Joe Fonda, born Joseph Fonda on December 16, 1954, in Amsterdam, New York, is an American jazz bassist and composer. He initially played guitar before studying bass and composition at the Berklee School of Music from 1973 to 1975. After graduating, he released his debut album Looking for the Lake. In the 1980s, Fonda performed in the New Haven area and was a member of the Sonomama Dance Company. He collaborated with Wadada Leo Smith on Procession of the Great Ancestry (1983) and joined Anthony Braxton's various formations from 1984 to 1999, including the Tri-Centric Orchestra. Fonda co-led the Fonda-Stevens Group with Michael Jefry Stevens. He also formed the Conference Call quartet and collaborated with notable artists such as Archie Shepp, Lou Donaldson, and Dave Douglas. In 2022, he released Ode to O with the OGJB Quartet.
