Born in Santa Monica, Joachim Cooder grew up surrounded by music: his father, legendary guitarist Ry Cooder, took him on the road as a teenage drummer. Joachim has since collaborated with such luminaries as Nick Lowe, Dr. John, Ali Farka Toure, Mavis Staples and Buena Vista Social Club, and in Acapela – accompanied by Nashville violinist Rayna Gellert – he played beautifully crafted acoustic blues-based melodies, with his electric mbira providing the focal point throughout the show.
Cooder’s performance was like a gentle embrace. His tender, expressive voice filling the venue with a quiet, calm intensity, and each song was met with appreciative silence. Songs from new album Dreamer’s Motel featured alongside cuts from 2020’s Over That Road I’m Bound, a tribute to Uncle Dave Macon: known as the grandfather of country music and the Grand Ole Opry’s first genuine star, Macon is widely considered the missing link between pre-1900 American folk and the radio-based music of the early 20th century.
The mbira, a West African musical instrument, effortlessly produced a delightful sustained driving melody and an unequivocal backbeat. Delving further into his back catalogue, Cooder explained the stories behind some of these songs. Throw Me Something Mister was inspired by a family reunion in New Orleans around Mardi Gras, while Sight And Sound is about a loud, speeding car: the song developed out of Cooder’s young son remarking, “that engine made my heart move!” Fuschia Machu Picchu, the title track of a 2018 album, describes cultivating life and beauty in the form of a withering plant after the Cooder family inadvertently bought a house built on a former town municipal dump.
Further between-song anecdotes about his songwriting process, and a general self-deprecating humour endeared Cooder even more to the crowd and created a sense of camaraderie and connection. For those lucky enough to have been in attendance, this was an unforgettable evening that highlighted the enduring appeal of a most respected songwriter and musician.
Joachim Cooder, Acapela, Cardiff, Tue 12 Nov
words COLIN PALMER photos MATTHEW ROWLEY
