Free Fall
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 ofNeil Finn's "Fall at Your Feet" (Danny Wilde of theRembrandts, 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