Free Fall (©2000 Narada World)

the songs:Switchback / Air / Virtue / Free Fall / Paloma / Incantation / All That Remains / On Walks The Night / Querido Amigo / Viva / Fall At Your Feet

This is one of those CDs I really wanted to like, and for the most part I really like it. It's a wonderful blend of flamenco, world with a dash of pop. At times I couldn't get over the Gypsy Kings feel to some of the songs. On some of the more eastern sounding songs I kept making comparissons to Peter Gabrial's work on Passion - from The Last Temptation of Christ. I wish that Jesse included the songwriting credits on the album.

Jesse's playing is wonderful, and you can tell he's a studio perfectionist. The only complaint I have is the use of electronic percussion - ack! Don't get me wrong, I am not blasting this album. It's currently spending a lot of time in my CD player. "Fall At Your Feet" is a great version of the Crowded House tune. Danny Wilde from the Rembrandts sounds eerily like Neil Finn.

Reviewed April 2, 2001

Nomad (©2003 Narada World)

1: Prelude 2: Qadukka-I-Mayyas 3: Surrender 4: Early on Tuesday 5: Beloved 6: Waiting for Tide 7: Down Like Rain 8: Leila 9: Maybe 10: Nomad 11: Worlds Away 12: Toca Orilla 13: Nothing

Nomad finds Mister Cook traipsing around the world recording and infusing his work with the Middle Eastern, Spanish, and Canadian influences. The results are very successful. This type of world mishmash has been done before, but Jesse's done a great job adding his own touches.

There are guest appearances by Danny Wilde from The Rembrandts, and from the Bodeans Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann - their contributions are really cool. They're pop songs, but they have that little sideways twist Jesse's playing adds. Carlos Santana should take notes - Jesse doesn't sound like a session player on his own album.

If I have a criticism of the album, and Jesse's work in general, it's that his playing is great, but his repertoire of riffs seems limited. He repeats himself a lot, and although you don't notice it so much if you hear a song or two, it gets repetitive after an entire album. But who am I to whiz on an otherwise great album that has found a place to settle down in my CD player (note to the reader: wasn't that a great play on the nomad theme? Oh I slay myself at times ... hello? tap tap, is this thing on? Hello?)

Reviewed (sort of) December 16, 2005

Frontiers ©2007

1. Matisse the Cat 2. Café Mocha 3. Rain 4. Vamos 5. Turning 6. Havana 7. Cri 8. Come What May 9. It Ain't Me Babe 10. Llorona 11. Waiting 12. Europa 13. Alone

Jesse Cook has found his niche and his sticking to it. His mix of world beat and staccato playing along with the occasional vocal performance are as tasty as ever - even if it all sounds the same now. I was hoping that Danny Wilde would make another appearance - but alas, it was not to be.

Jesse is a performer who is comfortable in his comfort zone, and he uses his tools economically. There are less fiddle farty flourishes this time around (no I didn't go back and count them, it just felt that way) To the casual fan there probably isn't a whole lot here that will distinguish "Frontiers" from his other work - it's still beautifully played and executed and plays nicely in the background and doesn't require a lot of extra thought to process.

Thankfully I don't think Jesse has a lot of casual fans, and although there is a sameness about many of his compositions, they are more often than not quite beautiful. Of the vocal songs this time around, Jesse uses three voices I've not come across before (if I have I can't remember) Melissa McClelland on "It Ain't Me Babe." Maryem Tollar lends her voice to the haunting "Europa". The highlight though belongs to Amanda Martinez for her work on "La Llorona" which is a great merging of Jesse's flamenco and pop influences.

For an effort titled Frontiers, Jesse sure didn't do much to expand his … which is just fine because at this point in my life I don't need a lot of unnecessary surprised.

Reviewed May 5, 2009