Heritage (Qwest Records)
Richard Bona with Mandekan Cubano
Raleased June 24, 2016
DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l7sA-XvEymv2ueIfQgvFHDzGROUBIcNCQ
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About:
Fans call him ‘The African Sting’, writers call him a pro, but it is his unique and electrifying style of connecting with his audience that makes him what he really is – a true musician. Richard Bona’s seemingly effortless voice, fierce skill on the bass, unique songwriting/arranging expertise and ability to learn just about any instrument simply from watching, position him as a rare African artist to have established an unscalable reputation on an international platform. This has led to a host of awards, along with fruitful collaborations with colleagues such as Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, John Legend and Stevie Wonder. Originally from Cameroon, Bona remains true to his roots on ‘Heritage’, his eighth album as a leader but the first with his Afro-Cuban band Mandekan Cubano. An energetic, life-affirming and truly fantastic album, it explores the alchemy of African rhythms in Cuba. This may seem ambitious, but it sounds as natural and effortless as anything Richard Bona does; together with the Mandekan Cubano (“five A-list veterans of the Latin music scene in New York”, Downbeat), he has carefully crafted a fusion of sounds that merge cultures together via their ability to speak the universal language of music.
Track Listing:
1. Aka Lingala Tè 01:20
2. Bilongo 05:38
3. Matanga 02:55
4. Jokoh Jokoh 05:01
5. Cubaneando 04:05
6. Essèwè Ya Monique 01:59
7. Santa Clara Con Montuno 03:10
8. Ngul Mekon 00:51
9. Muntula Moto 05:02
10. Eva 04:38
11. Kivu 04:30
12. Kwa Singa 01:15
Personnel:
Richard Bona: bass, vocals, guitar, electric sitar, percussion, keyboards
Osmany Paredes: piano
Luisito Quintero: percussion
Rey Alejandre: trombone
Dennis Hernandez: trumpet
Roberto Quintero: percussion
Recorded at Bonayuma Recording Studios, Paris, France
Produced by Richard Bona
Engineer: Daniel Boivin
Mastering: Dave Darlington
Design, Photography: Rebecca Meek
Review:
Bona was born in Cameroon and blessed with perfect pitch, Richard Bona began playing balafon at age 4, quickly moving on to organ, guitar and, at 16, bass, inspired by a Jaco Pastorius record.
He moved to Europe to study music and eventually landed in Paris, where he became a session player for Manu Dibango and Salif Keita. Never content to stay in one place, musically or geographically, he moved to New York and worked with Pat Metheny, Larry Coryell and Steve Gadd. His blend of soul, pop, jazz, folk, Latin and African music make his style hard to pin down, and the sounds of Heritage continue to document his unpredictable creativity.
Wanting to explore the connections between jazz, Cuban and African music, Bona put together Mandekan Cubano with five like-minded compatriots. The result is another outing with the loose feel of an improvised session. Pianist Osmany Paredes is a particular delight, his brief, sharp solos on “Cubaneando,” “Santa Clara Con Montuno” and “Kivu” sparkling with a gem like brilliance.
The playing is energetic, but Bona mixed the tracks to produce a dreamy, trance like state. Mandekan Cubano plays with an understated virtuosity, their laidback grooves carrying you forward with supple, elastic brilliance. The music explores the interlocking rhythms of Cuba and Africa, as well as ensemble pieces that show off the band’s expertise.
j. poet (DownBeat)
