Toto Bona Lokua

Album Review

If you like vintage Bobby McFerrin, where he layered his voice, sang lovely melodies, and offered a gentle vibe that seemed to delve into both world music and jazz, then this collaboration between Cameroonian Richard Bona (who plays most of the instruments), Lokua Kanza from the Congo, and Gerald Toto — all accomplished artists in their own right — is for you. While there's an occasional African sensibility to the music, as on "Flutes," it's toned down to offer a kind of global experience that can't be pinpointed to any one place. That they're all excellent singers is immediately apparent (listen to the harmonies on "Na Ye" as an example), and the understated arrangements are there to support the vocals rather than stand alone. They give a relaxed blues-lite touch to "Help Me" and sound soulful, but ultimately there's very little that sticks in the memory once the record's finished.