This is Jesse at his best. I own all of his CD's, and this is probably my favorite. If you are a guitar player of any style of music, buy this CD-You won't be disappointed. I think every track on this disc is stellar, compositionally and technically, but most importantly, it makes you feel: at first you want to dance, then cry, and sends you to a far off place.
If find this his funnest album yet. If you want a more romantic, softer Jesse Cook album, buy Vertigo.

first let me tell you that I think jesse cook is a great guitarist BUT, and this is important; what's up with all the synthesizers? Using flamenco guitar in poppy kinda songs is a great idea but why does every new flamenco artist want to make his music sound like it's from outher space?

Jesse Cook is a superb player but his compositional skills are not on the same level as his playing.For every striking piece there is a throwaway,but on to the good stuff."Mario takes a walk"is signified by its clever walking chords,but is rather empty on the whole."Closer to madness"is very subdued yet tense,a tightrope walked ever so expertly by Cook."Into the dark"is a quite somber piece."Rapture" may be the keeper of the whole disc.It is very tricky and suave,and Cook shows an incredibly light touch.The "Luna LLena" is excellent for late night chillin'.On the whole the cd is good not great,but here's hoping Jesse Cook fully develops his skills as a composer to match his impeccable guitar playing.

I rate music on three attributes:

1) Skillfullness of the Indivdual players

2) Composition

3) How well the players coordinate.

While my musical tastes are nominally progressive rock (Yes), West coast and some modern jazz and Mozart - I have to give a 5 to Jesses Cook on his prowness on the Spanish Guitar. Also, a 5 on composition. The album backcover describes "Gravity" as World Beat/Jazz/..... I'll give a 4 on how players coordinate. There is no doubt that the other people are there for one sole reason: to back up Jesse - however, there are a couple tracks where he let's the percussionist loose. Even though Cook is a Basque, there are a couple tracks with a distinctive Mid/Near East sound to it.

I think two numbers are "Progressive": "Closer to Madness", and "Olodum". To summarize this album: a very highly skilled Spanish Guitarist is showcasing his music to a reved up instrumental Jazz/light rock accompaniant to produce a very pleasent experience. A couple pieces I depict as Progressive, where he is on the threashold of creating a new type of music.

Why didn't I like this? Maybe it's the modern jazz influence common to Nuevo Flamenco (perhaps that explains the Kenny-G hair). Or perhaps it's Mr. Cook's desire to show us how fast he can play rather than to compose artistic music first and back it up with technical skill second. So portions are indeed energetic and playful, you might say 'cutesy,' and that may be enough for you, but the more I played it the more I felt that it lacked soul and deepth. I liked the Middle Eastern influence but in track 8 the heavy drums choke it out.