Joe Fonda

Joe Fonda is a composer, bassist, recording artist, interdisciplinary performer, and producer.

An accomplished international Jazz artist, Fonda has performed with his own ensembles throughout the United States and Europe, and as a side man with Archie Shepp, Ken McIntyre, Lou Donaldson, Bill and Kenny Barron, Leo Smith, Perry Robinson, Dave Douglas, Curtis Fuller, Mark Whitecage, Marion Brown, and Bill Dixon.

Fonda was the bassist with the renowned Anthony Braxton sextet, octet, tentet, from 1984 through 1999. Fonda also sat on the Board of Directors from 1994 to 1999, and was the President from 1997 to 1999 of the newly formed Tri-Centric Foundation. He has also performed with the 38-piece Tri-Centric orchestra under the direction of Anthony Braxton, and was the bassist for the premiere performance of Anthony Braxton’s opera, "Shalla Fears for the Poor," performed at the John Jay Theater in New York, New York, October 1996.

As a composer, Fonda has been the recipient of numerous grants and commissions and has released eight recordings under his own name. (Reviews and recordings available). Fonda was also a member of The Creative Musicians Improvisors Forum directed by Leo Smith, and was the bassist with the American Tap Dance Orchestra in New York City, directed by world renowned tap dancer, Brenda Bufalino.

In 1989, Fonda performed with Fred Ho's Jazz and Peking opera in its world premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. From 1982 to 1986 Fonda was the bassist and dancer with the Sonomama Dance Company. An independent producer since 1978, Fonda is the founding director of Kaleidoscope Arts and interdisciplinary performance ensemble.

Currently Fonda has been recording and touring extensively with the Fonda-Stevens Group. They have released five CDs and have had seven European tours since 1997, with performances at the Bim huis in Amsterdam, Holland, the Prague Jazz Festival, Czech Republic, the Jazz Halo Festival, Belgium, and Jazz Festival Thurinsen, Weimer, Germany.

Three of Fonda’s most recent projects are From the Source, Conference Call and the FAB Trio.

From the Source is a group that incorporates the tap dancing and poetry of Brenda Bufalino and the healing arts of Vicki Dodd, and four jazz musicians. The group has released their first CD entitled, Joe Fonda and From the Source, on Konnex Records.

Conference Call is a quartet, featuring drummers, Han Benik and Matt Wilson, with pianist Michael Stevens, and bass Joe Fonda. Conference Call has released two CDs, one of Soul Note, Final Answer and one on Leo Records Variations on a Master Plan.

Joe Fonda: Joe Fonda & Bass Of Operation

Read "Joe Fonda & Bass Of Operation" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
June 7, 2025

The bassoon is rarely heard in a jazz context, but bassist Joe Fonda got the idea to use the instrument in a free-swinging small group format. He incorporated Michael Rabinowitz, one of the few improvising bassoonists around, into a quartet with two of his long-time collaborators, drummer Harvey Sorgen and reed player Jeff Lederer. Fonda's original idea was for Lederer to play tenor saxophone in the group, but Lederer decided instead to play higher-pitched reeds, clarinet, flute, and piccolo. The ...

Album Review

Joe Fonda: Joe Fonda & Bass Of Operation

Read "Joe Fonda & Bass Of Operation" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
May 25, 2025

Only bassist /composer Joe Fonda--who cut his teeth and honed his humor in the company and camaraderie of such global visionaries as Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Braxton, Barry Altschul, Paul Bley, and Annette Peacock-- can stand defiantly at the epicenter of a free jazz and classical quartet and ease the ensemble through either door with the deceptively sly and boozy opener “Deja Vu for DC." It whirls. It twirls. It is a whole lot of fun and a particularly ...

Album Review

Joe Fonda Quartet: Eyes on the Horizon

Read "Eyes on the Horizon" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro

by Alberto Bazzurro
December 23, 2024

Quattro super-leader, fra cui anche il nostro Tiziano Tononi, per il quale far parte di questo illustre consesso rappresenta un'autentica medaglia, compongono l'organico protagonista di questo notevole album a nome del bassista (nonché, qui ma non solo qui, anche flautista) Joe Fonda, fresco settantenne, una carriera iniziata nei primi anni Ottanta proprio accanto a Wadada Leo Smith, che gli fa l'onore di tornare al suo fianco, e proseguita soprattutto accanto a Anthony Braxton (ma anche a Satoko Fujii, che qui ...

