a dozen of Steve Allen's songs with complete command. Under the direction of Al Cohn, the band ideally complements her singing; Cohns well-conceived arrangements are, like everything he did, extremely musical. And the front-rank East Coast personnel consistently deliver fine solos in a savoury showcase for a superior singer.

TRACKLIST:

01. I'd Know You Anywhere (Mercer-McHugh) 2:14

02. Detour Ahead (Frigo-Carter-Ellis) 3:41)

03. Comes Love (Brown-Tobias-Stept) 2:33

04. Everybody Knew but Me (Berlin) 2:00

05. Lazy Afternoon (Moross-Latouche) 2:53

06. What's Right for You (Goodman-Doris-Gluckman) 2:59

07. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Ellington-Mills) 2:44

08. Memphis in June (Carmichael-Webster) 2:56

09. This Little Love (Landesman-Wolf) 2:05

10. The Night We Called It a Day (Adair-Dennis) 2:30

11. It Isn't so Good (Landesman-Wolf) 2:31

12. Something to Remember You By (schwartz-Dietz) 2:12

13. Too Late the Spring (Schulman-allen) 2:21

14. Run (Don't Walk) (Jones-Allen) 2:24

15. The Best Time of the Day (Jackson-Allen) 2:25

16. Yes (Rugolo-saunders-Lunham-Allen) 2:29

17. There He Goes (Steve Allen) 2:47

18. And Even Then (Steve Allen) 3:03

19. Houseboat (Duning-Allen) 3:00

20. Cool Blue (Hefti-Allen) 2:00

21. What Is a Woman (Steve Allen) 2:28

22. Spring Is Where You Are (Steve Allen) 2:50

23. Impossible (Steve Allen) 2:56

24. Pleasant Dreams (Steve Allen) 2:45

Sources:

Tracks #1-12, from the United Artists LP "The band and I" (UAS 5016)

Tracks #13-24, from the United Artists LP "Steveireneo!" (UAS 6052)

Irene Kral, sings in all tracks

Personnel on "The Band and I":

Herb Pomeroy & His Orchestra

Herb Pomeroy (leader, tp), Lenny Johnson, Augie Ferretti, Nick Capezuto, Bill Berry (tp), Gene DiStasio, Bill Legan, Joe Ciavardone (tb), Dave Chapman, Charlie Mariano (as), Varty Haroutunian, Joe Carusso (ts), Jimmy Mosher (bs), Ray Santisi (p), John Neves (b), Jimmy Zitano (d).

Arrangements by Al Cohn (#2,3,4,5,8,12) Ernie Wilkins (#1,6,7,9,10,11).

Recorded in New York City, November, 1958

Personnel on "Steveireneo!":

Orchestra arranged and conducted by Al Cohn

Joe Newman (tp), Urbie Green (tb), Zoot Sims (ts), Danny Bank, Eddie Caine (reeds), Hank Jones (p), Jimmy Raney (g), Chet Amsterdam (b), Charles Persip (d), Joe Venuto (vib & perc).

Recorded in New York City, 1959

Recording engineer: Ray Hall

Original recordings produced by Jack Lewis

This CD compilation produced by Jordi Pujol

24-Bit · Digitally Remastered