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Richard Bona is a jazz musician and bassist, was born in october 28, 1967 in Minta, in eastern Cameroon.

Bona was born 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. At 4 years old, he started to play the balafon. At the age of 5, he began performing at his village church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own instruments: including flutes and guitars (with cords strung over an old motorcycle tank).

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, and in 1980 aged just 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 emigrated to Germany at the age of 22, soon relocating to France, where he furthered his studies in music.

Whilst in France, he regularly played in various jazz clubs, sometimes with players such as Jacques Higelin, Didier Lockwood, Manu Dibango and Salif Keita.

In 1995, Richard left France and established himself in New York, where he still lives and works. There he has had stints with artists like Larry Coryell, Michael and Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, and Steve Gadd.

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 2005 Bona released his fourth album Tiki, which included a collaboration with John Legend on one track, entitled "Please Don't Stop."

He currently holds a professorship of music at New York University and is performing with the Pat Metheny Group.

Discography

1999 : Scenes from my life
2000 : Kaze Ga kureta Melody, Sony
2001 : Reverence, Columbia
2003 : Munia : the tale, Universal Music
2005 : Tiki, Universal Music

External links

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 [[Image:Richard Bona-1.jpg|thumb|300px|Richard Bona]]
-'''Richard Bona''' is a [[jazz]] musician and [[bassist]], was born in [[october 28]], [[1967]] in Minta, in eastern [[Cameroon]], into a family of musicians.
+'''Richard Bona''' is a [[jazz]] musician and [[bassist]], was born in [[october 28]], [[1967]] in [[Minta, Cameroon|Minta]], in eastern [[Cameroon]].
-His grandfather was a singer (''griot'') and percussionist, and his mother was a singer. Therefore, he learned music at a very young age. At 4 years old, he started to play the [[balafon]]. At the age of 5, he was already performing in his village's church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own instruments: including [[flute]]s and [[guitar]]s (with cords strung over an old motorcycle tank).
+Bona was born into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a young age. His grandfather was a singer (''griot'') and [[percussion]]ist, and his mother was a singer. At 4 years old, he started to play the [[balafon]]. At the age of 5, he began performing at his village church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own instruments: including [[flute]]s and [[guitar]]s (with cords strung over an old motorcycle tank).
-His talent was quickly noticed, and he was often invited to perform at festivals and ceremonies. He learned to play the guitar at age 11. In [[1980]], he assembled his first ensemble for a French jazz club in Douala. The owner befriended him and helped him discover jazz music and [[Jaco Pastorius]] in particular. Inspired by Pastorius, Richard Bona switched his focus to the [[electric bass]].
+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, and in [[1980]] aged just 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 emigrated to [[Germany]] at the age of 22, but moved on to [[France]], where he furthered his studies in music.
+Bona emigrated to [[Germany]] at the age of 22, soon relocating to [[France]], where he furthered his studies in music.
-In France, he regularly played in jazz clubs and performed with the likes of [[Jacques Higelin]], [[Didier Lockwood]], [[Manu Dibango]] and [[Salif Keita]].
+Whilst in France, he regularly played in various jazz clubs, sometimes with players such as [[Jacques Higelin]], [[Didier Lockwood]], [[Manu Dibango]] and [[Salif Keita]].
-In [[1995]], Richard left France and established himself in [[New York]]. There still, he works with artists like [[Larry Coryell]], [[Michael Brecker|Michael]] and [[Randy Brecker]] and [[Steve Gadd]].
+In [[1995]], Richard left France and established himself in [[New York]], where he still lives and works. There he has had stints with artists like [[Larry Coryell]], [[Michael Brecker|Michael]] and [[Randy Brecker]], [[Mike Stern]], and [[Steve Gadd]].
-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 well-known American jazz musicians.
+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 [[2005 in music|2005]] Bona released his fourth album ''Tiki'' with a collaboration with [[John Legend]] on the track "''Please Don't Stop.''"
+In [[2005 in music|2005]] Bona released his fourth album ''Tiki'', which included a collaboration with [[John Legend]] on one track, entitled "''Please Don't Stop.''"
-He is currently a professor of music at [[New York University]] and is performing with the [[Pat Metheny Group]]
+He currently holds a professorship of music at [[New York University]] and is performing with the [[Pat Metheny Group]].
 == Discography ==