Juno winning master guitarist Jesse Cook is known for his intoxicating fusion of world music and has traveled the globe looking for sounds that resonate with him. “I like finding common ground for different music traditions – a space where music from around the world can come together.”

Jesse Cook is widely considered one of the most influential figures in “nuevo flamenco” music. He incorporates elements of flamenco rumba, jazz and many forms of world music into his work. In addition to being a Juno Award winner, Jesse garnered Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s Player’s Choice Award in the flamenco category and is a three-time winner of the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year. He has recorded on the EMI, E1 Music and Narada labels and has sold over 1.5 million records worldwide.

More About Jesse Cook

Cook started guitar lessons at a young age. “My teacher played flamenco, so that’s what I learned. Then, I’d visit my dad in France and he lived next door to Nicolas Reyes, the singer of the Gipsy Kings. I saw “Gipsy” kids on the corner playing that way too. It was as if the world conspired to get me interested in this style and I was hooked.”

The die was cast when he heard the Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin album, Friday Night in San Francisco. “I was captivated by the sheer virtuosity and freedom, that people could play whatever they wanted, creating in that space between jazz and flamenco.”

Cook also helps foster this spirit of cultural exploration visually through his photography on Instagram as well his popular weekly video releases on his YouTube channel and through Facebook.

The Reviews Are In!

When Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook stepped on the Maison Symphonique stage on Thursday night, there was a brief moment of confusion among audience members: either an imposter had sauntered in or his characteristic wavy long locks had been trimmed. Any and all doubts were quickly erased when Cook’s equally famed fingers began dancing on the strings of his acoustic guitar. It was clear there would be no Samson moment for the 50-year-old. Allen Mcinnis, Montreal Gazette Full Article

From the outset, he was ready to party and encouraged audience members to join him in a rhumba party. And yes, the crowd were ready to clap, dance and participate in sing-along audience participation throughout the show with the band. Global Event Reports Full Article

Jesse Cook Official Website