Contemporary guitarist Jesse Cook has expanded his creative talent to incorporate film making.
Cook, who plays Vanier Hall Friday, Oct. 28, has been in many different music videos and they're usually big productions with a director and production team in place.
This time Cook decided to try his hand at shooting his own video, and his latest, Virtue, is the result.
Cook, who's most recent release, Rumba Foundation, debuted at No. 1 on iTunes Canada, said when people look at an artist's video they believe it completely represents that artist.
"At the end of the day I can kind of connect to it but it doesn't really represent me," said Cook.
"So when I did Virtue I shot part of it where I live in the city and part of it where we have a little house up in the woods north of Toronto. At least it felt like it was me. It was shot in my living room. It was shot in my little recording room and then the video goes out onto the road, which is the other life that I live where I leave my home and go out and just travel and travel and travel.
"It's just more real and I don't know if it will be more compelling for audiences to watch but for me it really felt like it was connected to my life."
Cook's achieved several honours in his career: three-time winner of the Canadian Smooth Jazz award for guitarist of the year and silver in the flamenco category in Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Player's Choice Award 2009 among them.
Cook acknowledges that on the world stage his music is more easily recognizable, having shared the stage with BB King, Ray Charles, Diana Krall and The Chieftains. His music has also been featured on several episodes of Sex in the City and the Chris Isaac Show.
But when he comes to more remote areas of the world, he said it might be a different story.
"I realize I'm a little off the beaten path for anywhere, but when you start going into the smaller communities, there's a very good chance that no one has heard of you," he laughed.
When Rumba Foundation was first released, Cook said they toured all the major cities performing at large venues and when they tour internationally it's a pared-down version with just the band members hitting the road.
"There are many parts of Canada that I haven't been to for which that format would be absolutely perfect and I'm thrilled to get a chance to see this country," he said, about this tour.
Cook began showing an interest in guitar at a very young age, so his mother had a hard time finding anyone to teach him until he hit the ripe age of six.
"I fell in love with guitar and it has been a lifelong friend and companion," said Cook. "When there are periods that I don't get enough time on the guitar I feel really weird and out of sorts and then I get back to the guitar, start playing and immediately I get this flood of emotions and I realize that I just needed to do this thing. Music allows you to express feeling and emotions that you can't through everyday life. Music allows you to tap into things that are not so tangible, that are not so easily put into words and there's a catharsis. I find if you're playing everyday it just keeps you healthy in a certain way and if I'm not getting that outlet then I start to feel strange."
When people think of going to see a guitar player perform, Cook said sometimes they must think it's a classical concert.
"It's probably the farthest thing from that," said Cook. "There's an element of rock and roll without actually playing rock and roll in the sense that the percussionist in our band is an amazing Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon. It honestly sounds like there's about six guys back there."
Included in the band are Nicolas Hernandez, guitar and Chris Church, violin.
"Everyone plays a few different instruments and by the end audiences often end up dancing," said Cook about the show. "We definitely encourage people to not be on their best behaviour."
Tickets are at Studio 2880 or by calling 250-563-2880.
Check out Cook's Facebook page, musician Jesse Cook or www.jessecook.com.
