Richard Bona's latest release Munia: The Tale has been on almost constant play in my CD player for about the last two weeks. I'm only now getting around to writing about because I've just been enjoying it too much to try and put things into words. Much like his last work, the album opens with an acapella invocation and then leads into a joyous Kalabancoro (which also has Salif Keita sitting in on vocals). Actually, the whole CD brims with joie de vivre. Engingilaye is another tune that resonates with sheer exuberance, and Balemba Na Bwemba drives home a strong groove. Bona has been a good (if underrated) bass player for years, and on this album, he finally opens up in the closing track (Playground) to let some of his ability shine through.

Sung almost entirely in his native language of Douala, Bona sings, arranges, composes and plays his way through a melange of world styles (rumba, bossa nova, even a little rock). Not jazz for the hardcode be-bop folk, but high quality jazz nonetheless.