Some of the best and brightest women of jazz grew up in British Columbia: Renee Rosnes, Ingrid and Christine Jensen, Diana Krall — and trumpeter-singer Bria Skonberg, born in Chilliwack.
One of Bria’s mentors was trumpeter Warren Vaché, a master of swing. She became known on the New York jazz scene playing in the swing tradition, but on her several albums she’s become much more beyond category.
Her newest album, Nothing Never Happens, is a continuing stretch of her musical horizon. Edgier instrumentals. Charming (and sometimes haunting) vocals. One of the highlights is a crisscrossing of Duke Ellington (“Black and Tan Fantasy”) and The Beatles (“Blackbird”).
Bria’s “Blackbird Fantasy” is one of the songs she performed with her band on Blues Break at WBGO. She also talked about how much she’s inspired by what’s happening in the world. Her marching for the women’s movement. Her wish that “social” technology could be turned off — expressed in a tune Bria calls “Blackout.”
And here is another original from the album, called “So Is the Day.”
Bria Skonberg, trumpet nad vocals; Chris Pattishall, piano and organ; Doug Wamble, guitar; Yasushi Nakamura, bass; Darrian Douglas, drums.
Videography: Khadiyah Thomas and David Tallacksen
Video Edit and Audio Mix: Corey Goldberg
Bria Skonberg appears Friday through Sunday at Jazz Standard; on Nov. 7 and 8 at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May, N.J.; and on Nov. 15 and 16 at South Jazz Kitchen in Philadelphia.
