Alfredo Rodriguez and Richard Bona

A lifetime of seeing superior piano performances didn't prepare me for this one by Alfredo Rodriguez. It was totally outstanding and mesmerizing in every way. Fortunately, the concert I attended was at a winery converted to a nightclub atmosphere. The performance was stunning, and I am a new follower, big time.

Jazz in unfortunately a dying art, or at least, the appreciation of jazz has really died down. However, with artists like Richard Bona still cranking out the jazz tunes, there is still life in the genre that can be appreciated with all its potential…maybe even catch the attention of more people of my generation. Born into a music family, the West African artist still continues to make the tour rounds to share his musical expression.
As for the crowds that attend his shows, they are varying in so many different ways: age, ethnicity, etc. His live sets include accompaniment from drummer, guitarist and horn player, while he plays bass. His vocals will vary between French and English, both of which are the official languages of his native Cameroon. Like all jazz shows, each live set is extremely unique due to the solos taken during the night. Every solo is infused with an emotion and tone that is particular to that day. He doesn’t speak much, aside from the occasional thank you to the audience, as well as a one-time introduction of his instrumentalists of the night. Most of his songs are slightly funky or very light-hearted, but either way you can’t help but feel your body move along, even if it’s just a tiny head bob.