Born in Cameroon in 1967, the singer, multi-instrumentalist and bass-player Richard Bona is very much in demand as a player of jazz and world-music
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An Early Start
Bona was born in Minta, East Cameroon into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a young age. His grandfather was a singer (griot) and percussionist, and his mother was a singer. By the age of 5 he was playing the balafon, performing at his village church with his handmade musical instruments. 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; by 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 including Jaco Pastorius in particular, whose work inspired Bona to switch his focus to the electric bass.
Bona had the opportunity to emigrate to Germany at the age of 22, soon relocating to France, where he furthered his studies in music.
Soon after his arrival in Paris in 1989 he began playing with his fellow countryman Manu Dibango, Salif Keita from Senegal and the elite of French jazz-musicians like Didler Lockwood and Marc Ducret.
In 1995, Richard Bona left France and established himself in New York, where he still lives and works, where praises for his musical style are being sung from iconic figures like Chaka Kahn and jazz musicians like Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker and Larry Coryell
Career- wise
Richard Bona sings in his own language Douala; his approach to music issimple: Play as often, with as many colleagues and in as many styles as possible.
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."
Discography
1999 : Scenes from my life Columbia Jazz USA
2000 : Kaze Ga kureta Melody, Columbia Jazz USA
2001 : Reverence, Columbia Jazz USA
2003 : Munia: The Tale, Universal Music France
2004 : Toto Bona Lokua, Universal Music France
2005 : Tiki, Universal Music France
2008 : Bona Makes You Sweat - Live, Universal Jazz France
Books