Jesse Cook Montreal CD

From the sounds of the enthusiastic audience on this live CD, Jesse Cook's music is as dynamic and electrifying in concert as it is on his fine studio releases. Playing with a full band here in his native Canada, the guitarist and ethnic fusion pioneer turns in a compelling performance to an endless stream of clapping, whoops, and shouts. Cook's personnel, which includes a violinist, guitarist, bassist, percussionists, a dudek player, and guest vocalists, flesh out the artist's trademark groove-oriented flamenco style, adding dashes of Middle Eastern flavor, Latin forms (namely rhumba and samba), jazz, and dreamy, atmospheric color.

Cook is a superior guitarist, and his fleet-fingered leads are in the spotlight throughout. But he is more than just a technician. With his heady swirl of Mediterranean influences and propulsive rhythms, Cook aims to please audiences. MONTREAL overflows with energy and charged performer/audience interactions (check out the rhythm of "Luna Llena," on which the audience keeps the beat, or the ecstatically received drum breaks in "Mario Takes a Walk"). Listening to this engaging performance on disc is the next best thing to seeing Cook in concert.

Live Recording

Editor: Scott "Watson" Lake.

Photographer: Hugh Hartshorne.

Personnel: Jesse Cook (guitar); Danny Wilde (vocals); Nicolas Hernandez, Nicolas Hernandez (guitar); Collin Barrett (bass instrument); Paolo Antonio, Paul Antonio (drums); Frank Hayashi (caixa); Guiomar Campbell (shaker); Negin Bairami, Danielle Lafond, Greg Meleca (surdo); Lyba Spring (bells); Chris Church (vocals, violin); Maryem Hassan Tollar (vocals); Hampig Djavorian (duduk); Art Avalos (percussion).

Recording information: Metropolis Theatre, Le Festival International De Jazz D (06/09/2004); Pueblo Sound, Thousand Oaks, CA (06/09/2004).

New Age Retailer (p.136) - "[T]he organic MONTREAL showcases the brilliance of this truly talented performer."