Joachim Cooder Revamps Proto-Country Tunes For Electric Thumb Piano

Percussionist and songwriter Joachim Cooder rearranges traditional music made popular by songster and banjo player Uncle Dave Macon in the early 20th century (or so) for the completely unexpected and inventive choice of electric mbira (thumb piano.) These re-composed and re-worked tunes, much-admired by multiple generations of Cooders, get stunning makeovers for his debut record, Over That Road I’m Bound. For this Soundcheck Podcast, Joachim Cooder performs these tunes in new duo versions for mbira and electronics with his dad, Ry Cooder, who plays a guitar-like instrument - all remotely from California. - Caryn Havlik