Cooke Quintet draws inspiration from the creative energy of multi-cultural and diverse music from around the world and from inside and outside the American and European jazz and avant-garde traditions. CQ's approach to acoustic jazz allows for a new freedom of emotional expression. Combining solid grooves with bursts of energy and sound, Cooke Quintet's music reminds a listener of the work of contemporaries such as Ken Vandermark, Ken Simon, or Elliot Levin. The instrumentation of CQ, however, presents a fresh twist on the classic jazz quintet - woodwinds, trombone, cello, koto and percussion can be heard interacting here. Additionally, modern forms for improvisation, such as circle music and pan-rhythmic pulse signatures, are center points for spontaneous inventions. Together, these five musicians collaborate in ways that might best and simply be described as "improvised group music."

The multi-instrumentalist Michael Cooke heads up the group, with his aggressive tenor saxophone style. This two time Emmy and Louis Armstrong Jazz Award winner plays a variety of instruments, you will hear him play soprano, alto & tenor sax, flute, soprano & bass clarinet, bassoon and percussion. Michael started playing jazz in High school where he played for homeless shelters in Atlanta. A cum laude music graduate University of North Texas, Michael has played in Europe, Mexico and all over the United States. Relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, he has been exploring new styles and has been studying Larry Ochs “Radar” composition techniques. Denise Berardini of the San Francisco Beacon describes Michael's “talented sax flowing out color and tone with such feeling I haven’t heard in quite a while. Michael plays with such dimension and flavor, that it sets (his) sound apart from the rest.” Uncompromising, fiery, complex, passionate, and cathartic is how the All Music Guide labeled Michael’s playing on Searching, Statements and The Is.

Michael Cooke, Jen Baker, Shoko Hikage, Alex Kelly, Timothy Orr     CQ

A world-class trombonist Jen Baker's creative identity has no boundaries. She has spread her talents out over many genres of music, including classical symphonic, Renaissance, alternative/hard rock, free jazz/ free improvisation, Gregorian chant, and new music. She is involved in expanding the traditional repertoire and usage of the trombone with particular regard to theatrical solos. She received degrees in music performance from Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin Conservatory, and Mills College. The San Francisco Classical Voice says that Jens concerts are "...performed with brilliant mastery and virtuosity."

Michael Cooke, Jen Baker, Shoko Hikage, Alex Kelly, Timothy Orr     CQ

"Shoko Hikage, koto player extraordinaire will take you through the universe and beyond on her strings of sound. From Cherry Blossoms to John Cage, Shoko's performances will make you hear things you never even dream before." -Lynda Hess, Artbeat. Shoko studied the koto with Chizuga Kimura, 2nd IEMOTO Seiga Adachi, 3rd IEMOTO Seiga Adachi of the Ikuta-ryu Sokyoku Seigen Kai. She graduated from Takasaki College with a major in koto music, and was immediately accepted as a special research student in Sawai Koto School where she subsequently received her masters certificate. Shoko moved to Honolulu to teach at the Sawai Koto Kai Hawaii. There, she held her first American solo recital at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Theater as part of the New Music Across America series. Shoko now lives in San Francisco, where she continues her pursuits in improvisational music and expanding the possibilities of the koto.

Michael Cooke, Jen Baker, Shoko Hikage, Alex Kelly, Timothy Orr     CQ

For over 15 years cellist Alex Kelly has been performing and recording a wide variety of Classical, non-Classical, and World Music styles. He has several graduate degrees in music, including a D.M.A. in cello performance, and was a member of the Wichita and Eugene Symphonies, the New Pickle Circus, and the Hundredth Monkey Ensemble. Alex’s versatility is demonstrated in a variety of styles, which range Renaissance to Romantic, from avant-garde to rock. Alex frequently performs with Baroque cello, and with electric cello (enhanced with loop pedals and laptops). He is a classical musician as well as improviser and a jazz and rock musician. Alex has premiered over one hundred solo and chamber works. His other interests include conducting, electronic music, and ethnomusicology. Currently, he can be heard in performance with Joan Jeanreaud (former cellist of the Kronos Quartet), the Dresher Ensemble, the CKW Trio, and “You Said Saturday.”

Michael Cooke, Jen Baker, Shoko Hikage, Alex Kelly, Timothy Orr     CQ

Timothy Orr, while at Wesleyan University, studied drums with Edward Blackwell who pointed Tim in the direction of acoustic avant-garde music. Incorporating influences from all eras of jazz, rock and improvised music, Tim's sound balances time and tempo playing mixed with the explosive energy from the bop and free jazz eras, the sonic organization of contemporary classical music and the creative blurring freedom of spontaneous composition. Tim has played in a number of zydeco bands on both coasts, and in 2006 contributed to the soundtrack for Nasri Zacharia's film, "The Tale of the Three Mohammeds". Tim has also cultivated a career in the music industry and has held positions at Virgin, TVT, Arkadia Records, Jazz In Flight, the Brubeck Institute, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. He is a journalist for both DRUM! and Traps Magazine, and is the driving force behind CQ.

Michael Cooke, Jen Baker, Shoko Hikage, Alex Kelly, Timothy Orr     CQ

CKW Trio’s approach to acoustic post-modern Jazz allows for a freedom of emotional expression. With solid grooves and explosions of energy and sound, CKW Trio’s music reminds one of the music being played by Ken Vandermark, and John Zorn’s Masada. The instrumentation is similar to Julius Hemphill's trio; woodwinds, cello and percussion. CKW trio plays in a cutting edge jazz style making use of modern forms like circle music and experiments with time and rhythm. They use various non-western scales and sounds as central points for launching into improvisations. This adventure in jazz is created by the unique ideas of the members of the group.

