Jesse Cook is a Canadian guitarist, composer, and producer who has been active since the 1990s. He is well known for his signature sound which features elements of flamenco, jazz, and world music. His music has been featured in many films and television shows, as well as being used to score numerous video games.
Cook began playing guitar at age 11 after being inspired by his father, who was a jazz guitarist. He started playing gigs in his teenage years and eventually earned a degree in music from York University in Toronto. After graduating, he began to experiment with various styles of music and soon discovered flamenco, which became an important element of his sound.
In 1995, Cook released his debut album, Tempest, which was a mix of flamenco, jazz, and world music. The album was a huge success and was certified gold in Canada. His second album, Gravity, was released in 1998 and featured a more rock-influenced sound. His third album, Free Fall, was released in 2001 and featured a blend of jazz, world music, and flamenco.
In 2002, Cook released his fourth album, Nomad, which was a more electronic-oriented album. His fifth album, Vertigo, was released in 2004 and featured a mix of jazz, flamenco, and world music. Cook's sixth album, The Rumba Foundation, was released in 2007 and was his most ambitious album to date.
In 2008, Cook released his seventh album, Frontiers. The album featured a mix of jazz, flamenco, and world music, and reached #4 on the Canadian Albums chart. Cook's eighth album, One World, was released in 2012 and featured a mix of jazz, flamenco, and world music. Cook's ninth album, Beyond Borders, was released in 2016 and featured a mix of jazz, flamenco, and world music.
Jesse Cook has become an iconic figure in the Canadian music scene. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Juno Award for Best Instrumental Album in 2002 and a Juno Award for Producer of the Year in 2004. His music has been featured in numerous films and television shows, as well as being used to score numerous video games. Cook has also released a series of instructional DVDs, which provide an in-depth look at his unique style of playing.
