Guitarist

Jesse Cook never planned to become a musician. “If you had asked me at age 22, I would have said that I would never, never make music for the public,” he said. “I would have told you that the public is much too fickle; they may love you one minute and forget you the next. Well, it turns out I did the thing I said I’d never do, and somehow, it’s worked out.”

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Jesse Cook

Lyric Theatre

A career spanning over 25 years has brought this Canadian guitarist multiple accolades including a coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine ‘Player’s Choice Silver Award’, 11 Juno Award nominations, a Gemini Award and, most impressively, ten platinum and gold studio albums.

Moreover, he has sold out concert halls the world over, produced five PBS television specials and five live albums. Not a bad legacy for a guy who never planned to release an album.

Cadogan Hall 

Canadian nuevo-flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook has announced a pair of UK dates for Autumn 2025 at both Manchester’s Stoller Hall and London’s Cadogan Hall after numerous sell out shows across the country last year.

Celebrated for his vast catalogue of intricate and original material, Cook’s concerts resonate deeply with audience members of all backgrounds and age groups. Hesitant when it comes to labelling his eclectic style of music, Cook comments, “I don’t think naming it is important. I think if people are moved by it—if it touches their hearts—that’s what matters most to me.”As amaster of multiple genres: flamenco, world and jazz, Jesse’sunique ability to seamlessly blend these together makes for unforgettable live performances.

The Stoller Hall

In a career spanning three decades, Canadian guitarist-composer Jesse Cook’s honors have included Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s coveted Player’s Choice Silver Award and 11 Juno Award nominations with one win. Introduced to flamenco music as a child, he went on to study at Canada’s Royal Conservatory, Toronto’s York University and Berklee College in Boston. His compositional style –  mixing flamenco with everything from classical and jazz to Zydeco, blues and Brazilian samba – has spawned an international following, with his songs used as soundtracks for newscasts and Olympics routines. He has released over a dozen albums and five PBS television specials.

Jesse Cook: Live in Concert

Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts

“Over the years, I’ve taken my music and tried to cross-pollinate it with music from different parts of the world,” explains the 50-year-old global-guitar virtuoso. “For the (2003) album Nomad, I went to Cairo and recorded with musicians there. On my (2009) record The Rumba Foundation, I went to Colombia, and worked with musicians from Cuba as well. On (1998’s) Vertigo, I went down to Lafayette, La., and recorded with Buckwheat Zydeco. For me, the question has always been: Where did you go? Where did you take your guitar?”

Washington Square Plaza

Jesse Cook's musical legacy spans more than 25 years. An accomplished guitarist and producer, he has performed his unique brand of rhythm and rhumba in thousands of concerts around the world, sold more than 2 million albums, and recorded 5 PBS specials. His music videos have garnered more than 25 million views on YouTube and his songs have been streamed more than 400 million times.

Jesse Cook: Live In Concert

Centre In The Square

Massey Hall

“I want to take people to places they haven’t been.” Jesse Cook, Juno winning master guitarist, known for his intoxicating fusion of world music, has travelled the globe looking for sounds that resonate with him. “I like finding common ground for different music traditions, a space where music from around the world can come together,” Cook explains. “A place where modern sounds can mix with ancient timbres.”

Fox Tucson Theatre

A virtuoso guitarist, Jesse Cook is renowned for his captivating fusion of world music, where contemporary melodies blend seamlessly with ancient tones.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Canadian guitar sensation Jesse Cook returns to the McCallum stage. “I want to take people to places they haven’t been.” The JUNO-winning master guitarist, known for his intoxicating fusion of world music, has travelled the globe looking for sounds that resonate with him. “I like finding common ground for different music traditions, a space where music from around the world can come together,” Cook explains, “a place where modern sounds can mix with ancient timbres.”

McCallum Theatre

"If you had asked me at age 22, I would have said that I would never, never make music for the public," Jesse Cook says with a laugh. "I would have told you that the public is much too fickle — they may love you one minute and forget you the next. Well, it turns out I did the thing I said I'd never do, and somehow it's worked out."

