- Richard Bona
Infobox musical artist
Name = Richard Bona
Img_capt =
Img_size = 250
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Richard Bona
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1967|10|28
Died =
Origin = flagicon|Cameroon Minta,Cameroon
Instrument = Electric bass,Double bass ,balafon ,vocals ,guitar
Voice_type =
Genre =Jazz
Occupation =Bassist ,Double bass ist,Singer ,multi-instrumentalist ,Composer
Years_active =
Label =Universal Music Columbia Records Sony Records Verve Records GRP Records
Associated_acts =Pat Metheny Group Zawinul Syndicate
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =Richard Bona is a
jazz musician andbassist , was born inOctober 28 ,1967 in the town of Minta, in easternCameroon .Bona was born into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a young age. His grandfather was a singer ("griot") and
percussion ist, and his mother was a singer. At 4 years old, he started to play thebalafon . At the age of 5, he began performing at his village church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own instruments: includingflute s andguitar s (with cords strung over an old motorcycle tank).His talent was quickly noticed, and he was often invited to perform at festivals and ceremonies. Bona began learning to play the guitar at age 11, and in 1980 aged just 13, he assembled his first ensemble for a French jazz club in
Douala . The owner befriended him and helped him discover jazz music and, notably includingJaco Pastorius in particular, whose work inspired Bona to switch his focus to the electric bass.Bona emigrated to
Germany at the age of 22, soon relocating toFrance , where he furthered his studies in music.Whilst in France, he regularly played in various jazz clubs, sometimes with players such as
Manu Dibango ,Salif Keita ,Jacques Higelin andDidier Lockwood .In 1995, Richard left France and established himself in
New York , where he still lives and works. There he has had stints with artists likeLarry Coryell , Michael andRandy Brecker ,Mike Stern , andSteve Gadd .His first album solo, "Scenes of my life", was released in 1999. He has also been prominently featured in
Jaco Pastorius Big Band albums, as well as many other albums by various top-tier jazz musicians.In 2002 Bona went on a world tour with the
Pat Metheny Group .In 2005 Bona released his fourth album "Tiki", which included a collaboration with
John Legend on one track, entitled "Please Don't Stop."He currently holds a professorship of music at
New York University .Discography
* 1999 : "Scenes from my life" Columbia Jazz USA
* 2000 : "Kaze Ga kureta Melody", Columbia Jazz USA
* 2001 : "Reverence", Columbia Jazz USA
* 2003 : "",Universal Music France
* 2004 : "Toto Bona Lokua",No Format Collection
* 2005 : "Tiki",Universal Music France
* 2008 : "Bona Makes You Sweat - Live", Universal Jazz FranceExternal links
* [http://www.bonatology.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.rfimusique.com/siteEn/biographie/biographie_7262.asp Biography by Radiofrance internationale]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.