When I was younger, much younger, my parents belonged to a concert association. They took us to concerts for years. But the only one I remember was one that featured flamenco music and dancing. You see, one of the dancers lost an earring, and it was a big one, and my brother Dan and I spent the rest of the concert watching that earring get batted about by the women's colourful, flouncy dresses - first this way, then that, coming dangerously close to the edge of the stage many times. We giggled ourselves silly that night, trying hard not to laugh outright and disrupt the crowd in the Trenton High School auditorium. (That's one of the many great memories I have of Dan, whose birthday it would have been today.) But at some time during that concert, the flamenco music found it's way into my being and never left. So I enjoyed the Jesse Cook concert at the Regent Theatre Wednesday night. He and his band offered up their version of nuevo flamenco with its jazz, latin and world music influences. One or both of my feet were tapping at all times and it was a joy to listen to. They use electric guitars and violin but they got the greatest reaction of an acoustic piece that was their second encore, featuring the vocal talents of violinst Chris Church. As for the Regent, it's farther along than it was on opening night but there's still a ways to go. Looking and sounding good though.
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