Bria Skonberg Jazz Quintet

New York based, Canadian born musician Bria Skonberg stormed onto the jazz scene with her smoky vocals, blistering trumpet, and compelling compositions and arrangements. She’s been described as one of the “most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” by the Wall Street Journal. Skonberg sold out our hall almost a decade ago, and returns to Middlebury just in time for the holidays with a new program entitled “Jingle Bell Swing,” featuring her take on seasonal favorites including her hit cover of “All I Want For Christmas is You.”

About the Artist: Bria Skonberg is a Juno Award winner with an astounding range: she sang the music of Aretha Franklin alongside Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, played with U2 at the iconic Apollo Theater, sat in with the Dave Matthews Band, was a featured guest with Jon Batiste, and performed the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden for a NY Rangers game.

The past few years have brought major life changes to everyone. In Skonberg’s case, she not only met the challenges of surviving as a professional musician during the pandemic, but she also experienced the joy of parenthood for the first time. Together, these two life-altering events have inspired her with a renewed sense of freedom in music making. Skonberg’s 2024 release What It Means forges a way forward, in particular by returning to what inspired her in the first place: the sounds of New Orleans jazz.

“Ms. Skonberg has become the shining hope of hot jazz, on the strength of a clarion trumpet style indebted to Louis Armstrong, a smooth purr of a singing voice inspired by Anita O’Day.”—New York Times

“A millennial shaking up the jazz world”—Vanity Fair

“On her debut US recording, trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg makes a diverse musical statement; it’s clear she’s up to more than nostalgia”—New York Daily News

Program:
Bria Skonberg, Trumpet/Voice/Composition
“Jingle Bell Swing” featuring Skonberg’s take on seasonal favorites

Reserved Seating. Tickets: $25 general public | $20 Middlebury ID holders | $10 Youth (Under 21) | $5 Middlebury students. Buy tickets: http://go.middlebury.edu/tickets

Approximate running time: 75 minutes with no intermission.

Sponsored by the Performing Arts Series, the Paul Nelson Performance Endowment, and the Rothrock Family Residency Fund.

Learn more about the artist:
https://www.briaskonberg.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briamusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briaskonberg
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/briamusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ahtSggrsy1v2oJuKfmzGm

Watch a video: https://youtu.be/8LIGRuVBk-s?si=5W71Hhy3KzhtZ6_h

Performance subject to change.