​Dr. Cook considers it his privilege to have performed with other equally wonderful musicians including the great trumpeter Vaughn Nark, Mike Crotty and Deater O’Niell, the late, great saxophonist Tim Eyermann (East Coast Offering), the incomparable J.R. Monterose, Vocalist Dr. Darden Purcell (Director for Jazz Studies, George Mason University), Rachel Fleming (yes, THAT Rachel Fleming...), Dallas Smith (bassist and formerly NCOIC, The Army Blues), Bruce Baldwin (Drummer US Army Blues), Roger Rossi (Trumpet, US Army Blues), David Detwiler (Trumpet, US Army Blues), Paul Henry, Bassist for the USAF Airmen of Note,Trombonist Dr. Matt Neiss (Former US Army Blues and Brass Quintet, Professor of Jazz Studies and Director of Jazz and Commercial Music at Shenandoah University and Director of The National Jazz Workshop), saxophonist and arranger Mike Tamaro, Former US Army Blues and Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies, Duquesne University, Pete Barenbregge (woodwind artist and formerly NCOIC of the USAF Airmen of Note), Dr. Tim Powell, woodwind artist and Director of Jazz Studies, University of Maryland College Park, Leigh Pilzer (saxophonist for Diva and National Symphony Pops, Darryl Diva Brenzel (Former Lead Alto and Arranger for the US Army Jazz Ambassadors, Scott Ambush (bassist for Spyro Gyra), bassist CMSGT Glenn Dewey (USMC President's Own, ret. and University of Oklahoma), Jamey Aebersold, Robbie Robertson, Rufus Ried, Keith Kilgo (of Blackbyrds and BET fame), drummer Coco Roussell (Happy the Man), drummer Dr. Sharie Maricle, Educator and founder/drummer for Diva Big Band, bassist Tom Williams, drummer Frank Russo, bassist John Leonard, Grady Tate, New Orleans clarinetist Dorren Ketchens ("Lady Satchmo," "Lady Louis"),  The Frankie Condon Orchestra (pianist and recording credits), Bob James (as strange as that may seem!), Gunther Schuller (as even more strange as that may seem!), Charlie Daniels (as even stranger as THAT may seem), Hank Levy, and the legendary Bill Potts...

 

...and exactly four choruses of the Blues with the great Al Cohn...

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Special mention must be given to Bill.  Bill was a mentor and a friend.  He gave me many opportunities, all of which were undeserved. He recognized things in me that I was unaware of myself and never hesitated to give of his time and his friendship.

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Bill made arrangements (behind the scenes with Dr. Ernest Wolfle, Jr.) to include me as a "novice" Clinician for the Maryland Unit, International Association of Jazz Educators Summer Jazz Consortium. After my "novitiate, I became a regular Clinician, eventually becoming Director of the annual event until my resignation in 2018.

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In the early years, before his declining health forced him to limit his activities, I was privileged to know, and to work with, the incomparable Hank Levy. Hank made his name as a great arranger in Jazz, especially for the Kenton Orchestra, and he single-handedly introduced the use of Asymmetrical Meter ("Odd-meter") into the Jazz Art.

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He was a wonderfully intelligent...yet "folksy"- gentleman, who had a wealth of stories and anecdotes, all of these hilarious. He also had a very amusing and entertaining friendly "rivalry" with Bill...great stories there as well.

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He was kindness personified to me and a true Artist.

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Dr. Cook is the Pianist for the Difficult Run Jazz Band, a "reading" band of extraordinary high-calibre players. The Director is Trumpeter/Trombonist/Bassist/Pianist/Arranger Don Junker. Don is a walking talking living History of the Jazz Art.  Being in this group is what I call "Jazz Grad School'...

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Dr. Cook occasionally performs with the Swingworx Jazz Ensemble in Northern Virginia, an exceptional ensemble of talented players.

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​Dr. Cook accepted Music Directorship of (and Pianist for) the Loudon Jazz Ensemble, a big band established by, and affiliated with, the Loudon County Arts Council.

