DAMIAN COOK - Take Five No: 73
Can you tell us about your new album?
“You What” by the Damian Cook Quintet is an album a long time in the making. I left college almost twenty years ago and realised last year with a big birthday approaching that in that time, despite being a busy player on the jazz and wider music scene I had never done anything under my own name. So I decided to bite the bullet and do something! I wrote a set of original tunes and did a gig with my favourite players. The gig went well and was well received so recording the tunes seemed to be the next logical step. The album was recorded in one afternoon completely live in my friend Mark Rose’s studio in London. We didn’t rehearse, the only other time we had played the tunes was on that one gig we did. The tracks are all fairly straight ahead tunes but all stylistically different taking in swing/bebop, hard bop, 50s/60’s inspired tunes, gospel influence, township and funky grooves. I like loads of different stuff which is reflected in my own compositions and the album as a whole.
The album features Dave Boraston (trumpet/flugel), myself (alto sax), Graeme Taylor (piano), Joe Limburn (double bass) and Ted Carrasco (drums). Not only are these all great players but also good mates of mine too.. some of the guys I’ve known for over 20 years. They all are well versed in different styles of music, not just jazz, which is why I have such great respect for them. Also, they are all very funny… we laughed all day during the recording!
What other projects are you currently involved in?
I mainly play at the moment for Si Cranstoun who is a vintage / rock and roll / soul singer. We play all over the UK and Europe too. It’s really fun music to play and we get to play at some really nice festivals and venues. Other than that, I am busy as a freelance player, playing in and depping for all sorts of bands including The James Hunter Six, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, The Brass Junkies, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra and various small group jazz gigs. Whatever I get asked to do really!
“You What” by the Damian Cook Quintet is an album a long time in the making. I left college almost twenty years ago and realised last year with a big birthday approaching that in that time, despite being a busy player on the jazz and wider music scene I had never done anything under my own name. So I decided to bite the bullet and do something! I wrote a set of original tunes and did a gig with my favourite players. The gig went well and was well received so recording the tunes seemed to be the next logical step. The album was recorded in one afternoon completely live in my friend Mark Rose’s studio in London. We didn’t rehearse, the only other time we had played the tunes was on that one gig we did. The tracks are all fairly straight ahead tunes but all stylistically different taking in swing/bebop, hard bop, 50s/60’s inspired tunes, gospel influence, township and funky grooves. I like loads of different stuff which is reflected in my own compositions and the album as a whole.
The album features Dave Boraston (trumpet/flugel), myself (alto sax), Graeme Taylor (piano), Joe Limburn (double bass) and Ted Carrasco (drums). Not only are these all great players but also good mates of mine too.. some of the guys I’ve known for over 20 years. They all are well versed in different styles of music, not just jazz, which is why I have such great respect for them. Also, they are all very funny… we laughed all day during the recording!
What other projects are you currently involved in?
I mainly play at the moment for Si Cranstoun who is a vintage / rock and roll / soul singer. We play all over the UK and Europe too. It’s really fun music to play and we get to play at some really nice festivals and venues. Other than that, I am busy as a freelance player, playing in and depping for all sorts of bands including The James Hunter Six, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, The Brass Junkies, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra and various small group jazz gigs. Whatever I get asked to do really!
Click on the album cover to read our review
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
I am always listening to loads of different stuff not just jazz. But in the jazz world I’m really into all the greats…Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, Phil Woods, Lou Donaldson, Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lester Young, as well as more recent people like Kenny Garrett, Rosario Giuliani, Gilad Atzmon, Nigel Hitchcock, Pete King, Joshua Redman… and that’s just the sax players! The list goes on and on…
The most recent album I bought was “About Time” by Malcolm Strachan. He is the trumpet player for the Haggis Horns who I first met in Leeds when I was a student. He had recently graduated from the college and since then has played for all kinds of people.
What is your all time favourite album and why?
So hard to pick one! If I had to pick one jazz album maybe it would be “Blue Trane” by John Coltrane. It was one of the first jazz albums I ever bought. But there’s so many others!
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
There’s so many great young players out there but Tom Waters is an incredible sax player who I have played with and seen play a few times. He’s still in his teens and sounds amazing already. Not only that but he's already played for some really big names. Definitely one to watch!
Also my good friend Sam Dunn who isn’t exactly new to the scene, he’s been gigging around for ages, but he certainly is worth a listen!
I am always listening to loads of different stuff not just jazz. But in the jazz world I’m really into all the greats…Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, Phil Woods, Lou Donaldson, Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lester Young, as well as more recent people like Kenny Garrett, Rosario Giuliani, Gilad Atzmon, Nigel Hitchcock, Pete King, Joshua Redman… and that’s just the sax players! The list goes on and on…
The most recent album I bought was “About Time” by Malcolm Strachan. He is the trumpet player for the Haggis Horns who I first met in Leeds when I was a student. He had recently graduated from the college and since then has played for all kinds of people.
What is your all time favourite album and why?
So hard to pick one! If I had to pick one jazz album maybe it would be “Blue Trane” by John Coltrane. It was one of the first jazz albums I ever bought. But there’s so many others!
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
There’s so many great young players out there but Tom Waters is an incredible sax player who I have played with and seen play a few times. He’s still in his teens and sounds amazing already. Not only that but he's already played for some really big names. Definitely one to watch!
Also my good friend Sam Dunn who isn’t exactly new to the scene, he’s been gigging around for ages, but he certainly is worth a listen!
