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Watch and Listen: Trumpeter and Vocalist Bria Skonberg, Live Video From the WRTI Performace Studio

Georgia Nerheim
Bria Skonberg

The Wall Street Journal describes trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg as "one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation."  Bria and her band visit with J. Michael Harrison in the WRTI Performance Studio for a live video presentation on Friday, November 15th at 4 PM.

Originally from the small town of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Bria studied jazz and performance at Capilano University in Vancouver while balancing a full road schedule with two bands.  After graduating she traveled extensively, performing in China, Japan and throughout Europe as a featured artist. When she wasn't traveling, Bria was honing her chops with Dal Richards, Vancouver's King of Swing.

Six U.S. album releases made her a six time Downbeat Rising Star. Further accolades include the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing Award, "Best Vocal" and "Best Trumpet" from Hot House Jazz Magazine and "Outstanding Jazz Artist" at the Bistro Awards. Her 2016 release, Bria, earned her a JUNO award and made the Top 5 on Billboard jazz charts; her music has over 7 million streams on Spotify. 

In 2019 she was a featured member of Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour alongside Cecile McLorin Salvant, Christian Sands, Melissa Aldana and Jamison Ross.  Bria is a member of the Town Hall Ensemble, an all-star cast directed by Steven Bernstein that celebrates the cultural and musical history of New York City.  She tours constantly bringing her own signature sound of fiery trumpet playing and smoky vocals together with storytelling and adventurous concoctions of classic and new.

Bria's latest effort, Nothing Never Happens acts as a diversion from the overload of social media, breaking news, political bickering and negative energy we encounter daily. This stunning album, at times, channels the ubiquitous anger and hopelessness that confronts us all in the modern media landscape, but, at others, manages to drown out that white noise and shine a light on the serene and the celebratory.

The Wall Street Journal describes Bria Skonberg as "one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation."  She recently sang the music of Aretha Franklin alongside Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, played with U2 at the Apollo, sat in with the Dave Matthews Band, was a featured guest with Jon Batiste and performed the Star Spangled Banner at Madison Square Garden for a NY Rangers game.

J. Michael Harrison’s first radio show, WPEB’s “Is That Jazz” launched in June of 1993. In 1994 he began volunteering with WRTI as a production assistant. In 1996, J. Michael debuted his own program, The Bridge, which continues to air Friday evenings on WRTI.