E
NC
RE
O
FL
MUSIC
from the
HEART
Jesse Cook will perform Jan. 29
at the Florence Events Center.
COURTESY PHOTO
Virtuoso guitarist and international favorite, Jesse Cook comes to Florence
W
hile most
don’t get the
chance to
dine in the
cafés of Seville or dance in
the clubs in Havana, you will
experience a sense of that
passionate cultural vibe
through the music of guitarist
Jesse Cook and his band.
Jesse and his group of multitalented
musicians perform at 7 p.m., Jan. 29, at
the Florence Events Center. Only about
100 tickets remain available. He will also
give a pre-concert talk, free to the public,
at 6:15 p.m.
Cook’s music has been featured on
episodes of “Sex and the City,” “The Chris
Isaak Show” and during several Olympic
Games. Though not a jazz artist, per se, he
is firmly entrenched as a jazz fest favorite,
and his comfortable Spanish guitar-meets-
world music formula thrills concertgoers
worldwide. His laid-back style draws the
audience in while his varied musical styles
entertain on many levels.
Born in Paris to photographer John
Cook and TV producer Heather Cook,
young Jesse constantly moved between
Paris, the Arles region of France, and
Barcelona where he picked up an interest
in flamenco music.
Cook proved to be a child protégé,
enrolling in the prestigious Eli Kassner
Guitar Academy in Toronto after his parents
divorced and his mother moved him to
Canada. From there it was on to the Royal
Conservatory of Music, York University,
and Berklee College in Boston. During vis-
its to his father’s, Cook became acquainted
with next-door neighbor Nicholas Reyes,
lead vocalist for the renowned Gypsy Kings
flamenco band.
“When I started as a kid, it was as a
classical guitarist with some flamenco
training,” said Cook in an interview for
Canada’s The Music Express. “I went to
jazz school and learned jazz improvisa-
tion and later turned back to flamenco.
Now what I do now is none of the above.
I have an esoteric taste in music. My
musical style is more of a fusion… I
make music I like to hear, (and audiences
seem to) love it.”
Online reviews for Cook, his music,
and his band are effusive: “His was just
the most amazing concert. Jesse and his
musicians are so talented; they feel their
music and actually brought me to tears
twice!” “Jesse Cook and his band put on
an intimate and amazing performance.
He takes his audience to another level in
his artistry.” “Jesse Cook and his small
band filled (venue) with amazing music.
They had us clapping along to their
infectious rhythm. I had a great time. Go
and see Jesse Cook in concert!”
Following Cook’s concert, Ballet
Fantastique brings the premiere of
Dragon and the Night Queen: Celtic
Stories, on Feb. 20.
Tickets are $30, or $10 for those under
18, and can be purchased at the Florence
Events Center box office, 715 Quince St.;
or by phone at 541-997-1994 or online at
eventscenter.org and SEAcoastEA.org.
J A N U AR Y 2 0 1 6 • A r ts & E nt e rt ai n m en t • C OAST C ENTRAL •
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