“Bria radiates an energy that is so refreshing to see, and her compositional chops are on par with her ability to swing!” – Bucky Pizzarell, legendary jazz guitarist
“Bria Skonberg looks like a Scandinavian angel (or Thor’s girlfriend), plays trumpet like a red hot devil, and sings like a dream. Her new album, “So Is the Day” reveals that she’s also a very capable bandleader and composer.”– Will Friedwald, The Wall Street Journal
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Hailing from Chilliwack, BC, and now living in New York City, award winning trumpeter/vocalist/ composer BRIA SKONBERG is “poised to be one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation.”– Wall Street Journal.
In 2013 she earned a Jazz Journalists’ Association nomination for “Up and Coming Jazz Artist of The Year” and has been included in DOWNBEAT Magazine’s Rising Star Critics‘ Poll the last two years. She has recently been honored with a New York Bistro Award for “Outstanding Jazz Artist” and swept the 2014 Hot House Jazz Magazine Awards in all categories nominated: Best Jazz Artist, Best Trumpet, Best Female Vocalist and Best Group for the Bria Skonberg Quartet. Her first professional gig was as a big band singer at age sixteen doubling on trumpet and she has since performed as a bandleader and guest artist at over 50 jazz festivals in North America, Europe, China and Japan. Since moving to New York in 2010 she has headlined at Symphony Space, Birdland, The Iridium, Dizzy’s and Cafe Carlyle.
She has been featured on Wycliffe Gordon’s projects, recording on the Louis Armstrong tribute “Hello Pops”, performing a Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie at Dizzy’s Jazz Club in New York and as a member of his big band. Bria focuses on innovating while honoring tradition: She has studied with Warren Vache, experimented with fuzz pedals and presented a gig fusing jazz and stand up comedy.
Best known for her knowledge of classic jazz and pursuit of worldwide adventure, she is now creating a style rooted in hot jazz, world percussion, soul, and electronic effects available on her newest album INTO YOUR OWN (Random Act Records). Her debut US release SO IS THE DAY, peaked at #7 on the US National jazz charts; it features mostly original material and an all-star ensemble including John Pizzarelli, Victor Goines and Wycliffe Gordon. Released on Random Act Records, 10% of all proceeds go to support the Jazz Foundation of America.
She currently tours the world, headlining major clubs and festivals as well as programming music education workshops for all ages. She is an active volunteer at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens and co-producer of the New York Hot Jazz Festival.
