Munia: The Tale

by Richard Bona

Overview

Yet another of Harry Belafonte's proteges who later made a big name for himself, Cameroon's Richard Bona takes time out from his ace session bass life to make another remarkably versatile, impeccably polished solo album, Munia: The Tale, his first on Verve. While Bona allows rock, jazz, funk, and Brazilian influences through the window, the melodies and rhythmic patterns are still strongly rooted in West Africa, always permeating the atmosphere. On some of the tracks, Bona needs no help at all to make an impression, layering on his vocals over his bass, guitars, keyboards, and percussion in an exquisitely controlled one-man show. He often does so with the subtle shading and dabs of color of a pianter, like the gentle Moog lines that seep into the background of "Dina Lam." Indeed, "Munia" opens with a cleverly titled a cappella incantation "Bonatology" -- featuring no other voices than those of Bona. And when he gets one of those revolving Afrobeat grooves going -- with irresistible results on "Couscous" -- you wish the track would never end. Yet Bona also doesn't mind playing a supporting role, laying back on bass as Miles Davis alumnus Kenny Garrett offers up some soulful soprano sax on the now-contemplative, now-complex Miles tribute "Painting a Wish." Salif Keita adds his impassioned, keening vocals to "Kalabancoro," and Romero Lubambo's acoustic guitar gives "Bona Petit" (another self-referential title) a lot of its Brazilian flavor. Bona the virtuoso doesn't try to dazzle you with his technique; instead, he seduces you with his music's glossy finish and peacefully insistent rhythms. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	12/02/2022
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031525333
Rank:	122942

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Richard Bona   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocals,Vocoder,Keyboards,Percussion,Piccolo Bass,Moog Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Salif Keita   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Vinnie Colaiuta   Guest Artist,Drums
Romero Lubambo   Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Kenny Garrett   Guest Artist,Sax (Soprano)
George Whitty   Keyboards,Piano
Todd Horton   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Nathaniel Townsley   Drums
Julia Saar   Vocals
Agnes Kervarec   Children's Voices
Caresse Bollanga   Children's Voices
Andrew Lippman   Trombone
Valerie Belinga   Vocals
Magali Kervarec   Children's Voices
Fred Yves Bollanga   Children's Voices
A.T.N.   Piano,Accordion,Keyboards
Chris Young   Guitar (Electric)
George Colligan   Piano
Gilmar Gomes   Percussion
Aaron Heick   Sax (Soprano),Sax (Alto)
Coco Mbassi   Vocals

Technical Credits

Salif Keita   Composer
Richard Bona   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Etienne Stadwijk   Composer
Koudou Athanase   Engineer
John Newcott   Release Coordinator
Maureen Murphy   Release Coordinator
Marie Carette   Artwork
Tom Sheck   Engineer
A.T.N.   Programming
Lucille Reyboz   Photography
Pete Karam   Mixing
Ted Jensen   Mastering