Luv in the Afternoon

{{Infobox album

| name = Luv in the Afternoon

| type = studio

| artist = Jeannie Cheatham & Jimmy Cheatham and the Sweet Baby Blues Band

| cover = Luv in the Afternoon.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1990

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Jazz, blues

| length =

| label = Concord Jazz

| producer = Carl E. Jefferson

| prev_title = Back to the Neighborhood

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Basket Full of Blues

| next_year = 1992

}}

Luv in the Afternoon is an album by the American band Jeannie Cheatham & Jimmy Cheatham and the Sweet Baby Blues Band, released in 1990.{{cite news |last1=Randolph |first1=Marvin |title=Recommended listening |work=Sun Sentinel |date=December 7, 1990 |department=Features Showtime |page=18}}{{cite news |title=Jazz Albums |work=Orange County Register |date=September 28, 1990 |page=P24}} It was awarded "Blues Album of the Year" by the critics at DownBeat.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Jocelyn |title=Trombonist united blues with jazz |work=The Sunday Oregonian |agency=LA Times–Washington Post Service |date=January 27, 2007 |page=C8}}

Production

Luv in the Afternoon was produced primarily by Carl E. Jefferson; after some conflict between Jefferson and the band, the album was completed by assistant producer Nick Phillips.{{cite book |last1=Cheatham |first1=Jeannie |title=Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On: My Life in Music |date=2006 |publisher=University of Texas Press |pages=382–383}} The songs were arranged by Jimmy Cheatham, who also played trombone.{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=David |title=Jazz |work=South Wales Evening Post |date=December 14, 1990 |department=Free Time |page=7}} Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown played guitar on three of the tracks. Snooky Young contributed on trumpet; Curtis Peagler contributed on saxophone. Red Callender played tuba.{{cite book |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz |date=2002 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers |page=373 |edition=2nd}} "Raunchy Rita" is about a housekeeper at a Seattle hotel that the Cheathams visited regularly.{{cite news |last1=Varga |first1=George |title=Cheathams' popularity expands beyond club circuit with new album |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=December 26, 1990 |page=C8}} "Trav'lin' Light" is a version of the Johnny Mercer song.{{cite news |last1=Gallo |first1=Mark E. |title=Cheathams bring their boogie and swing sound to Elario's |work=North County Blade Citizen |date=December 21, 1990 |department=Preview |page=5}} "Don't You Feel My Leg" is a cover of the Danny Barker composition.

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |title=Luv in the Afternoon Review by Scott Yanow |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/luv-in-the-afternoon-mw0000690364 |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 1, 2025}}

|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=1998 |publisher=MUZE |page=1039}}

|rev3 = MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide

|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide |date=1998 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=77}}

|rev4 = The News and Observer

|rev4score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Cordle |first1=Owen |title=On the record |work=The News and Observer |date=October 21, 1990 |page=7H}}

|rev5 = Omaha World-Herald

|rev5score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Will |title=Jazz Sounds |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=November 11, 1990 |department=Entertainment |page=16}}

|rev6 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette

|rev6score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite book |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette |date=1994 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=236}}

|rev7 = The Philadelphia Inquirer

|rev7score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Stark |first1=Karl |title=Jazz |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=October 11, 1990 |page=3E}}

}}

The Los Angeles Times said that "Jeannie Cheatham's earthy vocals and swinging piano drive the music."{{cite news |last1=Sutro |first1=Dirk |title='Luv in the Afternoon', the new album... |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 4, 1990 |page=F2}} The Ottawa Citizen stated that "Jeannie's vocals and piano playing plus Jimmy's trombone work and arrangements are the backbone of a shouting, funky band with a sound and feeling to please old-timers and '90s audiences alike."{{cite news |last1=Moody |first1=Lois |title=All-purpose soul joy to old timers, '90s audience alike |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=January 11, 1991 |page=D6}} The Philadelphia Inquirer called the music "revivalist jazz based with fervor and love on the mother lode of the blues." The Commercial Appeal concluded that the Cheathams' "brand of big band blues combines the celebratory, collective flavor identified with New Orleans jazz and the fervor of Kansas City swing."{{cite news |last1=Wynn |first1=Ron |title=Recordings |work=The Commercial Appeal |date=October 19, 1990 |page=E23}} The News and Observer noted that Jeannie "can play the subtle seductress or the red-hot mama with equal panache."