Bria Skonberg

Trumpeter, singer, and songwriter Bria Skonberg has been described as one of the “most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (The Wall Street Journal). With chops to spare, Skonberg cut her teeth as a first-call trumpet player in New York’s competitive hot jazz scene. As a leader, she combines her blistering trumpet playing with smoky, pop-inflected vocals, mixing a warm nostalgia for classic crooners with modern intensity and bluesy attitude.

Skonberg’s latest recording, Nothing Never Happens, offers striking originals and creative arrangements of music by Queen, the Beatles, Duke Ellington, and more. She made her UC Berkeley debut as part of Cal Performances at Home this past winter, and now returns for a live, in-person set with her sizzling band. During the pandemic, Skonberg has reflected on her need for connection with an audience, while also discovering a new creative pace conducive to what she calls compositional breakthroughs: “When I return to performing live,” she says, “I’ll expect it to be more singalong interactive, more giving, more ways to connect.”