The Piano Tuner traces the life of 'Red Mike’ MacDonald, who for 60 years has visited Cape Breton homes, churches, concert halls and theatre spaces to tune pianos. But why do people still have this acoustic instrument, its 88 hammers, its 230 strings and each with its own tuning key? Love - love for real sound. Red Mike has his own private love and passion and that is for jazz. Archival and present footage presents a glittery underground on the big screen, its classy players with expert execution, the sultry voices. Red Mike has been a major figure in the Cape Breton jazz community from day 1, its rock-solid bass player adored by a devoted illustrious group whose origins stretch back to a Sydney of the 1930's.