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It would be inappropriate to state that I played "with" the great Guitarist Barney Kessel. However I played "for" him. He was a Guest Artist and Clinician at Salisbury State College (now Salisbury University). In the course of his clinic, a few of us played for him. Personally, I was terrified.

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He was incredibly kind and supportive. His comments were encouraging, especially considering that we were "callow youths": who had no clue!  What a great player and what a Gentleman!

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It would be equally inappropriate to state that I performed with the incomparable Eubie Blake. However, at a tender age whilst a student at Peabody Conservatory, I performed in a student Jazz Ensemble opening for him. It was dreadful,,,see below!  I was able to meet him and speak with him for a short while. He was gracious, elegant, intelligent, very cosmopolitan, and very kind. The momentous nature of this encounter did not register with me until years later!

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This was the time when "The Sting" was in all the theaters and Scott Joplin's music was all the rage. Gunther Schuller was invited to be guest Conductor of the student Jazz ensemble. A polymath musician, music educator, scholar, and author of the landmark trilogy upon the history of Jazz. He also played French Horn on several tracks of "The Birth of the Cool"  sessions by Miles Davis, and he coined the term "Third Stream Jazz" along with Modern Jazz Quartet Pianist John Lewis. He was President of The New England Conservatory at this time as well.

 

With the help of graduate assistants, he transcribed/arranged Joplin's music (and other comparable literature) to serve as the now-famous iconic soundtrack for "The Sting."  He brought very precise transcriptions of "Ellingtonia" which were extraordinarily complex and difficult...at least for inexperienced 19-20 year-old "wet behind the ears " students!

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Although a genius by any reckoning, Schuller was a thoroughly unpleasant and curmudgeonly individual. Rude, condescending to the point of cruelty, and intolerant of any error, he transformed the show from celebration into misery. Even in my incredibly naïve state, I determined that this man had no business whatsoever standing in front of student musicians.

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In perspective, years later, conversing with the brilliant polymath Composer, Theorist, and Mathematician Tom DeLio (read "Circumscribing the Open Universe" ...wow) about this unpleasant man, he succinctly and bluntly gave this accurate summation: "Oh, he's an asshole!" Well Done, That Man.

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I relate this tale to you as a Parable: regardless of depth and breadth of knowledge or ability, if you cannot communicate and inspire, then you are useless.

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Whilst Director of the Shepherd University Jazz Ensemble, Dr. Cook led the Band on a tour of the UK in 2005.  The photograph below is that iteration of the band. Most have gone one to be professional Musicians with advanced degrees (at least five doctorates and 16 Master's as of this writing), one a serving member of the Clergy, one a Music Director for a Church with over 3000 Parishioners, outstanding Composers, serving members of the Armed Forces and National Guard Bands, one the Librarian for the Cosmos Club (formerly special collections Librarian at Catholic University), superb Instrumental Music Teachers, as well as International teachers in Italy, the PRC and Taiwan, First-Call Nashville Songwriters and Composers, Community Leaders, Performing Artists, and Aesthetes. Four have returned to Shepherd at various times up to and including the present as Adjunct Professors, one as a Full Professor..  I am very proud of these people and equally proud of those who followed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Cook has performed at innumerable venues including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Eisenhower Theater, Millenium Stage, and special events), The National Gallery of Art, The Hirschorn Gallery, The United States Capitol, The Maryland State Capitol, The Virginia State Capitol, The Phillips Collection, The Armand Hammer Auditorium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Baltimore Museum of Art, Strathmore Hall for the Performing Arts, Blues Alley, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, The New State Theater, Bohemian Caverns, HR57, The 9:30 Club (opening for Van Zant and also for Joe Strummer), Charlie Byrd’s, Ethel Ennis’ Supper Club, Cape May Jazz Festival, the Berks Jazz Festival, Vail (CO) Arts Festival, New York’s Roseland Ballroom, innumerable other venues, many college and university events, and countless low dives and upholstered toilets.