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity

Beyond his prolific accomplishments as a beloved Nuevo Flamenco guitarist over the past 25 years, JESSE COOK has honed his skills as a composer, producer, arranger, performer and filmmaker.

Count Basie Center for the Arts

An accomplished guitarist and producer, and equally prolific film maker, Jesse Cook has evolved his talents to create experiences that delight audiences both in concert, and online.

The Music Room

A Juno Award winner and Acoustic Guitar Player’s Choice Award winner in the flamenco category, Jesse’s unique sound blends traditional Spanish flamenco elements with facets of new age, jazz and easy listening.

Angel Central

Founded at The Royal Conservatory in celebration of the sesquicentennial, KUNÉ - Canada's global orchestra - explores and celebrates Canada's cultural diversity through the shared language of music. The 11 musicians hail from all corners of the globe - Peru, Burkina Faso, China, Iran, and beyond. Together, they create a sound that is at once global and uniquely local. KUNÉ fuses 11 musical traditions and 25 instruments into an ear-spinning confection of leaping melodies and luscious timbres.

KUNÉ with special guests Meesha Shafi and Jesse Cook

The Royal Conservatory of Music

Join the ACO Brass Quintet for a virtuoso program that ranges from Steven Sacco’s charming quintet – at turns lyrical and boisterous (ending with a mambo), to excerpts from Gershwin’s groundbreaking and era-defining Porgy and Bess. Opening the concert is a mid-century gem by legendary virtuoso Verne Reynolds.

ACO Chamber Series I

Elliott Museum

Vero Beach Museum of Art

An accomplished guitarist, producer and equally prolific film maker, Jesse Cook has evolved his talents to create experiences that delight audiences both in concert, and online. He composed his first album, Tempest, over 25 years ago. Jesse could not imagine that such a humble recording, in which he played all of the instruments, would spark into such a musical legacy. To date there has been thousands of concerts performed around the world, over 2 million albums sold,5 PBS specials filmed,morethan25 million views on YouTube and over 400 million streams of his songs. His eleventh studio album Libre was chosen 2021 Album of the Year by JazzTrax. Jesse and his extraordinary band are looking forward to returning to the road, bringing The Libre Tour and their unique brand of rhythm and rhumba to audiences across North America and beyond.

Broward Center For The Performing Arts

A career spanning twenty five years has brought this Canadian guitarist multiple accolades including a coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine ‘Player’s Choice Silver Award’, eleven Juno Award nominations (he won for 2001’s ‘Free Fall’), a Gemini Award and, most impressively, ten platinum and gold studio albums. Moreover, he has sold out concert halls the world over, produced five PBS television specials and five live CD’s. Jesse Cook, clearly, has many more years of memorable performances ahead of him. 

King Center for the Performing Arts

He composed his first album, Tempest, over 25 years ago. Jesse could not imagine that such a humble recording, in which he played all of the instruments, would spark into such a musical legacy.  To date, there have been thousands of concerts performed around the world, over 2 million albums sold, 5 PBS specials filmed,  more than 25 million views on YouTube, and over 400 million streams of his songs.

WJCT Public Media

An accomplished guitarist, producer and equally prolific film maker, Jesse Cook has evolved his talents to create experiences that delight audiences both in concert, and online. He composed his first album, Tempest, over 25 years ago. Jesse could not imagine that such a humble recording, in which he played all of the instruments, would spark into such a musical legacy.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

An accomplished guitarist, producer and equally prolific film maker, Jesse Cook has evolved his talents to create experiences that delight audiences both in concert, and online.
He composed his first album, Tempest, over 25 years ago. Jesse could not imagine that such a humble recording, in which he played all of the instruments, would spark into such a musical legacy.  To date there has been thousands of concerts performed around the world, over 2 million albums sold,  5 PBS specials filmed,  more  than 25 million views on YouTube and over 400 million streams of his songs.
His eleventh studio album Libre was chosen 2021 Album  of the Year by JazzTrax.
Jesse and his extraordinary band are looking forward to returning to the road, bringing The Libre Tour and their unique brand of rhythm and rhumba to audiences across North America and beyond.

