Bria Skonberg

Hailing from Chilliwack, BC, and now living in New York City, awardwinning 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 is included in DownBeat Magazine’s Rising Star Critics‘ Poll for 2013/2014. 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 performed with the likes of Nicholas Payton, Anat Cohen, Scott Robinson and Bucky Pizzarelli; she has been featured on Wycliffe Gordon’s projects, studied with Warren Vache, experimented with electronic effects and presented a gig fusing jazz and stand up comedy. Best known for her knowledge of classic jazz and instigative nature, she is now creating an adventurous style rooted in New Orleans jazz and blues, world percussion, soul, and cabaret. In 2014 she released her sophomore album on Random Act Records, “Into Your Own”. Her debut US release “So Is The Day”, peaked at #7 on the Jazz Radio Charts. 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.