Richard Bona

Bassist and vocalist Richard Bona,  born and raised in Cameroon, arrived in New York in the mid-’90s and wowed crowds with his unique sound and presence. Some even outrageously hinted that Bona was the second coming of Jaco Pastorius. But even though he recorded with the Jaco Pastorius Big Band project, he soon rebuffed the comparisons and showed his own true voice with his impressive 1999 debut, Scenes From My Life. A year earlier he was enlisted to be the musical director for Harry Belafonte’s European tour and in 2002 toured the world as a member of the Pat Metheny Group. His spirited Afro-Cuban group Mandekan Cubano melds together a variety of roots music, from Africa, South America and of course Cuba. Bona’s six-piece band includes two percussionists making this celebration ripple and soar. With numerous awards, performances, and years of expertise, Bona has become one of the most accomplished and sought-after musicians of this generation.