Jesse Cook talks musical career

NEWTON — Canadian Jesse Cook has been entertaining audiences for decades with his unique brand of “nuevo flamenco” and now he's bringing that show to the Newton Theatre on Wednesday, March 4.

Getting startedWhile he might be new to the area, he certainly isn't new to music.

"I started so young that I don't really think about it much," he explained. "I had a toy guitar and started lessons at six. There was a year when I was about 13 that I quit studying classical and practicing. I just felt like the pressure was on and I wasn't loving it so I quit after seven years. I started back up about a year later."

His many years of experience translated from someone working in a studio to something more.

“When I was in my 20s I was a studio musician and a composer,” Cook said. “My friends started to say ‘Why don’t you get out on the road or make a CD?’ and I just thought it would be too hard a job because the industry is so fickle. I thought it was better behind the scenes. I made a record when I was about 29 and I didn’t think it was going to go anywhere, just thought it was a pipe dream. Within a week it sold all 1,000 copies that I manufactured. So we did another 2,000 and eventually got offers from record companies with deals in the states.

"They wanted me to go out and tour and asked if I had a live show," Cook continued. "I had none at that point. I got booked for the Catalina Jazz Festival. It was not even a real spot, just at the bar in the middle of intermission and suddenly word spread and when I was playing the bar would be packed and the hallways as well with people to trying to listen. They wouldn’t leave, just kept yelling encore so by the end of first weekend by popular demand I got invited to be part of the all star jam on the big stage. When that happened even before the announcer could get my name out there was a standing ovation. My life was changed and now I do this.”

Airing on PBSThis concert tour is actually also helping to promote a PBS special which features a live concert.

"I've done a few live concert special and PBS has picked up the last couple and started playing them," Cook said. "It's been terrific. I've been touring in the states for years, really since the beginning, and I've just played the same towns over and over. We'd never played in New York City but have played in San Diego for about 20 years. Now we are playing to a much bigger audience. It's been wonderful. It's not pop music so there's not the blanket coverage that other artist would get. The fact that they will play it is great because otherwise there are people that would never hear it."

As for the show at the Newton, audiences can expect a good time and should probably wear good shoes, according to Cook.

"We try to take them on a round the world tour," he said. "We play things from Spain, Latin America, the Middle East. There are pop elements and jazz and all sorts of sounds. Usually people end up dancing so I hope they bring their dancing shoes."

For more information on Jesse Cook check his Facebook page, Musician Jesse Cook. He will be at the Newton Theatre on Wednesday, March 4. Tickets start at $34. The theater is located at 234 Spring Street in Newton. Call 973-383-3700 for ticket information.