Turku Jazz Festival invites the audience to enjoy the colours of world music as the Cameroonian-born bassist virtuoso Richard Bona brings his new ensemble, featuring Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and American drummer Taylor Gordon, to the Logomo stage.
New York-based Richard Bona (b.1967) is a true multi-instrumentalist but is especially known as one of the greatest bassists in the world. Charismatic songwriter combines his Cameroonian roots to jazz fusion and the result is virtuosic and individual bass solos, catchy melodies and elegant African rhythms. In addition to his mother tongue douala, Bona sings in many different languages. He has collaborated with several well-known musicians and has toured with musicians such as Jaco Pastorius, Harry Belafonte, Pat Metheny and Paul Simon.
Richard Bona met Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez (b.1985) after his mentor, producer Quincy Jones introduced them to each other at the Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland few years ago. Rodriguez’s classical education colours together with the Afro-Cuban tradition and Bona took an interest in the combination as well. The men were inspired by each other’s musical roots and quickly found a musical connection. Their first collaborative pieces are found from Rodriguez’s album Tocororo (2016), which was produced by Quincy Jones.
At Turku Jazz Festival, Richard Bona and Alfredo Rodriguez perform together with American drummer Taylor Gordon (b.1990) known with the stage name The Pocket Queen, whose roots are strongly in R&B music. Grown in New Orleans, currently resident in Los Angeles, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Gordon has made her mark in social media with her drum videos, which are especially popular among other musicians. Despite the young age she has shared the stage with artist such as Robert Glasper, Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder.
Together Bona, Rodriguez and Gordon make a dynamic ensemble, and they are currently working on collaborative studio album. In March, at the Logomo’s Teatro Hall stage the trio presents versatile repertoire of Cameroonian and Cuban rhythms with soulful R&B tones.
TURKU JAZZ FESTIVAL 2020
Richard Bona & Alfredo Rodriguez Featuring The Pocket Queen (CM/CU/US)
Richard Bona – bass, vocals
Alfredo Rodriguez – piano
Taylor Gordon – drums
Fri 6.3.2020 at 22 (doors at 17) Three other acts are announced on 13.12.
Logomo, Teatro Hall
Köydenpunojankatu 14, Turku
Friday tickets available at Lippu.fi
Normal 47 €
Senior citizen 40 €
Students, the unemployed and conscripts 32 €
S-Card 42 € (max 2)
A la Carte 109 € (dinner at 17–19)
Turku Jazz Festival takes place from 5 to 8 of March 2020. The full festival programme is released on 13 December.