Jesse Cook - Montreal: Live
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Free Music Notes for Montreal: Live
Free Music Review: Genius
Hit: 5 Stars
I've seen Jesse Cook in concert 4 times (so far), and have all his CD's.
Having said that, Montreal is a special CD. Get for a first timer to start with : )
Free Music Review: Great music
Hit: 5 Stars
I really enjoy Jesse Cook. It is not pure genre, but I like the eclectic feel.Free Music Review: Jesse Cook
Hit: 5 Stars
Jesse Cook is fantastic. I have all his CD's. Wish he had more than one DVD.Free Music Review: It's close but not quite there
Hit: 4 Stars
In general I like live recordings and I certainly like Jesse Cook. Good performers and good audiences create great performances. For an example of this synergy, try the bonus video tracks of "Mario Takes A Walk" and "Rattle And Burn" on Jesse Cook's "Free Fall". The energy in these performances is, literally, hair-raising.
In "Montreal: Live" the audience is clearly ready to help the performers, much of the band's work is impressive, and Jesse Cook's playing is technically superlative but... The overall feel is Jesse Cook and the band are basically going through the numbers, albeit with some gusto. There are some flashes of fire in the violin and percussion on occasion but nothing that's sustained. It isn't until "Dance of Spring" (track 11 of 13 tracks) that the playing really catches fire despite the obvious energy from the crowd all through the show. "Baghdad" continues the feel started in "Dance of Spring" although the intro lets some of the steam out before it's restored. Then comes "Fall at Your Feet". Placed elsewhere into the performance it would have been acceptable. It's not an encore number and it's not a big closer - it's just plain in the wrong place in the set.
If you do not know Jesse Cook's work, try "Free Fall" or "Gravity" first. If you like his work, buy "Montreal: Live" but don't expect a stunning performance. It's close but not quite there.
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Technical asides: Live albums and crowd noise first. Drunks yelling "play bleepin' 'Freebird', man" in the middle of an inspired acapella rendition of "Seven Bridges Road" should be strung up by the neck and left dangling, as an example for other would-be fools. But an auduence that's into the performance and is with the performers becomes an integral part of the performance and not just a flaw to be ignored. I can think of live albums where audience sounds are all but lost and the result is more like an odd studio album without the immediacy of the audience keeping time or cheering brilliant playing.
Jesse Cook's runs in "Montreal: Live" are, as best I can tell, backed by the percussion section and not solely the result of pickup noise or overloading. Where he's playing on the fingerboard, the notes, on even the best of guitars, simply lack the ring of lower registers. In a lesser player, the runs might seem flawed but I'm confident that what's played is played by choice.
Free Music Review: A Decent Capture of a Live Performance
Hit: 4 Stars
If you like live recordings, this is a very good one for the most part. For me personally, I don't enjoy the sound of yelling and applause when I listen to music at home or in my car. It is just not the same as being there (DVDs do a much better job of preserving a live performance's excitement). I admire Jesse Cook's guitar work and writing ability very much, especially his first four CDs. He is my favorite guitar player, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for him.
I saw him perform live very shortly after this recording was made but with a much smaller and more modest version of the band (Art Avalos, Kevin LaLiberte , Chris Church, and a female vocalist who's name escapes me). It was one of the very best concert experiences I have had. This recording at times lacks that intimacy that I remember. But for the most part, it captures the feeling and beauty of the music as I recall it performed live. Of course Jesse's guitar work is exceptional and the band is always terrific.
I did not understand the necessity of adding Danny Wilde's vocals later for "Fall at Your Feet", and personally I found it distracting knowing it was done that way. When I saw them perform this song live, they performed it without any electronic amplification. Chris Church and the very talented female vocalist (not Maryem Tollar as on this recording) did an outstanding job of singing and the feeling was beautiful, intimate and real. Nevertheless, it sounds beautiful on this recording. I cannot say enough about Chris Church's beautiful violin playing, he truly is a wonderful and inspired musician.
The only other pet peeve I have about this recording is when Jesse gets going very fast in those blazing parts of the solos; the pickup on the guitar that he uses for live performance just does not handle it too well! The tonality becomes drowned out by the percussive sound of the striking of the strings. I noticed this when I saw him live and thought it was a shame. Does Jesse mean for this to be the case?? Otherwise, his playing is outstanding and full of emotion. At times I have to just stop what I am doing and listen.
All in all, I feel that if you are a Jesse Cook fan, this CD is a must for your collection. If you have never heard his music before, buy Tempest, Gravity, Vertigo, or Free Fall first.