Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Internationally known guitarist Jesse Cook returns to Mississippi State Jan. 18 for the university's first Lyceum Series performance of 2007.
An award-winning flamenco guitarist from Canada who received ovations for his 2005 campus program, he will be joined by Canadian jazz vocal sensation Sophie Milman for a concert in the university's historic and newly renovated Lee Hall auditorium.
Tickets for the
Known for his intricate artistry, Moorish rhythms and stage charisma, Cook has performed regularly throughout Canada, the U.S. and Asia. His "Live from the Montreal Jazz Festival" appeared on the 2005 Billboard No. 3 New Age chart in its first week of release and remained in the top five from January-August 2005.
Cook won Juno Awards in 1999 and 2001 for best instrumental album and was nominated for another in 2004 for best world music album. Junos are the top honors of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Born in Paris to Canadian parents, he moved to North America with his mother and sister when he was 3-and-a-half years old. His father remained in Europe and Cook's subsequent visits helped introduce him to an array of world musicians, including the band "Gypsy Kings."
"That's when I got hooked on that percussive approach to playing guitar," Cook recalled in summing up the origins of his signature style.
Making her first appearance at MSU, special guest Sophie Milman is a 22-year-old Russian-born jazz singer who has become a household name in Canada. Her recent debut album was named the breakthrough jazz album of the year and remains among the Top 5 best sellers there.
Milman's album also has raced up the U.S. jazz charts and currently holds the second spot on iTunes Top Jazz album downloads, 14 on Billboard/Soundscan Top Traditional Jazz albums and 29 on jazz overall.
A full-time University of Toronto commerce student fluent in four languages, she has appeared on the covers of New York's Forward newspaper, as well as Canada's Voir, Lifestyles and Klublife magazines. She recently was featured in a sold-out show at New York's famed Joe's Pub.
The remaining 2006-07 MSU Lyceum Series will feature presentations of "Jane Eyre" by The Acting Company and the first visit of Canadian Brass, a quintet celebrating its 35th performing season.
Individual reserved Lyceum tickets are available in advance at www.ticketweb.com, or by mailing a check and stamped, self-addressed envelope. The address is: MSU Lyceum Series Individual Tickets, P.O. Box HY, Mississippi State, MS 39762.
General admission tickets for the performance will be available at the door.
For more information on this Lyceum Series program, telephone 662-325-4201 or visit www.msstate.edu/dept/lyceum.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.