Guitar virtuoso Jesse Cook to perform

NEWTON — Guitar virtuoso and Juno Award Winner Jesse Cook will perform at The Newton Theatre on Wednesday, March 4 at 8 p.m.

Considered one of the most influential figures in “nuevo flamenco” music, Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook incorporates elements of flamenco rumba, jazz and world music in his compositions.

Kicking off his career
Cook studied guitar at Toronto’s Eli Kassner Guitar Academy, Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music and Berklee College of Music in Boston.

“In Toronto they were playing some of my songs as the background to their channel that shows the TV guide listings,” said Cook. “Every time they played a piece where I had recorded myself playing guitar the switchboard would light up.”

They didn’t know what to tell people about the composer, so they would give the callers his home phone number.

“I did not have a CD available for the public, so I didn’t know what to tell people,” he said. “But the calls kept coming and it made me reconsider the idea of doing a CD of my own.”

So Cook recorded his first album. He went to a CD manufacturing company thinking he would get 500, but they had a special for ordering 1,000.

“I thought great, what will I do with all of these,” said Cook, who imagined having stacks of CDs in his basement. "Instead the initial 1,000 flew out the door in the first week, and an additional 2,000 by the end of the month.”

It wasn’t long before Cook was getting airtime on Canadian and U.S. radio. He got a call from a record label, who wanted to see him perform.

“I didn’t have a show, so I called some friends and we put one together,” he said. “Our first show was at a restaurant. It was a disaster and no one paid attention.”

For their second show Cook’s mom called all her friends and packed the venue. This is the show that the president of the record company saw and he was amazed at the crowd and their enthusiasm. Cook was signed.

The 1995 Catalina Jazz Festival was a turning point in his career. A month after his debut album, "Tempest," had been independently released in Canada a deal with American company Narada got them booked at the festival. Originally the band was to perform during intermissions in a little bar downstairs from the main stage. His performance was so well appreciated that Cook was invited to perform on the main stage, where he received a 10-minute standing ovation before the audience would allow him to play. Shortly afterwards, "Tempest" entered the American Billboard charts at #14.

Today
That was nearly 20 years ago. Today he is working on his ninth album. He also has three live DVD’s and has traveled the world exploring musical traditions and blending what he discovers into his own works.

In addition to headlining concerts and festivals, he has opened for such legends as B.B. King, Ray Charles and Diana Krall. He performed with Welsh soprano Charlotte Church on The Tonight Show and toured with legendary Irish band, The Chieftains. His music has been featured on several episodes of Sex and The City, The Chris Isaak Show and his music has been in every Olympics since he started composing.

Ask him to describe his musical style and he hesitates.

“That is the big question. I hate labels. I don’t like being part of a genre. I like cross pollinating and breaking the rules,” said Cook. “I like people to go on a journey, to get lost in the music,” he said, “this music is not for everyone, but for the people who do get it, I hope they feel enriched by it. I make the kind of music I would like to hear. In the very broadest term I compose and play world music.”

“For the people who do connect with my music, the connection seems to be very profound,” he concluded.

Tickets cost $44 for premium seating, $39 for orchestra and $34 for balcony. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the box office at 973-383-3700.

The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton.