Free Fall

CD Details

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

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.