Bria Skonberg

Biography

Bria Skonberg is a Juno Award-winning trumpeter, vocalist, and songwriter born in 1983 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.[4] She was introduced to jazz through a spirited public school band program and local festival in her hometown, picking up the trumpet in seventh grade.[4] Her family, composed of teachers, fostered a musical environment where her older brother played Old Time fiddle and she took piano lessons in elementary school.[4] After obtaining her degree in Trumpet Performance from Capilano University in Vancouver, Skonberg established herself as a professional bandleader while still in her teens, eventually relocating to New York City in 2010 to pursue her career at a higher level.[2]

Since arriving in New York, Skonberg has become a prominent figure in the revival of classic American music and the New Orleans hot jazz tradition. Described by The Wall Street Journal as "one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation" and by The New York Times as the "shining hope of hot jazz," she has performed at hundreds of festivals worldwide, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, Newport, Montreal, Monterey, Breda, and Kobe Jazz Festivals, as well as Carnegie Hall.[1][2][3] Her debut LP on Sony Masterworks won a Juno Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and reached the Top 5 on Billboard jazz charts.[1][2] She has recorded on over 25 albums and released multiple studio albums, with her music garnering over 20 million streams online.[2] Beyond performance, Skonberg has been instrumental in music education, programming concerts and workshops for students of all ages through partnerships with Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, and Jazz House Kids, while also serving as a co-producer of the NY Hot Jazz Camp.[2]

Skonberg's musical style blends the earthiness and blues-rooted sensibilities of New Orleans jazz with contemporary modern jazz influences and world music elements, particularly a Spanish tinge derived from her extensive travels.[4] Her approach is characterized by a fiery, confident trumpet tone indebted to Louis Armstrong and a smooth, warm singing voice inspired by Anita O'Day.[1] She is a 10x Downbeat Rising Star, a recipient of the Legend Award by the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook, and has earned numerous accolades including New York Bistro Awards, Hot House Jazz Magazine Awards, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing Award.[2] As an active member of the Women in Jazz Organization and the International Trumpet Guild, and a Bach Conn-Selmer artist, Skonberg continues to be at the forefront of contemporary jazz while honoring its rich historical traditions.

Fun Facts

• Skonberg sang the National Anthem ("Star Spangled Banner") at Madison Square Garden for a New York Rangers game, demonstrating her versatility beyond jazz performance.[1]
• She became a mother in 2020 while maintaining an active touring and recording career, balancing motherhood with her role as a prominent jazz artist.[2]
• Her family background included traveling to fiddle competitions as a child, which exposed her to the social and communal aspects of music-making that would later influence her approach to jazz education and community engagement.[4]
• Skonberg has been featured as a bandleader and guest artist at more than 50 jazz festivals across North America, Europe, China, and Japan, making her one of the most internationally traveled contemporary jazz musicians.[4]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Warren Vaché - Trumpeter and swing veteran who served as Skonberg's early teacher and stylistic influence (Early trumpet studies and swing tradition) [Early career, pre-2010]
• Louis Armstrong - Primary stylistic and harmonic influence on trumpet playing and musical philosophy (Influenced trumpet tone and approach to jazz standards) [Lifelong influence]
• Anita O'Day - Vocal inspiration for Skonberg's singing style and approach to jazz vocals (Influenced vocal tone and interpretation) [Lifelong influence]
• Sidney Bechet - Early influence on musical approach and earthiness of composition (Influenced compositional and performance style) [Early career influence]

Key Collaborators

• Jon Batiste - Featured performance collaborations (Various performances) [Recent years]
• Wycliffe Gordon - Jazz collaborator and featured performance partner (Various performances) [Recent years]
• Stephane Wrembel - Guitarist and frequent collaborator (Various performances) [Recent years]
• Steven Bernstein - Jazz musician and collaborator (Various performances) [Recent years]
• Herlin Riley - Drummer featured on recent studio album (What it Means album (recorded in New Orleans)) [2020s]
• Don Vappie - Guitarist featured on recent studio album (What it Means album (recorded in New Orleans)) [2020s]
• Ben Jaffe - Sousaphonist and Preservation Hall director featured on recent album (What it Means album) [2020s]
• Bucky Pizzarelli - Veteran guitarist with whom Skonberg traveled and performed (Various performances and tours) [Early career]
• Howard Alden - Veteran guitarist with whom Skonberg traveled and performed (Various performances and tours) [Early career]
• U2 - Featured performance collaboration (Various performances) [Recent years]
• Sun Ra Arkestra - Featured performance collaboration (Various performances) [Recent years]

Artists Influenced

• Jazz students and educators - Through workshops and educational programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Louis Armstrong House Museum, and Jazz House Kids (Educational programs and NY Hot Jazz Camp) [2010-present]

Connection Network

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Current Artist

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Discography

Albums

Title	Release Date	Type
Bria	2016-09-23	Album
With a Twist	2017-05-19	Album
Martynas	2013-01-01	Album
Fresh	2009-06-22	Album
What It Means	2024-07-26	Album
So Is the Day	2012-04-10	Album
Nothing Never Happens	2019-11-01	Album
Into Your Own	2014-05-13	Album
Fresh	2025-04-04	Album
Roots & Wings	2021-05-12	Album
Into Your Own	2014-05-13	Album
So Is the Day	2012-11-20	Album
So Is the Day	2012-04-10	Album

Top Tracks

1. Dance Me to the End of Love (With a Twist)
2. Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) (Bria)
3. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans (Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans)
4. You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me (Bria)
5. Sway (With a Twist)
6. From This Moment On (Bria)
7. Don't Be That Way (Bria)
8. Cocktails for Two (With a Twist)
9. L.O.V.E. (Fresh)
10. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans (What It Means)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)

Heard on WWOZ

Bria Skonberg has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

Date	Time	Title	Show	Spotify
Nov 30, 2025	07:21	Beautiful Boyfrom What It Means	The Sunday Morning Jazz Setw/ Mark Landesman
Sep 26, 2025	06:49	Sweet Peafrom What It Means	The Morning Setw/ Dave Dauterive