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Bona RichardSinger
Date of Birth: 28.10.1967
Country:  Cameroon |
Content:
- Biography of Richard Bona
- Introduction to Jazz and Move to Paris
- Musical Career
- Childhood and Musical Journey
- Move to Paris and Collaboration with Jazz Giants
Biography of Richard Bona
Early Life and Musical BackgroundRichard Bona, the Cameroonian musician, was born and raised in the eastern part of Cameroon. Growing up in a household filled with music, Bona was surrounded by relatives, many of whom were musicians. His grandfather, a singer and storyteller, imparted the first lesson to the young Bona - music should tell a story. Bona's first instrument was a balafon, which he crafted himself from wood he collected in the village. He began performing concerts at the age of five in the church with his mother and sisters. Bona realized that he could easily learn to play anything by simply observing others play. He made most of his instruments, including flutes, drums, and a 12-string guitar.
Introduction to Jazz and Move to Paris
In 1980, a Frenchman opened a jazz club at a local hotel in Bona's village. This man brought 500 jazz albums with him to Cameroon, and Bona listened to all of them, teaching himself how to read and write music. When he came across Jaco Pastorius' album, he was stunned by Pastorius' style of playing. Bona said, "I never even thought about playing bass before, but when I heard this music, I even went to check the speed of the record. I thought it was spinning faster than it should." Naturally, he had to try playing like that too. In the winter, Bona left for Paris, dreaming of becoming a great jazz musician. However, upon stepping off the plane, he realized he was cold and scared. A flight attendant gave him a sweater and advised him not to lose hope. Just two months later, Bona was playing with musicians such as Didier Lockwood, Marc Ducret, Manu Dibango, and Salif Keita. He spent seven years in Paris, devoting himself to learning music. During a visit to Senegal with his band Point Cardinale, he received an invitation to come to New York "for four days that stretched into two weeks." Bona did not speak English, but music spoke for him, and the warm reception from New Yorkers pushed him towards the idea of moving to America. He left in 1995.
Musical Career
Continuously performing in clubs, Bona was discovered by composer Jake Holmes, who wrote for Harry Belafonte. Bona joined Belafonte's group as a musician and director. In late 1998, Richard recorded his first album, "Scenes from My Life," on the Columbia Jazz label (alongside musicians such as Michael Brecker and Omar Hakim). The album showcased his skills not only as a fantastic bassist but also as a brilliant singer and composer. His music ranged from African a cappella singing to symphonic orchestral fragments. His second album, "Reverence," leaned more towards smooth jazz. Currently, Bona is playing in Pat Metheny's group, the Pat Metheny Group.
Childhood and Musical Journey
Richard Bona's native village in eastern Cameroon was filled with music. His grandfather, a singer and storyteller, taught him the first lesson - music should contain narration. When Bona fell ill with cholera as a child, the sounds of the balafon eased his suffering. Bona recovered and became fascinated with the instrument, eventually crafting his own balafon, which he played for twelve hours a day. At the age of five, he publicly sang for the first time in church. By the time he left the village, at eleven years old, Bona had gained a reputation as a multi-instrumentalist, playing the flute, drums, balafon, and guitar. When Bona grew tired of the balafon, he made himself a 12-string guitar using bicycle brake straps as strings. He moved to the city of Douala, where he rented an electric guitar and began playing in local "bikutsi" and "makossa" groups. His life changed in 1980 when a jazz club opened near a local hotel, run by a Frenchman. The club had 500 jazz records, and unlike other clubs that brought young musicians from other African countries, the managers wanted Bona to learn and grow as a musician. He spent his days listening to and learning about music and evenings trying to showcase what he had learned. One of the first albums Bona heard during his education was Jaco Pastorius' 1976 record. This album, especially the song "Portrait of Tracy," changed his life. Ten years later, Bona would find himself playing in orchestras led by Joe Zawinul and Joni Mitchell.
Move to Paris and Collaboration with Jazz Giants
In 1989, Bona moved to Paris, where he worked with local jazz musicians Didier Lockwood and Marc Ducret, as well as African stars like Manu Dibango and Salif Keita. Manu Dibango was already a legend at the time, and Salif Keita was becoming a global sensation. It was a time of the Afro-pop movement, and Bona worked with both of these giants. However, jazz served as the driving force for Bona. Soon, he found his way to one of the world's jazz capitals - New York. In 1995, Bona sought out Joe Zawinul, whom he had briefly worked with in France. Soon, Bona was collaborating with the "Zawinul Syndicate," touring and recording albums with the group. They released two albums together. In 1997, Bona was given a significant mission - becoming the musical director of Harry Belafonte's orchestra. It was during this time that Bona gained more attention from the public. In 1998, Bona started a regular Tuesday night performance at the "Izzy Bar" with his own orchestra. This show, dedicated to Jaco Pastorius, became popular and laid the groundwork for his debut album. In 1999, his album "Scenes from My Life" was released on the Columbia label. Bona sang in the Douala and Banwele languages, telling stories just as his grandfather had taught him. However, his ancestors could hardly have imagined Bona's musical language. In 2001, he released the album "Reverence," a cohesive and refined work inspired by his Christian faith and his journey from a small village to the largest city in the world. Throughout the years, Bona has collaborated with jazz giants such as Mike Stern, Chick Corea, Larry Coryell, Herbie Hancock, and Michael and Randy Brecker. In 2001, he participated in the recording of Pat Metheny and Bob McFerrin's album and later toured with the Pat Metheny Group.