Album Review

Joe Fonda: Eyes On The Horizon

Read "Eyes On The Horizon" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
December 14, 2024

As we enter into the season of giving, what better gift can there be than Eyes on the Horizon, bassist/composer Joe Fonda's sonic tribute to his mentor, muse, and like-minded creator, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith. As if welcoming one to a grand destination, Smith's clear and majestic timbre, supported by Fonda's pronounced bowing, proclaims “Inspiration Opus #1" into consciousness and Eyes on the Horizon sets out on a path all its own. More than just head-solo-head, Fonda employs ...

Album Review

Joe Fonda: Eyes On The Horizon

Read "Eyes On The Horizon" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
November 28, 2024

When a musician who is a legend himself, herein bassist Joe Fonda, creates an album of tribute music to his mentor and teacher, it is rare that that person also performs on the recording. Fonda wrote the seven compositions heard here, with five dedicated to the master musician Wadada Leo Smith. On Eyes on The Horizon, Fonda is joined by pianist Satoko Fujii, drummer Tiziano Tononi and Smith himself. During his career, Fonda has been heard with such ...

Radio & Podcasts

Joe Fonda, Jesper Zeuthen, Jose Lencastre & Rodrigo Amado

by Maurice Hogue
November 11, 2024

Bassist Joe Fonda's new Eyes On The Horizon is a must listen. He turned to musicians he has great familiarity with--pianist Satoko Fujii, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and drummer Tiziano Tononi--to create a tribute to Wadada, his former teacher and mentor. This is uncompromising music. There are several new albums by saxophonists in this edition that should be listened to as well: Danish legend Jesper Zeuthen with fellow Danes percussionist Marilyn Mazur and bassist Anders Christensen, Hugo Costa with William ...

Album Review

Joe Fonda: From The Source

Read "From The Source" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
May 5, 2024

This is a reissue of an album by bassist Joe Fonda which was originally released in 1997. In his liner notes for this edition, Fonda notes that this session had several unique aspects for the time; the musicians included Brenda Bufalino mostly tap dancing, and Vickie Dodd, a healer and bodyworker, contributing wordless vocals. They worked with the four men in the group, Fonda, Anthony Braxton on reeds, Herb Robertson on trumpet and Grisha Alexiev on drums, to create a ...

154

Interview

Bassist Joe Fonda Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
May 19, 2008

Bassist Joe Fonda has nourished so many groups and projects with his unerring time, deep and constant imagination and rich tone that one struggles to imagine a New York jazz scene that doesn't include him. He's played as a sideman with dozens of great, prominent players (including Anthony Braxton, with whom he played in various musical combinations for 15 years) and has led, and still leads, a number of his own groups--none of them less than worth hearing, and most ...
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168

Performance / Tour

Fab Trio Joe Fonda, Barry Altschul, & Billy Bang Sweet Rhythm Fri. & Sat. Feb 8 & 9 Sets @ 8PM 10PM & 12PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
February 8, 2008

F A B Trio Joe Fonda, bass Barry Altschul, drums Billy Bang, violin at Sweet Rhythm 88 Seventh Avenue South (at Bleecker St) New York, NY 10014 (212) 255-3626 Fri. & Sat. Feb 8 & 9 Sets @ 8pm 10pm & Midnight Manhattan-based bassist Joe Fonda assembled this unconventional trio on an uncanny hunch that the combination of sonorities and ...
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181

Performance / Tour

Insell/Fonda Duo "Loft Party" Series Williamsburg Music Center Jan.11, 2008 1 Set: 10 PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
December 25, 2007

Judith Insell - Joe Fonda Duo Viola - Bass A Unique jazz duo that explores the Rich Timbres and Harmonic possibilities of two String instruments, Through Original Compositions and Lesser-Known Jazz Standards. Performing Selections from The Upcoming Debut CD: “Dark wood Explorations" Friday, January 11, 2008 1 set: 10 pm “Loft Party" Series Williamsburg Music Center 369 Bedford Avenue (@ South 5th. Street) Brooklyn, ...
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Performance / Tour

