Free Fall - 397

Amazon.com Already one of the most appealing talents among contemporary flamenco guitarists, Jesse Cook skillfully expands his discography with a spirited, satisfying recording (his fourth) that reconfirms his position as one of the elite composer/performers in the genre. Specializing in "rumba flamenco," Cook (born in Paris to Canadian parents) here embellishes his vibrant playing with well-crafted arrangements and imaginative instrumental colors, from the gypsy violin of the title track to the involving Middle Eastern mystery of "Incantation" to the fascinating mix of Arabic strings and subtle hip-hop rhythms on the disc's most distinctive piece, "On Walks the Night." Cook's playing is intricate, challenging, and rewarding, bringing expressive flair even to his subdued ballads ("Virtue," "All That Remains"). He tacks on a vocal selection near the disc's conclusion, a modest reworking of Neil Finn's "Fall at Your Feet" (Danny Wilde of the Rembrandts, close to a Finn clone, is the singer), then closes the disc with an uncredited live track, the percussion-heavy "Mario Takes a Walk." That piece, along with "Rattle and Burn," is also presented in video form as part of an enhanced-CD package. Good listening. --Terry Wood Product description Jesse Cook - Free Fall We receive various CDs from the radio cores that we remanufacture. As a result, we are are now selling them! Our CDs are professionally resurfaced and are guaranteed to work or your money back! These listings are for the disc only and do not come with the case, album art, or inserts. If you have any questions about the CDs, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Review With "On Walks the Night," the dramatic centerpiece tune on Jesse Cook's fourth Narada album Free Fall, the rumba-flamenco-styled guitarist practically creates a whole new genre: hip-hop gypsy. The tune begins with mystical vocal sounds and jungly soundscaping, then weaves a swelling Middle Eastern-flavored string section and Cook's plucky acoustic melody (and later a swaying harmony line created by George Gow's erhu, a Chinese violin) over crunchy, rolling urban grooves and thunderous percussion explosions. Toward the end, Cook takes the opportunity to do his trademark "bumble bee" improvising over what sounds like an Arabic film score. None of the other 10 tracks on Free Fall are quite so inventive. There is densely, more intricately textured percussion, but the balance of speedy flamenco gems and thoughtful ballads reminds us the best of Cook's previous work. On "Switchback," the train-track percussion and zippy basslines push Cook to breakneck speeds on his harmony lines, which roll along quickly beneath a hooky melody. The groove on "Air" is more loping, but the melody is jumpy and enchanting. Normally, it's nice to mix a few ballads with the party tunes, but thoughtful pieces like "Virtue" - while perfect for romance and radio - detract from the real fun here. "Incantation" is the perfect compromise, beginning as a transcendental meditation before exploding into a percussive jam complete with Djivan Gasparyan's duduq, a wailing Arabic wind instrument, which blends beautifully with the erhu. --- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz
ASIN: B00004YL5M
VSKU: GGV.B00004YL5M.LN
Condition: Like New
Author/Artist:Jesse Cook
Binding: Audio cd