What to Do Tonight: Jesse Cook

Despite his Anglo-sounding moniker, Toronto-based acoustic guitarist Jesse Cook was born in Paris to Canadian parents. Raised in southern France, a young Cook took to the sultry 19th century world-fusion form known as flamenco. Gipsy Kings singer-to-be Nicolas Reyes was a neighbor. Cook expanded his palette in North American music schools, studying and absorbing classical, jazz and assorted Latin styles. Like the blues, flamenco can distill intense longing and angst into euphoric and cathartic experiences. Cook channels these classic sounds with a balance of passion and precision. And he’s no stodgy scholar-type: On his latest album, The Rumba Foundation, he covers Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia,” taking it to new ports of call. He performs at 7 and 9 p.m. at Nighttown (12383 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Hts., 216.795.0550, nighttowncleveland.com). Tickets: $20. — Keresman