by Richard Ginell
Chet Atkins's versatility and curiosity have covered a lot of ground, and you would think that his talent would be able to encompass calypso and other Caribbean styles as well. Alas, he isn't given much of a chance here, for very little of this torporously-paced album actually has anything to do with the Caribbean. Sure, some of the titles suggest the region, but not their treatments. &Mayan Dance& is a lovely two-part waltz, with bad string overdubs; &Banana Boat Song& is a lazy cover of the Tarriers' version (not Belafonte's). &Come to The Mardi Gras& moves from the Gay '90s to some unidentified jazzy muted trumpet without leaving the mainland; Bobby Darin's &Come September: Theme& is Brazilian samba; &Moon Over Miami& is a soft boogie; and so on and so forth. Atkin's playing is impeccable and tasteful as always -- perhaps most elegantly on &Temptation& -- just not as inspired as it can be.