Album Notes

Geoff Cooke graduated from the University of Colorado in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bass Performance and Composition. Some of his educational awards include the Steve Watson Memorial Bass Scholarship while attending CU. Geoff was then awarded the Major Holly Memorial Bass Scholarship for acoustic bass study at The New School in New York City, studying there under two world class bassists, Reggie Workman and Buster Williams. Geoff was then awarded the National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Fellowship to continue studies with Buster Williams in the fall of 1993.
Geoff has backed such artists as Kevin Mahogany and Jack Walrath at the Telluride, Colorado Jazz Celebration resulting in an NPR broadcast on the Branford Marsalis Jazz Set Show. When Geoff relocated to Seattle, WA, he became the bassist for Edmonia Jarrett, a Seattle vocalist and treasure. While with Edmonia they toured Italy for two weeks, playing opera houses, community centers and theatres. Geoff has accompanied Ernestine Anderson at the Concord Jazz Festival as well as playing many private events with Ernestine in the Seattle area. He played with Steve Turre at Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA, played an outdoor concert in Seattle with David “Fathead” Newman, another with Freddy Cole, and accompanied Bobby Hutcherson at “Jazz In The Sangres” in Colorado.
Geoff was invited to perform on Doug Haire’s “Sonarchy Radio” program at the Jack Straw Studio in Seattle, and that live recording became the CD “See You At The Bridge”. This CD features some of Geoff’s compositions (tracks 2-6 and track 8).
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One of the best recent Northwest releases is the Geoff Cooke Quintet’s – “See You At The Bridge”(Consolidated Artist Productions). It has some of the key qualities that keep mainstream jazz alive and fresh – rich exploration within well-worn modes, and great competence, for starters.
The album has something of the classic, 60’s/70’s, Blue Note era assurance in performances that are at once emotionally charged and thoughtful and yet somewhat abstract and even aloof.

By Peter Monaghan
EARSHOT JAZZ

"Upon hearing Geoff's CD, I became thoroughly impressed by the depth and beauty of his work. He is a gifted composer and instrumentalist. Geoff has the ability and talent to make a substantial contribution to our nations wealth of musical literature."

Mike Longo
Former Pianist and Musical Director for Dizzy Gillespie