Bria Skonberg

Bria Skonberg
Skonberg in 2012
Skonberg in 2012
Background information
Born1983 (age 40–41)
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Trumpet, vocals
LabelsRandom Act, Sony Masterworks
Websitebriaskonberg.com

Bria Skonberg (born 1983) is a Canadian jazz trumpeter and vocalist.

Early life

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Skonberg was born in Chilliwack, British Columbia in 1983;[1] her great-grandparents on her father's side came from Sweden. She took piano lessons in elementary school, switching to trumpet in her early teens.[2] During High School and college she appeared at numerous jazz festivals with The 51st Eight.[3] She also led the all-female Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band.[3] In 2006, she graduated from Capilano University in Vancouver with a degree in jazz trumpet. She studied with Warren Vaché.[4]

Career

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Skonberg was the leader of Bria's Hot Five and The Big Bang Jazz Band. She also performed with Canadian jazz veteran Dal Richards and his Orchestra in concert and on recordings.[4]

Skonberg has appeared as a band leader and guest artist at jazz festivals in North America, Europe, China and Japan. She moved to New York City in 2010.[2] She was a co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Festival.[5]

Skonberg has performed with Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, and Wycliffe Gordon.[1]

In 2017, Skonberg won the Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, for her crowd-funded album Bria.[6][7]

In addition to the trumpet, Skonberg also plays the flugelhorn.[8]

Awards and honors

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  • Jazz Award of Merit, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2006
  • Kobe Jazz Street Award, Breda Jazz Festival, 2007
  • Outstanding Jazz Artist, New York Bistro Award
  • Nomination, Artist of the Year, Jazz Journalists Association, 2013[4]
  • Swing! Award, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 2015[2]
  • Winner, Juno Award Jazz Vocal Album, 2017[7]

Discography

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Skonberg at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay CA 11/14/21
  • Fresh (Lighter Than Air, 2009)
  • So Is the Day (Random Act, 2012)
  • Into Your Own (Random Act, 2014)
  • Bria (Sony Masterworks, 2016)
  • With a Twist (Sony, 2017)
  • Nothing Never Happens (self-released, 2019)

References

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  1. ^ a b Collar, Matt (n.d.). "Bria Skonberg Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Malhotra, Anita (June 16, 2015). "Interview With Bria Skonberg". Artsmania. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b The Education of Bria Skonberg https://syncopatedtimes.com/the-51st-eight-a-northern-light-the-education-of-bria-skonberg/
  4. ^ a b c Bernstein, Adam (April 11, 2013). "Bria Skonberg: A young jazz star on the rise". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  5. ^ Lyon, Christine (June 25, 2015). "Bria Skonberg brings her music home". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Saxberg, Lynn; Hum, Peter (April 1, 2017). "Gord Downie wins three Junos at music awards gala". The London Free Press. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Vocal Jazz Album of the Year". JUNO Awards. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  8. ^ "Bria Skonberg: Singer-trumpeter brings 'Brass and Belles' to Cafe Carlyle". New York Daily News. April 15, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
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