Richard Bona Band (Late Show)

Bassist, singer and composer from Cameroon, Richard Bona brings his band to Jazz Cafe in London on 16 June 2026. On stage, Bona shapes songs where a melodic, singing bass anchors grooves that move between the rhythms of Minta and the harmonies of modern jazz, with detours through Brazil and the blues. His voice sits above tight ensemble playing, shifting between Douala, French and English, trading lines with keys, guitar and drums. The band leans into layered polyrhythms, quick turns and open sections that invite improvisation and call-and-response.

Across the set, he draws on three decades of writing and touring, from early pieces first heard on Scenes from My Life and Reverence to later chapters like The Ten Shades of Blues, Bonafied and Heritage. Listeners who caught him alongside Joe Zawinul, Pat Metheny, Bobby McFerrin or Lionel Loueke will recognise the same blend of songcraft and interplay. The music centres on groove and melody, connecting jazz, African roots and transatlantic influences in a conversation that feels both nimble and grounded.