Ry Cooder & Nick Lowe

Editorial

Ry Cooder is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Rolling Stone have him in their All Time Top 10 and the serious guitar magazines always profile him for their annual, best of lists. Frankly, he deserves all the acclaim the industry can heap on him. Since getting his start in '60s, he's influenced every generation of guitarists that have come through the ranks.

Originally a session musician with the Rolling Stones, Cooder appeared on recording sessions from 1968 and '69, performing on songs like Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers. He's since acquired a huge list of collaborations, his distinctive slide guitar appearing on songs from luminaries like Captain Beefheart, Eric Clapton and Randy Newman.

Aside from his session work, he's also released over two dozen solo albums and collaborations, championing a variety of guitar styles and musical influences - most notably, Cuban music. Cooder is also responsible for putting together the wildly successful Buena Vista Social Club, travelling to the Caribbean country to jam with local musicians before the project took on a life of its own. It's been nearly 30 years since he last graced Australia with his presence, so the current tour is kind of a big deal. His long-time collaborator, Nick Rowe, joins him on stage.
Mikolai, August 2009