Judith Insell-Joe Fonda Duo the Player's Theater 1st Annual Arts Festival Sunday, December 16th 1 Set: 4PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
December 10, 2007

Judith Insell - Joe Fonda Duo Viola - Bass A unique jazz duo that explores the rich timbres and harmonic possibilities of two string instruments, through original compositions and lesser-known jazz standards. Performing Selections from the upcoming debut CD: Dark wood Explorations Sunday, December 16, 2007 1 Set: 4pm The Player's Theater 1st Annual Arts Festival ...
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Performance / Tour

21 Century Schizoid Music (Mon) Joe Fonda (Tue) Soul of the Blues (Wed) Gnu Vox Vocal Series (Thu) Lily Maase (Fri) This Week at Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
November 26, 2007

CORNELIA STREET CAFE 29 Cornelia Street, NYC 212-989-9319 between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, V, F to West 4th St. This Week At Cornelia Street Cafe Mon Nov 26, 8:30PM 21 CENTURY SCHIZOID MUSIC PRESENTS GENE CAPRIOGLIO Gene Caprioglio with his drone group and Italian wedding band Le Nozze di Carlo Cover $10 http://www.cdroots.com/ndc-1.html Tue Nov ...
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108

Performance / Tour

Judith Insell-Joe Fonda Duo the Player's Theater 1st Annual Arts Festival Sunday, December 16th 1 Set: 4PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
November 20, 2007

Judith Insell - Joe Fonda Duo Viola - Bass

A Unique jazz duo that explores the Rich Timbres and Harmonic possibilities of two String instruments, Through Original Compositions and Lesser-Known Jazz Standards.

Performing Selections from The Upcoming Debut CD: Dark wood Explorations

Sunday, December 16, 2007 1 Set: 4pm

The Player's Theater 1st Annual Arts Festival The Player's Theater 115 MacDougal St, NYC
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107

Performance / Tour

Fab Trio Joe Fonda, Barry Altschul, & Billy Bang Sweet Rhythm Fri. & Sat. Sep 28 -29 Sets @ 8PM 10PM & 12PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
September 18, 2007

F A B Trio Joe Fonda, bass Barry Altschul, drums Billy Bang, violin THEIR NEW YORK CITY DEBUT! at Sweet Rhythm 88 Seventh Avenue South (at Bleecker St) New York, NY 10014 (212) 255-3626 Friday, Sep 28 Sets @ 8pm 10pm & 12pm Saturday, Sep 29 Sets @ 8pm 10pm & 12pm Manhattan-based bassist Joe Fonda assembled this unconventional trio ...
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112

Performance / Tour

Katie Bull/Michael Jefry Stevens/Joe Fonda/Harvey Sorgen/Jeff Lederer Thursday, August 2nd 55bar 7:00 PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
August 1, 2007

105

Performance / Tour

Carlos Morena with Joe Fonda & George Schuller

Source: All About Jazz
October 25, 2005

N E W I M P R O V @ Z E I T G E I S T G A L L E R Y 1353 Cambridge St. Inman Sq. Cambridge, Mass. 02139 617.876.6060 ~ ALL AGES ~ WWW.ZEITGEIST-GALLERY.ORG Thursday, 27 October 2005 7:30-10:00pm $12 or b/o rob chalfen & subconsciouscafe new chamber music presents Italian pianist CARLOS MORENA with JOE FONDA & GEORGE SCHULLER Carlos Morena - piano / Joe Fonda - bass / George Schuller - drums ...
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Performance / Tour

All About Jazz-New York Presents 1s & 2s Featuring KATIE BULL/JOE FONDA (7/7) at Cornelia St. Cafe

Source: All About Jazz
July 6, 2005

THURSDAY JULY 7th, 2005 AllAboutJazz-New York Presents “1s & 2s: Music For Solo & Duo" FEATURING: KATIE BULL (vocals) & JOE FONDA (bass) CD release concert of Cup of Joe, No Bull: The Bull-Fonda Duo (Corn Hill Indie) at Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street Greenwich Village, NY 10014 Tel: 212-989-9319 Fax: 212-243-4207 Web: corneliastreetcafe.com *8:30 and 10pm sets - $12/ (student discount $8) Katie Bull Katie Bull is a jazz vocalist and multi-media performer living in New York City ...
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