Shirley Horn With Horns

Shirley Horn only recorded a few times early in her career before leaving music until her daughter was grown. This early date for Mercury, with little in the way of identified personnel, features arrangements by Billy Byers, Thad Jones, Don Sebesky, and Quincy Jones, though Horn is unfortunately only heard as a singer, even though she is listed as the pianist on the album cover. She excels throughout the sessions, but the arrangements tend to lean more toward pop than jazz, failing to take advantage of what is likely a crew of all-star horn soloists. Bobby Scott's piano playing is downright corny in "On the Street Where You Live" and "Mack the Knife," taking on more of a country flavor. Better tracks include "Come Dance With Me," and the slow, bluesy "After You've Gone." Long out of print, this album was finally reissued as one-half of a 1990 Verve CD compilation, though it has since been deleted as well.