Jesse Cook

Noted for his intriguing mix of world music, Latin rhythms, and both funky and smooth jazz, Jesse Cook’s artistic success can be measured by the seven albums he’s released in fifteen years. The guitarist’s wide range of musical tastes evolved from classical and jazz guitar studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston to immersion in the oral traditions of Gypsy guitar, a rhythmic, flamenco-rumba approach heard in the “Gypsy barrios” of France.

Cook’s blend of musical genres appeals to a wide… Show more spectrum of music fans. In 2008 he achieved a historic first by dominating both the smooth jazz radio charts and the Billboard New Age chart, the first with his #3 single “Café Mocha” and the second with his #1 album Frontiers. His collaborations are equally diverse — he has contributed to Afro Celt Sound System’s album Seed, performed with soprano Charlotte Church, and toured with the Chieftains. In 2009 Acoustic Guitar magazine awarded Cook the silver Player’s Choice Award in flamenco, second to his hero, flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia. Like de Lucia, Cook continues to enthrall with his ground-breaking style and irresistible rhythms.

Show less