Richard Bona

Richard Bona is a renowned jazz bassist from Central Africa who started playing music at the age of four. Born into a musical family, he would create his own flutes and guitars out of old motor parts and household items when he was only a child, making it apparent that his affinity for music was more than a mere hobby. After putting together his own band at age 13, he discovered jazz music, fell in love with the electric bass and eventually traveled to Europe to study jazz composition. Bona released his debut solo album, Scenes from My Life, in 1999 while he was living and playing in New York City. He has since continued to spread his African music-flavored jazz fusion around the world with records including 2005's Tiki, and 2009's The Ten Shades of Blues.