Chris Cook has played sitar for almost 15 years, learning from sarangi player Surgeet Singh and sitar player Ramesh Chandra. His dawn ragas will be heard during the E17 Art Trail.
As well as learning Indian Classical Music, Cook has performed over 250 concerts of sitar fusion with electronic music, released albums on labels such as Bip Hop and Wrong Music and played live on radio stations such as Resonance and Radio One.
Beyond solo work, Chris performs regularly with other electronic and experimental musicians including cellist Bela Emerson and flautist Katie English, tabla players Hanif Kahn and improvising groups such as London’s Jerico Orchestra.
He was drawn in by the exotic instruments displayed in the music shop windows of Bina & Jas in Southall, West London where he bought his first Sitar. His father’s taste for music with Indian influences like Ravi Shanka and guitarists like John McGlochlan who worked with Indian musicians, would have definitely helped his decision to pick up perhaps the most well known of indian instruments.
Chris has worked as a music workshop leader in London Borough of Newham, the most culturally diverse borough in London. The main client groups are elders in care homes and day centres. This can include Asian music sessions for Subco Elders Day Centre. At Newham College of Further Education, Chris teaches music and music technology to adults within the Additional Learning Needs Department. This work involves regular lesson planning and collating evidence of students’ progress as well as organising public performances.
It is a pleasure to have Chris contribute to the Musical Views exhibition.
Chris on Soundcloud
Chris on Myspace
Chris’s Blog
E17 Art Trail
Chris is performing as part of the Art Trail
Saturday 15th September 2pm, St. Saviour’s Church
Chris Cook plays with Jerico Orchestra inside the church.
Saturday 15th September 4:30pm, Hornbeam Cafe, 458 Hoe St, Walthamstow, E17 9AH
Chris Cook plays with Jerico Orchestra.
Wednesday 5th September & 12th September, 5am-7am, St. Saviour’s Church
Chris Cook plays dawn ragas outside the church.
