Now something of a world music veteran, Joachim Cooder began to play drums at the age of five and studied world percussion at California Institute of the Arts. He was just 18 when he travelled to Havana in 1996 to play on the Buena Vista Social Club™ sessions. “He showed he has a real feel for Cuban music,” according to seasoned timbales player Amadito Valdés, who played alongside him in the percussion section. He has since participated in a wide number of other productions, performances and film scores, and has released a number of solo albums.