Richard Bona

What would you have if you could combine, say, the virtuosic bass playing of Jaco Pastorius, the fluid vocal style of George Benson and the voice/instrument interplay of Joao Gilberto? Something pretty special, obviously. But take it a step further. Suppose all this was filtered through an African cultural consciousness.

Richard Bona Bassist, singer, composer, 32 What he's done: Bona--who was born in East Cameroon--looks to be the first world-class jazz artist to surface from Africa since Hugh Masekela. Immensely gifted, with bass playing reminiscent of Jaco Pastorius, a gift for melody, a sweet singing voice and the capacity to mix African and American rhythms, Bona has performed with Harry Belafonte, the Zawinul Syndicate, Bob James and others.

Richard Bona Bassist, singer, composer, 32 What he's done: Bona--who was born in East Cameroon--looks to be the first world-class jazz artist to surface from Africa since Hugh Masekela. Immensely gifted, with bass playing reminiscent of Jaco Pastorius, a gift for melody, a sweet singing voice and the capacity to mix African and American rhythms, Bona has performed with Harry Belafonte, the Zawinul Syndicate, Bob James and others.

What would you have if you could combine, say, the virtuosic bass playing of Jaco Pastorius, the fluid vocal style of George Benson and the voice/instrument interplay of Joao Gilberto? Something pretty special, obviously. But take it a step further. Suppose all this was filtered through an African cultural consciousness.

The Phil Woods Quintet Alto saxophonist Woods is Charlie Parker's direct musical descendant, one of the true masters of the fiery complexities of roots bebop. Angelique Kidjo Singing with a passionate dedication to the traditions of her native Benin, Kidjo simultaneously reaches out to embrace any music that appeals to her constant creative curiosity.

* * * * JOE ZAWINUL AND THE ZAWINUL SYNDICATE "World Tour 1997" Zebra Nothing enhances a jazz artist's work more than the opportunity to work over an extended period of time with the same musicians. And nothing produces better jazz recordings than live performances by such ensembles. Here's a prime example.

Jazz has so many implicit connections with the many ethnic musics of the world that it's surprising that--aside from the Brazilian and the Afro-Cuban connections--there haven't been more efforts at linkage. One of the few who have been trying is keyboardist Joe Zawinul. And the group he brought to Catalina Bar & Grill Tuesday night at the start of a six-day run brilliantly revealed the possibilities of coupling jazz, African music and--remarkably--contemporary music technology.

Clinton, Mont. Sept. 14-18: Adventurous gourmands are invited to consume that most unorthodox edible: ahem, prairie oysters. The Testicle Festival at Rock Creek Lodge serves up more than 2 tons of bull testicles. There's also plenty of alcohol to wash them down and help you forget what you're eating. There are also bull chip-throwing contests, live musicians and good-humored debauchery. Rock Creek Lodge, 7 Rock Creek Road. Exit 126 on Interstate 90, 22 miles east of Missoula. $15.

Summer has always been a fruitful season for jazz in the Southland. In the last few years, however, Los Angeles has become such fertile territory for the music that the summer has simply become the warm weather segment of a year-round abundance of choices.

Popular music in France has always had more to do with blending and combining than with isolating into specific genres. From the early days, in which the boundaries between cabaret and jazz were constantly circumvented, to the present-day potpourri of world, jazz, pop and dance music streaming out of the Paris studios, there has always been a belief in universality rather than separateness.

Violinist Regina Carter has been receiving a considerable promotional push lately for her encounter with Paganini's legendary Guarneri violin "the Cannon." Her performances with the remarkable instrument have tended to emphasize its unprecedented use by an African American female playing jazz, rather than the quality of the music itself.

Guitarist Pat Metheny has been a legendary road warrior. For a 15-year period in the 1970s and '80s, he spent most of his time on tour, totaling nearly 900,000 miles in his band's travel van. These days, still traveling almost incessantly, he journeys in considerably more luxurious comfort.