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.