Joe Bonner

Joe Bonner (April 20, 1948 – November 20, 2014) was a hard bop and modal jazz jazz pianist, influenced by McCoy Tyner and Art Tatum.

He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and studied at Virginia State College, but indicated that he learned more about music from musicians he worked with. In the seventies he played with Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw and Billy Harper, among others.

Discography

Compilation

• Two & One (Steeplechase); with Johnny Dyani (bass)

As sideman

With Richard Davis

• Epistrophy & Now's the Time (Muse, 1972)

With Billy Harper

• Black Saint (Black Saint, 1975)

With Azar Lawrence

• Bridge into the New Age (Prestige, 1974)

With Barbara Paris

• Where Butterflies Play (Perea Productions, 1992)
• P.S. I Love You (Perea Productions, 2000)
• Happy Talk (Perea Productions, 2002)

With Pharoah Sanders

• Black Unity (Impulse!, 1971)
• Live at the East (Impulse!, 1972)
• Village of the Pharoahs (Impulse!, 1973)
• Elevation (Impulse!, 1973)
• Love in Us All (Impulse!, 1972–73)
• Journey to the One (Theresa, 1980)
• Rejoice (Theresa, 1981)

With Woody Shaw

• Love Dance (Muse, 1975)

With Harold Vick

• Don't Look Back (Strata-East, 1974)

With The Visitors

• Motherland (Muse, 1975)

With Stephanie Hancock

• This Happy Madness (DaJazz, 2001)