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Jesse Cook

Allen Clark, Jesse Cook

Sunday Night Jazz Showcase

Program #186 (October 1 at 8:00 p.m.)

Canadian rhumba flamenco artist Jesse Cook has blended the exotic Spanish music form with elements of new age, jazz, and easy listening on his releases for Narada Records.

Signed to the label in 1994, he produced his debut, Tempest, one year later. Gravity, released in 1996, hit the Top Ten on the new age charts. Vertigo was released two years later, and Free Fall appeared in mid-2000.

In 2003 Nomad came out, followed by the live album Montréal in 2004. Though it was started conceptually in 2005, Cook didn't issue his next studio album, Frontiers, which marked a return to his initial simpler production style, until 2007. The Rumba Foundation followed in 2009.

Cook varied the routine a bit with his next release, 2012's The Blue Guitar Sessions, adding ballads and vocals on some tracks (by singer Emma-Lee) for a more expansive and jazzy midstream pop sound. The guest artist-studded and aptly named One World, which drew inspiration from music of the Middle East, South America, Spain, and beyond, was issued in May 2015.

Continuing to explore a more diverse sonic palette, Cook returned in 2017 with Beyond Borders.

(provided by Allmusic)

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."