Results for "Richard Bona"

Richard Bona

Born: October 28, 1967

Born in 1967 in the village of Minta in East Cameroon, Richard Bona grew up in a home filled with music. He began to perform in public at the age of five, singing in the village church with his mother and four sisters. His earliest instruments were wooden flutes and hand percussion. Eventually he constructed his own 12-string acoustic guitar. After moving to the bigger city of Douala, Richard began playing gigs at the age of 11 on a rented electric guitar. A major turning point in his life happened in 1980 when a Frenchman came to his town and established a jazz club in a local hotel. The club owner heard about the young local prodigy and hired him to assemble a band

Sivan Arbel: Oneness is the Hopefullest Number

by Dean Nardi
December 31, 2025

Israeli vocalist and songwriter Sivan Arbel has a unique composition technique, which she calls “squeezing the sponge." It involves absorbing diverse influences and transforming them into her own original and eclectic musical language. Driven by a desire to bring healing and connection through her music, Arbel's December 2024 release on Adhyâropa Records, Oneness, recorded at Kaleidoscope ...

Baku Jazz Festival 2025: Part 1

by Ian Patterson
November 11, 2025

Part 1 | Part 2 Baku Jazz Festival 2025 Various venues 20th Edition Baku, Azerbaijan October 24-31, 2025 For any jazz festival to clock up 20 years is a notable achievement. But in Azerbaijan, where jazz is often met with indifference, this landmark is of particular merit. ...

Jim Watson: Calling You Home

by Neil Duggan
July 3, 2025

Pianist Jim Watson's wide-ranging career has seen him collaborate with an amazing array of artists across the jazz and pop genres, including Manu Katche, Kurt Elling, Sting, Richard Bona, Chrissie Hynde and Meshell Ndegeocello, to name just a few. This versatility bears fruit in both his compositions and choice of covers on his solo album Calling ...

Fusion Experience Quartet at Teatro Comunale in Caserta

by Pietro Previti
April 28, 2025

A Brief Guide To Ukrainian Jazz: Part 2

by Ian Patterson
March 19, 2025

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 The second installment of A Brief Guide To Ukrainian Jazz--a series developed with the cooperation of the Ukrainian Institute--introduces five more highly talented jazz artists/groups from Ukraine. In addition, we profile the jazz festivals and jazz clubs that are keeping ...

Richard Bona: Exploring Roots, Freedom, and Global Sounds

by Steven Roby
January 9, 2025

Richard Bona, the Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist affectionately known as “The African Sting," brings his unparalleled artistry to Yoshi's in Oakland this January. With his Asante Trio--featuring Cuban pianist Jesus Pupo and drummer Ludwig Afonso--Bona promises an Afro-Cuban musical feast. But his Yoshi's performances are only the beginning of an exciting year, packed with a ...

Boarding Pass

By Reginald Policard

Label: Encuentro Music
Released: 2024
Track listing: Encuentro Theme; Sabor Caribeño; Sine; Melancolia; Sa'K Pasé ; Boarding Pass (feat. Sammy Figueroa); Celebration; Sabor Caribeño; Choucoune (feat. Jeff Policard); Toda Fé - (feat Gilmar Gomes, Richard Bona & Angelique Kidjo)

Echoes and Other Songs

By Mike Stern

Label: Mack Avenue Records
Released: 2024
Track listing: Connections; Echoes; Stuff Happens; Space Bar; I Hope So; Where's Leo?; Gospel Song; Crumbles; Curtis; Climate; Could Be.

Mike Stern: The Story Behind Echoes and Other Songs

by Steven Roby
December 13, 2024

Mike Stern's voice carries a mix of warmth and humility as he reflects on his latest album, Echoes and Other Songs. A celebrated figure in the world of jazz fusion, Stern joined the Backstage Bay Area podcast for a candid conversation about his creative process and his stellar lineup of collaborators.From the heartfelt tributes ...