One of a series of recordings that helped
Shirley Horn relaunch her career after taking time off to raise her daughter, A Lazy Afternoon is a fine studio set with bassist
Buster Williams and drummer
Billy Hart. An always effective vocalist who provided her own top-notch accompaniment on piano,
Horn's almost conversational style of singing works very well whether she is swinging an oldie like "I'm Old Fashioned" or delivering a lush, infectious interpretation of a ballad like "A Lazy Afternoon." In addition to well-known material, she uncovers lost gems like
Gordon Jenkins' "New York's My Home" (delivered in a narrative-like style that has a funky flavor) and
Peggy Lee's neglected swinging song "Take a Little Time to Smile." The one instrumental is an extended workout of
Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Gentle Rain." If there's a weak track on the date, it is
Bill Withers' "Gra'ma's Hands," as even her best effort at casting it in a slow blues-gospel arrangement doesn't overcome the repetitious nature of the composition, a frequent problem with adapting
Withers' work into a jazz setting. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
