James Cook Biography
POLAND: "...James Cook is one of the most exceptional pianists ever to perform in this country..." PROFESSOR BARBARA HESSE-BUKOWSKA: PRESIDENT, FREDERIC CHOPIN SOCIETY OF POLAND
AUSTRIA: "...Both Cook's technique and his style of playing sound much like that of the Russian School. He plays with unusual brilliance and power and much endurance. His performance of Beethoven's Sonata, Op. 111, in particular, was the finest performance of this sonata I have ever heard." PROFESSOR KRASSIMIRA JORDAN: PROFESSOR OF MUSIC, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
RUSSIA: "...great technical skill often overflowing with emotion...performed difficult works effortlessly and with perfection. Cook's Liszt Sonata embodied the grandiose and was filled with philosophical statements..." PROFESSOR IGOR OLOVNIKOV: BYELORUSSIAN STATE ACADEMY OF MUSIC
AUSTRIA: "an artist of great understanding who commanded unbelievable power, brilliant technique, sensitivity and astonishing touch..." BADEN NO
AUSTRIA: "...a pianist of almost inexhaustible strength and masterly energy..." BADENER ZEITUNG
SWITZERLAND: "Cook can do everything with the music, including make the piano sing as if we were listening to Schumann himself...a virtuoso of unexpected strength..." SCHAFFHAUSER NACHRICHTEN
SWITZERLAND: "...a true artist...Cook plays with driving and racing energy...the enthusiastic audience gave the virtuoso a great ovation..." KANTON SCHAFFHAUSEN
SWEDEN: "His playing gave proof of great virtuosity, intensity and musical sincerity...an unforgettable experience for Swedish music lovers." STOCKHOLM MUSIKCENTRUM
MEXICO: "Musical audiences rarely experience such intense drama and excitement...his technique is possibly the most astounding ever heard in this concert hall..." EL EXCELSIOR
TEXAS: "...The Liszt First Concerto contains a good deal of pianistic fireworks and these Cook met with aplomb, reaching fiery pianisms for flickering moments of Lisztian passion..." (HOUSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA) HOUSTON CHRONICLE
SOUTH CAROLINA: "Cook is clearly a formidable artist with his powerful sense of drama and grand romantic style of playing..." THE STATE
MISSOURI: "...a remarkable pianist...Cook displayed a dazzling technique with arpeggios literally cascading across the keyboard..." ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
TEXAS: "...James Cook presents a world-class performance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Sonata...he is one of the finest pianists of his generation..." DR. WILLIAM RACE: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
GEORGIA: "...playing to a capacity audience, Cook completed a strong but sensitive performance of Beethoven's Fourth Concerto, returning repeatedly to applause and cheers and finally a standing ovation..." AUGUSTA CHRONICLE