Despite playing many songs with geographic titles and including a map of the world in the liners, keyboardist
Don Grusin's release is not about world music. The performances are actually overly safe and uniformly easy-listening with upbeat melodies, highly competent but anonymous players and gentle background vocalists; only "Rai Baby" generates a little heat. There is little excuse for such bland music from such talented musicians as
Grusin, altoist
Eric Marienthal, guitarist
Ricard Silveira and violinist
Jerry Goodman, making this date a distinct disappointment. ~ Scott Yanow