The multi-instrumentalist Michael Cooke heads up the group, with his aggressive tenor saxophone style. This Louis Armstrong Jazz Award winner mainly plays tenor, but you will also hear him play soprano sax, alto sax, flute, bass clarinet, bassoon and percussion. Michael started playing jazz in High school where he played for homeless shelters in Atlanta. A cum laude music graduate University of North Texas, Michael has played in Europe, Mexico and all over the United States. Relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, he is striving to develop his style and has recently started studying Larry Ochs “Radar” composition techniques. Denise Berardini of the San Francisco Beacon describes Michael's “talented sax flowing out color and tone with such feeling I haven’t heard in quite a while. Michael plays with such dimension and flavor, that it sets (his) sound apart from the rest.” Uncompromising, fiery, complex, passionate, and cathartic is how the All Music Guide labeled Michael’s playing on Searching and Statements.

Michael Cooke, Alex Kelly, Andrew Wilshusen     CKW

Cellist and composer Alex Kelly recently completed a D.M.A. in Cello Performance with a secondary area in Composition from the University of Oregon. As a cellist, Alex has performed throughout the United States and Canada for the past ten years. In the past three years, he has premiered almost one hundred solo and mixed chamber works. His versatility is demonstrated in his variety of styles, which range from renaissance to romantic, from avant-garde to pop. He has studied Baroque cello and performance practice and has improvisation experience with acoustic and electric cellos. In the Pacific Northwest he is known for his performances with a variety of ensembles, including the new music ensemble "100th Monkey," a free improvisational group called "The Knotty Ensemble," a tonal improvisational group called "Confluence," and a jazz funk group called "The Freedom Funk Ensemble." In San Francisco he is known for his performances with the “New Pickle Family Circus”, “Iron and the Albatross”, and as co-creator of the “Starr Spectacular”.

Michael Cooke, Alex Kelly, Andrew Wilshusen     CKW

Whether drumming with avant-garde or Coltrane influenced jazz groups such as trumpeter Eddie Gale or recording his own improvisations, Andrew Wilshusen is always seeking to explore the boundaries of music. His keen ears and fluid coordination make him a drummer whose rhythms, which range from minimalist colorations to polyrhythmic tirades, always perfectly compliment his band mates while propelling them to new heights of their own. His drumming has been referred to as heart-felt, communicative, explosive, and highly imaginative.

Michael Cooke, Alex Kelly, Andrew Wilshusen     CKW

CQ’s approach to acoustic modern Jazz is rooted in 60’s and 70’s modal style. This style allows for a freedom of emotional expression. Drawing from the many cultures of the San Francisco Bay area their songs can have an Indian flavor as well as Asian or classical hints. CQ’s Jazz reminds one of the music being played in Oakland and San Francisco in the 70’s by Pharaoh Sanders and McCoy Tyner.

The multi-instrumentalist Michael Cooke heads up CQ, with his aggressive tenor saxophone style. This Louis Armstrong Jazz award winner mainly plays tenor, but you will also hear him play soprano sax, alto sax, flute, and bass clarinet. Michael started playing Jazz in High school where he played for homeless shelters in Atlanta. He studied Jazz with Tony Carere, Dan Haerle and Jim Riggs. A cum laude music graduate University of North Texas, Michael has played in Europe, Mexico and all over the United States. Recently relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, he is striving to develop his style and has recently started studying Larry Ochs "Radar" composition echniques. Denise Berardini of the San Francisco Beacon describes Michael's "talented sax flowing out color and tone with such feeling I haven't heard in quite a while. Michael plays with such dimension and flavor, that it sets (his) sound apart from the rest." Michael is "excited to be playing with such talented musicians", as they work to revive and develop a San Francisco Bay Area jazz sound.

Michael Cooke, Mel Nelson, Alec Lytle, Sameer Gupta, & others     CQ

Pianist Mel Nelson, brings experience to the band. Having played, composed and arranged music professionally for over 15 years in L.A. and Washington DC, Mel solidifies the bands sound. He is a multi-instrumentialist playing bass, piano, flute and sax, but is now focusing on piano. Mel has toured the world as a bass player with major jazz and pop acts. This experieriences helps him to always be able to add the right accompaniment or a burning solo. Mel has developed a unique heart felt sound, full of fire and grace. This sound has influenced the directions QA has taken.

Michael Cooke, Mel Nelson, Alec Lytle, Sameer Gupta, & others     CQ

Alec Lytle's upright bass playing has a classic big sound with a modern style. He and Michael have played together for a few years, which helps this new group have a seasoned sound. Alec has played with Marcus Roberts in San Luis Obispo and studied with many other notable Jazz performers. Hehas also performed all over the United Kingdom with touring groups while living in London and spent time in L.A. and Las Vegas but has returned to the Bay area to work on his musical directions. Alec was a member of the Absolute Quintet and the Pete Chen Trio before becoming a full time member of CQ.

Michael Cooke, Mel Nelson, Alec Lytle, Sameer Gupta, & others     CQ

On drums is young sensation Sameer Gupta. This firecracker provides the energy for the group. A SF Bay area native, Sameer has been playing for 10 years and is a recent music graduate of Santa Clara University. Sameer started his musical studies in Japan and continued local studies with Wally Schnalle and Kevin Carnes. Traveling around the world allowed Sameer to learn many instruments in addition to set drums including vibes, world percussion, guitar, keyboards, and Classical percussion. A veratile player and composer Sameer's knowledge of Jazz, Classical, and World Music has helpd to shape CQ's sound.

Michael Cooke, Mel Nelson, Alec Lytle, Sameer Gupta, & others     CQ