(Translated from my original Italian text by ChatGPT and Piero Scaruffi)

Jesse Cook (born in Paris to Canadian parents) emerged with Tempest (Narada, 1995) as one of the most creative interpreters of flamenco. Cook, a veteran of television and film, attacks the guitar strings with an almost punk spirit, with a violent staccato, with almost neurotic rhythmic fractures, with intoxicating pyrotechnics. The rumba of the title track overflows with energy, Breeze From Saintes Maries exudes gypsy epic spirit, Parasol indulges in Caribbean beach ecstasies. Cook is not even ashamed to add a touch of hip-hop to Orbit and a strong dose of Cajun to Jumpstart. Setting aside the electronic devices, Cook also delivers a display of dizzying virtuosity with Dance Of Spring. A masterpiece of his unstoppable vitality is the tumultuous futurist charge of Baghdad.

Gravity (Narada, 1996) was a more sophisticated effort. The energy of the debut is tamed into the melodic grace of Brio, Mario Takes A Walk, Rapture and Gravity, while the slow, romantic tracks aim for a more abstract art amid ethnic evocations (Falling From Grace, Closer to Madness).

Vertigo (Narada, 1998) confirmed his status as the heir to Ottmar Liebert but also revealed his limits as a composer. The album's title aptly describes the swirling frenzy of That's Right, backed by an accordion, but applies only partially to Rattle And Burn and Avocado. Most songs aim for a blend of melody and mood (Cancion Triste) that borders on easy listening.

Moving toward a broader form of world music, Frontiers (2007) contains the hit Cafe Mocha and Matisse the Cat. Guest vocalists embellish the non-instrumental pieces. The Rumba Foundation (E1, 2009) was recorded with a cumbia group from Colombia and yielded another hit, Bogota By Bus.