Sideman
Bonilla supported himself as a session musician, and a sideman with some of the top performers of his time. They include famous jazz musicians such as McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Astrud Gilberto, Willie Colón and Toshiko Akiyoshi. However, Bonilla has demonstrated his versatility as a sideman and studio musician with artists as varied as Tony Bennett, Diana Ross, Marc Anthony, La India and Mary J. Blige. He has drawn inspiration from Lester Bowie, his mentor, with whom he toured. Bonilla calls Bowie his "father away from home", with whom he has learned a great deal.
In 1985 he joined the Gerald Wilson orchestra, with whom he recorded. Pasos Gigantes (1998) reached JAZZIZ's Latin Jazz Recording top ten, and both this effort and Escucha! (2000), were critically praised.
Bonilla moved on to become a bandleader and has recorded albums of his own.
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