Bria Skonberg comes into her own
By Chris Murray

Eyes are on Canadian Bria Skonberg, who is quickly becoming known for her eclectic combinations of jazz, pop and world music. In 2013, the Jazz Journalists' Association nominated her for "Up and Coming Jazz Artist of the Year," the same year she was named a Rising Star by Downbeat Magazine. Since her professional debut as a big band singer and trumpeter at age 16, Skonberg has performed as bandleader and guest artist at dozens of jazz festivals across North America, Europe, China and Japan. Her third and latest album, Into Your Own, was released this May. She's criss-crossing the Midwest on her current tour, which includes an Indy stop this Sunday.

NUVO: What drove you to become a jazz musician?

BRIA SKONBERG: My hometown had a New Orleans-style jazz festival for over 20 years that did a really good job of incorporating bands that were local and others that were from all over British Columbia, the United States and abroad. It was perfect for when I was learning how to improvise and play the trumpet. I am a product of a great system that was in place: a great school system and a town with an annual, traditional jazz festival. Now I can pay it forward by teaching at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp, where I went from being a student, to an alumnus, to a counselor, and now I teach at the camp!

NUVO: Your albums have always combined your eclectic tastes - what encouraged you to start combining jazz with other musical styles like pop and world music?

SKONBERG: When I started focusing more on writing songs, that's when it became really apparent that there are a lot of things that I'm inspired by. And then I thought, "OK, I'll write a song. Well, why can't I write a song that's a New Orleans groove in 5/4 with some Latin percussion?" I love adding different variables. New York is such an awesome place; it rewards individuality and it rewards risk-taking. I feel that people know me as someone who respects and tries to honor the tradition of the music, but also as someone who is putting herself out there by trying new things.

NUVO: What was your musical vision for your latest album?

SKONBERG: This album focuses on world music, songwriting and singing. The lyrics of these songs are stories that share parts of myself in certain ways. I wanted to write an album for people that was accessible to the general audience. I like pulling together all these variables and finding commonalities or ways for them to individually shine, and that's the kind of music that I want to present to people, so that everyone finds something different but everybody can relate to it in some way or another. I remember playing with my band the first time that we played the title track "Come Into Your Own," and one band member was like, "Oh, it's like a Latin thing" and another one said, "...I was playing it as bluegrass." At the same time. This album is like a melting pot - just think about all those things that you're interested in and let them sit in a crock pot for a little while.

NUVO: Some of the proceeds from this album are going toward supporting the LGBT community - are acceptance and equality the underlying message of Into Your Own?

SKONBERG: The last song on the album is called "Go Tell It," and it came out of familiar melodies like "Go Tell It on the Mountain.". We researched Peter, Paul and Mary's version, which was about the Civil Rights Movement of that era. I believe in equality in every sense, and when you're an artist, you put this snapshot of time out there that's what the time is about. I was happy to contribute to it.

NUVO: What can we expect to see at your Jazz Kitchen performance this Sunday?

SKONBERG: I'll do a lot of the material off the album with my regular quintet. The band is fun, and each guy will get equally featured because they're awesome, versatile musicians. It'll be a journey through some different stories: some New Orleans flair, and some jazz/world music/fusion.