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Dangerous Cats, live. 
Out now !

Linernotes by Hein Van de Geyn: Jazz, a word describing many things. But surely Jazz is an originally Afro-American music, music that embodies a struggle for freedom, a desire to express emotion, a representation of the physical joy of swinging. It's these elements that can be found in the music of Robert Rook. Robert's music is bubbling with life-force, it's infectiously rhythmic. But even stronger is the creative stream of ideas that push the music way beyond the boundaries of the usual Jazz solo.

Robert is finding a freedom within the structures of the song that takes your breath away.
Long lines, stretched to the extreme; melodic leaps and jumps;
thundering piano chords alternating with gently played melodic
passages. When listening to Robert's playing, you are taken on an
emotional roller coaster: subtle nuances, broad strokes of energy
alternate with swinging straight-ahead playing and delicate chordal
passages.

For this recording Robert surrounded himself with different people. His
old comrades Thomas W. Andersen on bass and Dick Verbeeck on drums are
present on most of the tracks. Feeling all Robert's nuances, following,
supporting, giving ideas, interacting. On track 4 Ernst Glerum is
taking the bass chair and adding a lovely light, melodic touch to
Monk's most famous ballad. Rob Armus joins the trio on tenor sax for
the last three tunes, and suddenly the spectrum changes; the band
sounds more orchestral, the focus of the music shifts in a different
direction. It's fascinating to feel how the magic triangle of the piano
trio becomes wider, different when the quartet format is there. Rob is
throwing ideas around, ideas picked up by Robert who runs with them,
permutates them and throws new ideas back to the saxophone. The bass
and drum create a strong support and allow the energy to flow.
Especially the last tune "Dangerous Cats" is full of stories and
unexpected turns. The tune itself is exemplary for the adventurous
musical world of Robert Rook. A world that touches me, surprises me,
fascinates me. I hope it will do the same to you; enjoy.

Hein Van de Geyn, Dordrecht, June 2005

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