Line up:
Richard Bona – bass / vocals
Alfredo Rodríguez – piano / vocals
Michael Olivera – drums
When Richard Bona and Alfredo Rodríguez last visited Cosmopolite in 2020, they delivered a night many still remember. Now they return – this time as a trio, joined by Michael Olivera on drums. Richard Bona is a Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and vocalist, widely regarded as one of the most distinctive musicians on the international scene over the past decades. With roots in Cameroon and a sound that brings together African traditions, jazz, and modern groove, he has collaborated with artists such as Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, and Quincy Jones. Alfredo Rodríguez is a Grammy-nominated pianist and one of Cuba’s strongest musical voices on the global stage.
After being discovered by Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival, he has performed at some of the world’s most respected venues and festivals, including North Sea Jazz Festival and Jazz in Marciac. His music moves naturally between classical training, Cuban rhythms, and jazz improvisation. On drums is Michael Olivera – one of the most in-demand drummers on today’s scene. Having worked with artists such as Chucho Valdés, Sting, and Tomatito, he brings power, precision, and rhythmic energy to the trio.
Together, they create a musical meeting point where Africa, Cuba, and the jazz tradition merge in real time. Virtuosic without losing warmth, complex without losing flow – carried by three musicians who perform with both authority and joy.
