Customer Reviews

Nomad

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

If you are a Jesse Cook fan, this CD will possibly surprise you. It's frankly more World Music and less New Flamenco than his other releases. The liner notes are telegraphic and intriguing; Cook travels to Egypt to record some of the music, then off to London to mix and record in the studio with the Afrocelts. Then off to Toronto and Milwaukee. The music travels as well; the second cut (the best, in my opinion) Qadukka-l-Mayyas is a Mideast vocal piece with Cook on a Gypsy-like guitar that reminds us that the Gypsies (the Rom) moved from India out to Europe and then to Spain, bringing their violin and guitar music along and changing all music forever.

If you want pure New Flamenco, you won't like this CD, but if you like a mix of sounds and flavors of World Music, this is a fine and interesting album.

Some people have said that this is a real departure for Jesse. I think they haven't been paying attention. He's been going this direction since his first album. Jessi is becoming increasingly fascinated with different music from around the world, and you shouldn't think it's a new trend. Remember, Jessi has been a musician for a long time -- if I recall correctly from when I received his first CD for my radio show, he'd been playing for 15 years at that point! Jessi is NOT a simple musician; he's been around a lot.

Yes, his first CD was guitar melodies first and foremost, and yes, he's gotten into different rhythms, instruments, and ethnic influences since then, but it's not an about-face. You could hear it coming on his second album, and I don't mean "in hindsight" because I noticed it then, not now.

Don't confuse Jessi with some jump-on-the-bandwagon artist trying to imitate the successes of folks who've mixed exotic sounds with cool techno and made it big, or jumped in with "Oh, Riverdance is hot, let me have Liam O'Flinn play the bagpipes on my next album" like some artists. Jessi's not trying to make money off of a fad, and if you're concerned that's what this album is like, don't be. I don't want you to read other reviews and think this is another Deep Forest knock-off with guitar thrown in. This is Jessi Cook sharing his musical interests and talents with us.

I think this album is a testimony to Jessi's broad horizons and diverse influences, and as far as I'm concerned it's a success.

I have waited for this album for some time and am not disappointed. This album has more songs with vocals than previous albums but this does not bother me because the songs are very good and they enhance his guitar mastery.

I also like how Jesse incorporated all the various types of music (Spanish, Egyptian, Afro, Brazilian to name a few) into his brand or style of Flamenco.

This is on par with all of his other albums. Worth the money and worth the wait!

Jesse Cook proves on this album that he is more than just a flamenco guitar player. We have heard how great his guitar work is on previous albums, but now he branches out and creates a World album, layered with great vocals and a variety of musical instruments, on a level beyond his previous works. Why not produce something different? This is probably the best world album I have heard, that is flamenco guitar based. It flows beautifully from track to track, with just enough vocals mixed in to keep it interesting. The Eastern influences, are a real nice touch.

The sound recording is top notch. It sounds so good that one might even say that is a touch over produced. Never the less, it is certainly not one dimensional. The use of Electronica, for background percussion, etc. is nicely blended, and never obvious. I can't wait to see where he goes next! If you enjoy World music, buy this CD. If you just enjoy a great recording to show off your speakers, buy this CD!

This is an interesting new direction for Jesse Cook. Half of the tracks have vocals, which all work quite well. There is a Middle-Eastern flavor to many of the tracks (but not all), which is quite authentic. According to the liner notes, it was recorded in a number of different cities, including Madrid, Egypt, London and Toronto.

His previous albums were all quite similar, though steadily improving in quality and complexity. This album has many of his usual rhythms fused with authentic rhythms from cultures that he hasn't included quite as overtly in previous albums.

Overall, it works very well!

I really loved this CD. I am a big fan of Jesse Cook and though this CD was not like his others, it was a pleasant surprise with all the variety, yet still the charm and talent of Jesse Cook. I was not used to singing on his CDs but I really liked those songs, and of course the flamenco piece at the end was great as well. I don't know how he did it with such a variety of music, but it all seemed to fit together nicely, and I listen to it over and over without getting tired of it. I think it is a nice compliment to all his other work.

and I have a lot of music, everything from Fritz Reiner's Scherezade, to Wes Montgomery's Smokin' at the Half-Note. This music has passion and soul! I can't stop playing it, and I'm not getting tired of it. Quaddukka-l-Mayyas blows me away, even though I can't understand the words (not being an Arabic speaker). Jesse just nails the transition from Prelude to Quaddukka-l-Mayyas's opening phrase, and the song just makes you want to dance. It's got fire and passion! What more can you ask? All of the tracks on this album are worth the price of the CD just on their own. I own all of Jesse's CD's except Montreal. I hope someday he makes it to Vegas so I can see him live. Kudo's to an outstanding musician. I look forward to his next release. I don't know what he can do to top this one!

Others may object to Jesse Cook's evolution from a more technically pure "flamenco" guitarist as exhibited on his earlier offerings. However, I view "Nomad" as a natural progression and refinement of his prodigious talent, evoking the freedom of his adventurous sojourn across the globe in search of musicians and venues he deemed necessary to create his latest musical vision. "Nomad" is woven through with threads of mediterranean and middle eastern cultural influence, all featuring his incredible guitar prowess AND his unselfish sharing of the spotlight with many other great musicians. The resultant melodic tapestry is truly magnificent. The synergistic compositions tug at one's heartstrings with a haunting beauty all too rare in this world. I sincerely enjoy the vocals on several tracks that others have objected to, seemingly not allowing Cook to stretch and grow beyond his previous great accomplishments, instead attempting to enforce these into strictures that would bind his creative vision.

By all means, do buy ALL Cook's previous CDs, and enjoy each thoroughly unto itself. I encourage each of you not to limit your enjoyment of his later music by insisting that the artist be bound by the form and greatness of his previous accomplishments. Allow yourself to fully appreciate the wide spectrum of this great musician's gifts. "Nomad" is truly worthy of your ears and will reward you well beyond an initial listen, as you grow to appreciate the unique, magnificent and progressive music of Jesse Cook.

this is a great album. i especially liked Qadduk-ul-Mayyas for the obvious mediterranean influence. although that was predominant through the whole CD. congrats, jesse!

Well I heard some sample tracks on the radio and decided to buy this CD. Too bad I can't play it on my stereo. The problem is the CD has copy protection and is incompatible with some CD players. As a result I don't think I will buy any more CDs, rather I will just download them for free. Too bad the marketing geniuses strategy just backfired.

Amazon should indicate if a CD is copy protected.
Buyer beware, you may be buying a CD that you can't play