TONY ENGELHART: ROD COOK IS THE MAN >>>

My father, Little Bill, says that Rod Cook is one of the best guitar players in town. Cook, who rotates with master slide player Billy Stapleton in the Blue Notes, reminds the old man of the legendary Joe Johansen. That being said, I have seen both, and I personally feel that Cook possesses more versatility than Johansen. Sure, Johansen could rip through a blues scale with ease and could even pull jazz licks out of thin air, but he never progressed past his full potential. Cook, who holds standing memberships in both my pop’s band and the Vicci Martinez Band, is a chameleon guitarist who can change his color without missing a beat. Toast is Cook’s own baby and is completely different from anything else he partakes in. He, along with Chris Leighton and Jon Bayless carve out their own unique sound as they take traditional American roots music and combine it with blues, rock, country, jazz, bluegrass, and New Orleans influences.

Tonight, Cook and Toast will play the Spar in Tacoma.

[The Spar, 7 p.m., no cover, 2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma, 253.627.9215]

Photo courtesy of Myspace