A.j. Cook

The This Is the Blues series from Eagle Records (there are four volumes thus far) features players from the late-'60s/early-'70s golden age of classic British blues-rock covering, for the most part, songs by Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker, all drawn from a series of tribute albums originally produced by Peter Brown. The fact that everything on these volumes was overseen by the same producer means that there’s an unusual unity of sound throughout the series, and listening to these collections feels a bit like listening to concert recordings at some super all-star British blues festival. The lineup is impressive, including the likes of Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Rory Gallagher, Jack Bruce, former members of Foghat (Lonesome Dave Peverett, Rod Price), and Peter Green, who has several of his own songs also covered in the series…

Known for their impeccable and authentic gypsy-jazz playing, The Cook Trio has delighted audiences through-out the U.S. This wonderfully talented group romps through traditional Parisian Waltzes, Jazz Standards and Modern Pieces with style and virtuosity. The sound of these acoustic guitars and bass, invites listeners on a journey to the romantic cafes of Paris and the Gypsy camps where guitar is the language of life. Two guitars and a standup bass are all that’s needed to produce the haunting and beautiful sounds of The Cook Trio. Brothers Ian and Jason Cook along with Kyle Jones demonstrate an artistry that calls back to Django Reinhardt and looks forward to nights in Paris and days in the hot Florida sun. The trio is by turns explosive and serene, and you won’t believe how fast Jason Cook’s fingers can move, or how deeply you’ll be moved.