Warren Hill and Jesse Cook
By Sandy Carriger
Staff Writer
 Friday, October 9, 2009 was a
beautiful evening to attend a concert at the Radisson Hotel
Sacramento in the Guzzetta Grove. The comfortably cool night was
perfect for a spectacular performance by two fantastic jazz
musicians from Canada, Warren Hill and Jesse Cook. The Grove, for
those of you who have never attended, is an outdoor seating venue
of folding chairs set among a small grove of trees and shrubs smack
dab in the middle of the hotel grounds. The stage is shielded by a
half dome-shaped tent while colored lights set the ambiance. Huge
speakers are on either side of the stage and the sound equipment
engineer sits with all his controls and dials to stage right.
Refreshments are offered at the bar for purchase, both alcoholic
and non-alcoholic. A few local vendors with booths along the
perimeter pass out samples of assorted wares. Performing artists
sell their recordings and sign autographs after the concert.
Photo: Guzzetta Grove, courtesy photo
 The show opened with
contemporary jazz saxophonist, Warren Hill and his exemplary band;
James Burt (keyboards), Vernon Barbary (bass), Wayne Gerard
(guitar) and Third Richardson (drums). Warren gave an energetic
performance! You could feel the electricity flowing through the
crowd as Warren serenaded us with his mystifying saxophone
renditions. His set included about a dozen selections, including; Toronto,
Come Together, La Dolce Vita, Mambo 2000 ,Still in Love
(a ballad he wrote for his wife) and Play that Funky Music
(a definite audience participation number). Warren engages the
audience with personal anecdotes and humor. He also steps back and
allows his band members to showcase their talents. He is a
professional whose amazing renditions draw the audience in. Warren
is multi-talented. His musical career began at age 7 studying
guitar but later, he decided to play sax to get into the school
band. He also sings, composes and acts. Warren Hill's official
website is: www.warrenhill.com
x.jpg) Jesse Cook began playing guitar at 3
years old! He is considered a flamenco/Latin/jazz guitarist. He
claims his music is eclectic. His music is noticeably a fusion of
Latin rhythms. He has explored various sounds from Cuba to Columbia
and blends them together to create his unique instrumentals. Jesse
has a mild mannered persona. He acts shocked to see the large
audience attendance at his performance. With a talented group of
musicians to support him; Chris Church (violin), Dennis Mohammad
(bass), Nicholas Hernandez (guitar) and Chendy Leon (percussion),
Jesse's performance is superb. His band is amazing and invariably
each is given the spot light. Chendy was the most impressive
playing a vast variety of percussion instruments, but was awesome
on the 'cajon,' which is a Cuban box drum. He is the heartbeat of
the band, setting the rhythm with his magical hands. Cook's set
included several selections from his new CD "The Rumba Foundation;"
Santa Marta, Tuesday's Child, Bogata by Bus, as well as
popular hits Cafe Mocha and Havana plus a rousing get
up and dance Rumba medley. Jesse closes his eyes and he and his
guitar become one as he plays. His fingers fly with lightening
speed across the strings and up and down the neck. Watching him is
a jaw-dropping experience. The official website for Jesse Cook is:
www.jessecook.com or
http://twitter.com/jessecookHQ
Photo: Jesse Cook at the Guzzetta
Grove, photo by Sandy Carriger
Great concert! Hats off to KSSJ Smooth Jazz for booking two
excellent performers. Coming in December, Dave Koz a Smooth Jazz
Christmas with special guests David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brenda
Russell and Peter White on Friday, Dec 18, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Radisson Hotel Sacramento Guzzetta Grand Ballroom, 500 Leisure
Lane, Sacramento, CA 95818 PH: (916) 334-7777, website:
http://kssj.tix.com. Ticket
prices: $49 and $59.
Watch Jesse Cook on U-tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-dUbcYIZio
Jesse Cook Rocks
Border’s Books Read James
Roberts' review of the exciting appearance of Jesse Cook at Borders
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