Steve Wariner has placed dozens of hits on the country charts over the past three decades, traversing the many styles and moods of contemporary country. But this time around it's all about payback: No one had a greater influence on
Wariner than the late guitar god
Chet Atkins, and the purpose of this album is solely to acknowledge that debt.
Wariner has released all-instrumental recordings before, but never one devoted to a single musician. The 11 tracks here include a handful of songs associated with
Atkins but most are
Wariner compositions in which he showcases
Atkins' style. The set begins with one called "Leavin' Luttrell," its name taken from
Atkins' hometown of Luttrell, TN. It's meant to capture the essence of
Atkins' earliest work and it does so admirably. Other tracks tap into the honky tonk fiddle tunes, the orchestral countrypolitan sound, and even the versatile
Atkins' flirtations with jazz. "Reeding Out Loud" is a double tribute, honoring not only
Atkins but the late
Jerry Reed, one of the many artists with whom
Atkins worked, while "Producer's Medley" is exactly what it says it is: a careful fusion of bits from songs associated with everyone from
the Everly Brothers to
Skeeter Davis to
Perry Como, three of the countless artists
Atkins produced. Throughout the album,
Wariner's guitar work is crisp, sharp and smart -- he never attempts to imitate
Atkins but he manages to embody him nonetheless. ~ Jeff Tamarkin