Jesse Cook: The Libre Tour

Lobero Theatre

Dr. Jesse Cook, Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Central Florida and the Principal Trumpet of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra will provide a masterclass to the students of the Oakland University Trumpet Studio.

Jesse Cook, trumpet guest artist masterclass

Oakland University

As one of the most celebrated instrumentalists on the planet, Jesse Cook has taken ‘nouveau flamenco’ to places it has never been, creating new fascinating hybrids. He and his band return to Rockport for The Libre Tour to delight audiences with their unique brand of rhythm and rhumba.

Shalin Liu Performance Center

Experience an unforgettable evening with the renowned Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This special event is set to take place on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 8:00 pm, promising an enchanting night of music that showcases Cook's extraordinary talent and celebrates his illustrious career spanning over twenty-five years.

Jesse Cook has earned multiple accolades throughout his career, including a coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award, eleven Juno Award nominations with a win for 2001’s "Free Fall," a Gemini Award, and an impressive collection of ten platinum and gold studio albums. His mastery of the guitar and his unique blend of musical styles make his live performances a mesmerizing experience for audiences of all ages.

Ticket pricing for this Mahaiwe Member & Youth Discount Event is as follows:
- Reserved: $29
- Preferred: $39
- Premium: $54
Mahaiwe Members enjoy a $5 discount on Preferred and Premium tickets. Additionally, a special rate of $15 is available for individuals ages 30 and under, which can be accessed by visiting the Box Office or calling 413-528-0100, Wednesday through Saturday, from 12-4pm.

The event will be held at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. This venue is known for its intimate setting and excellent acoustics, making it the perfect location to experience the artistry of Jesse Cook live.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a guitar virtuoso in action, as Jesse Cook brings his passion and unparalleled skill to the stage in what promises to be a memorable night of music and celebration.

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

An accomplished guitarist, producer and equally prolific filmmaker, Jesse Cook has evolved his talents to create experiences that delight audiences both in concert, and online. He composed his first album, Tempest, over 25 years ago. Jesse could not imagine that such a humble recording, in which he played all of the instruments, would spark into such a musical legacy. To date there have been thousands of concerts performed around the world, over 2 million albums sold, 5 PBS specials filmed, more than 25 million views on YouTube and over 400 million streams of his songs. His 11th studio album Libre was chosen as the 2021 Album of the Year by JazzTrax. Jesse and his extraordinary band are looking forward to returning to the road, bringing The Libre Tour and their unique brand of rhythm and rhumba to audiences across North America and beyond. 

Algonquin Theatre

Beyond his prolific accomplishments as a beloved Nuevo Flamenco guitarist over the past 25 years, Jesse Cook has honed his skills as a composer, producer, arranger, performer and filmmaker. By the numbers, Jesse Cook has ten platinum and gold studio albums with combined sales exceeding two million copies, 700 million streams online, five concert DVDs and live discs, five PBS specials, a library of over 300 YouTube videos, a JUNO Award win and 11 nominations, three Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, a Gemini Award, and an Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award to his credit.

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre

An accomplished guitarist, producer and equally prolific filmmaker, Jesse Cook has evolved his talents to create experiences that delight audiences. Join Jesse for his return to Partridge Hall in a night of virtuosic guitar playing and musical influences from around the world.

Guitarist

Jesse Cook

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 28, 2026

Jesse Cook · The Burlington Performing Arts Centre

Apr 29, 2026

Jesse Cook · FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

Past events

Jan 17, 2026

Jesse Cook · The Lyric Theatre

Nov 29, 2025

Jesse Cook · Cadogan Hall

About

Jesse Cook hasn't added a bio