His resume includes pop names such as
Taylor Swift,
Lizz Wright and
Natasha Bedingfield, but pianist David Cook is primarily a jazz cat. On his album Loyal Returns, at least, that's easy to hear. With a smoothly playing quintet and Ben Wendel (
Kneebody) in a double role of saxophonist and producer, Cook dives deep into contemporary New York post-bop. In the process, rhythms can shoot in all directions
… under complex and sometimes atonal, verging on free jazz, melodies and rousing solos from all members. Cook comes from a musical family and studied at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. An import New Yorker, he is part of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground, a club of independent artists who share a devotion to the historic and contemporary jazz music of this famous neighborhood. That legacy and love also haunts the solid big-city jazz of this spirited quintet. (MR)more
