Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Richard Bona: Scenes From My Life

Richard Bona: Scenes From My Life

By Paula Edelstein
October 1, 1999
View read count

Bassist/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Richard Bona has debuted SCENES FROM MY LIFE for Columbia Jazz. The Cameroon, Africa native who is widely considered to be one of the world’s top bass players, and rightly so, has performed with such great musicians as Harry Belafonte, Joe Zawinul, Manu Dibango, Billy Cobham, The Brecker Brothers and Salif Keita. Singing in his native language of Douala, Richard Bona blends African music and jazz to reveal his remarkable talents as a vocalist and instrumentalist. He composed all twelve songs about various incidents in his life, the politics of his native country and is joined by such stellar musicians as Omar Hakim on drums, Michael Brecker on tenor sax, Jean-Michel Pilc and Edsel Gomez on piano and Aaron Heick on alto saxophone. Richard Bona has a great voice and by singing in his native language of Douala, one gets the true meaning, rhythmic content and vivid artistry of each and every lyric. Standouts on the CD include the “Te Dikalo,” “Djombwe,” and “One Minute,” which is sung in English and Douala! The string arrangement on “Muna Nyuwe,” is a Bona-fide triumph and as are the rhythmic gems Bona offers. SCENES FROM MY LIFE is a marvelous debut for Richard Bona and represents the brilliance within his consummate artistry. A must have.

Tracks: Dipita; New Bell; Souwedi Na Wengue; Eyala; Djombwe; Te Dikalo; One Minute; Muna Nyuwe; Na Mala Nde; Konda Djanea; Eyando; Messanga

Musicians: Richard Bona-vocals, bass, keyboards, organ, percussion, vocoder, kalimba, guitars; Jean-Michel Pilc-piano; Omar Hakim-drums; Makthar Samba-drums; Alune Faye-sabbar; Frederique Favarel-acoustic & electric guitar; Aaron Heick-alto sax; Stephan Vera-drums; Ari Hoenig-drums; Etienne Stadwijk-keyboards; Jeremy Gaddie-drums; Edsel Gomez-piano; Colette Michaan-flute; Luisito Quintero-percussion; Members of the New York Symphony; Michael Brecker

Personnel

Richard Bona

bass, electric

Album information

Title: Scenes From My Life | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Columbia Records

About Richard Bona

PREVIOUS / NEXT

My Conversation with Gary Peacock
< Previous

Modern Memory
Next >

Richard Bona Concerts

Nov 1 Sun

Richard Bona Quintet

Teatro Albéniz Madrid
Madrid, Spain

Nov 2 Mon

Richard Bona Trio

Blue Note London
London, UK

Nov 2 Mon

Richard Bona Trio

Blue Note London
London, UK

Nov 3 Tue

Richard Bona Trio

Blue Note London
London, UK

Nov 3 Tue

Richard Bona Trio

Blue Note London
London, UK

Mar 26 Fri

Richard Bona

Ram-art SzÍnhÁz
Budapest, Hungary

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.