Interview with Jesse Cook | Jazz
We asked 10 questions to Canadian guitarist, composer, and producer: Jesse Cook!
What was the first and last album (or song) you bought?
First- Queen “News of the World.”
Last (single)- J Balvin “Mi Gente.”
What is the first album you remember listening to from beginning to end, on repeat?
The Beatles “Revolver.” I might have been seven.
What is a musical fad or trend you hope comes back?
Anything where people play actual instruments and sing without auto-tune.
What song do you wish you wrote?
“The Weakness in Me,” by Joan Armatrading.
What was the first song you learned to play?
Sevillanas.
If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose?
Carnegie Hall.
What was the best experience you had while touring through Canada?
Banff, Alberta. It’s crazy beautiful... Rocky Mountains, glacier lakes, elks grazing...
What do you enjoy most about performing live?
I love that moment, waiting side-stage, just before the show starts. It feels a bit like cliff diving. You hope it’s going to go well. But there’s always a small chance you’ll crash, or even drown. That’s what makes it even sweeter when you walk off stage and the audience is on their feet. You survived, you triumphed, and you can’t wait to do it again.
What can fans expect from the concert recordings on Stingray?
I hope people’s passports are up-to-date because I want to take them on a trip around the world. We live in a world which is increasingly divided, and I don’t want to be part of that.
I have always been fascinated by how beautifully music from around the world can harmonize together. Perhaps music has something it can teach us?
What are your top three favorite live recordings of other artists?
“Friday Night in San Francisco,” by Paco De Lucia, Al Di Meola, and John McLaughlin.
“Secret World Tour,” by Peter Gabriel.
“Jazz at Massey Hall,” by the Quintet.
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“Follow the Road” – A rare concert special from the TransCanadian highway.
On June 28th, Festival 4K will allow the fans of Jesse Cook to follow the celebrated guitarist on his 31-city-cross Canada tour. In this rare concert special, Jesse Cook returns to his roots both literally and figuratively speaking. For “Follow the Road”, Jesse taps into his parents’ pedigree by self-directing his fifth concert special. After touring across the globe for over 25 years, Jesse Cook revisits the road that first took him out of Toronto. The result: a 4K concert film from the rare perspective of the artist himself, loaded with captivating music, stunning sceneries and intimate moments.
