Jesse Cook — the multi-Platinum/Gold award-winning and internationally acclaimed producer, composer, and guitarist — has announced his Canadian and U.S. “Tempest II” tour, alongside the release of his new music video for the song “Oran,” and another single, “Updraft” — available now.
The two songs arrive ahead of Jesse Cook’s 11th studio album, Libre. Out Friday, December 3rd via Jesse’s own Coach House label imprint, distributed by Outside Music/Redeye, the 10-track album combines Cook’s iconic Spanish guitar flair with Algerian multi-instrumentalist Fethi Nadjem, modern trap rhythms and 808 beats.
“I wrote and recorded Libre during the pandemic when, like most people, I was longing for freedom,” Cook shares of the new project. “My music was my escape from the four walls that surrounded me, and the storm that was swirling outside.”
The inspiration for Libre came from a long summer-day drive with his 14-year old, Cook reveals. “My daughter entertained me with her favorite playlists, much of which were trap and 808-inspired. I loved them too, and a question was planted in my mind: ‘what would my music sound like mixed with those sounds?’”
He wasn’t short on material to draw from; it’s been more than 25 years since the internationally-lauded virtuoso first stepped onto the scene with his now-iconic release, Tempest. In the time since, he’s come to hold ten Gold and Platinum studio albums with a combined sales of two+ million copies, five concert DVDs and live discs, five PBS specials, and multiple awards — a JUNO win, 11 nominations, three Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, a Gemini, and an Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award.
The digital convergence of the past several years has also resulted in Cook’s music streamed in rather impressive numbers across a series of platforms; by September 2021, his Spotify stats had surpassed 55+ million, and plays on Pandora soaring beyond the 300+ million milestone. YouTube’s universally visual appeal has also grown steadily for Cook’s connection with audiences, with his channel accumulating upwards of 25+ million views since 2010.
“Oran” and “Updraft” are available now. Libre is available December 3rd.
And Jesse Cook’s Tempest II Tour officially kicks off this January.
// Track Listing for Libre
“No. 5”
“HEY!”
“Boom”
“Libre”
“Onward Till Dawn”
“Solace”
“Jaleo”
“Updraft”
“Oran”
“One World, One Voice”
// Tempest II Tour Dates
January 17 – The Port Theatre, Nanaimo, BC
January 19 – Bing Crosby Theatre, Spokane, WA
January 20 – Edmonds Centre For the Arts, Edmonds, WA
January 21 – Aladdin Theatre, Portland, OR
January 22 – Tower Theatre, Bend, OR
January 23 – Criterion Theatre, Medford, OR
January 25 – Pioneer Performing Arts Centre, Reno, NV
January 26 – The Centre for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA
January 27 – World Records, Bakersfield, CA
January 28 – Palace of the Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA
January 29 – Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA
January 30 – California Centre For the Arts, Escondido, CA
February 1 – Del E Webb, Wickenburg, AZ
February 2 – Virginia G Piper Theatre at the Scottsdale Centre for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale, AZ
February 3 – Fox Tucson Theatre, Tucson, AZ
February 4 – National Hispanic Cultural Centre, Albuquerque, NM
February 5 – Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
February 22 – Winspear Centre, Edmonton, AB
February 24 – Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna, BC
February 25 – The Clarke Theatre, Mission, BC
February 26 – The Centre, Vancouver, BC
March 2 – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB
March 3 – Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
March 4 – Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
March 5 – Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
March 30 – Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI
March 31 – Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI
April 2 – South Milwaukee Performing Arts Centre, South Milwaukee, WI
April 3 – The Sheldon, St. Louis, MO
April 6 – Lincoln Theatre, Columbus, OH
April 7 – Music Box, Cleveland, OH
April 8 – Memorial Hall, Cincinnati, OH
April 9 – Walker Theatre, Chattanooga, TN
April 10 – Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, GA
April 11 – Franklin Theatre, Franklin TN
April 14 – Stafford Centre, Houston, TX
April 15 – The Majestic, Dallas, TX
May 11 – Centennial Hall, London, ON
May 12 – Centre in the Square, London, ON
May 13 – Meridian Hall, Toronto, ON
May 14 – The Empire Theatre, Belleville, ON
May 15 – National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON
June 8 – Salle Louis-Frechette at the Grand Theatre de Quebec, Quebec City, QC
