The Wall Street Journal says Bria Skonberg is sa国际传媒減oised to be one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation.sa国际传媒� The Washington Post calls the singer/trumpeter a sa国际传媒測oung jazz star on the rise,sa国际传媒� and CBC Music listed her as one of the sa国际传媒�35 best Canadian jazz artists under 35.sa国际传媒�

Michael Campbell, chair of the , simply says sa国际传媒淪he sings like an angel.sa国际传媒�

Skonberg and her New York All-Stars are one of the groups helping make this yearsa国际传媒檚 Pentastic lineup what Campbell calls the best theysa国际传媒檝e ever had.

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Though she now lives and works in New York, Skonberg is a B.C. musician, learning her chops in a Chilliwack school, Capilano University and, eventually, as part of Dal Richardsa国际传媒檚 Orchestra. And, mixed in there, a few sessions at the Pentastic (Sept. 7 to 9 at various venues around Penticton, for more info see .

sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 remember offhand the last time I played there, but it was probably around 2010,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a homecoming.sa国际传媒�

Getting to New York, including performing at Carnegie Hall, winning a 2017 Juno for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year and other accolades has been a gradual process, she says.

sa国际传媒淚 am a product of public school band programs. That is where I started playing the trumpet. The band that I played with a lot in high school, kind of our school combo, we stuck together after high school,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg. sa国际传媒淚 kind of jumped into the band management position and started basically looking for gigs, right out of high school.sa国际传媒�

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After graduating from University, Skonberg travelled, performing in China, Japan and throughout Europe, playing with Dal Richards when she was home.

sa国际传媒淭hat was a real time of mentorship for me. I had just graduated college and literally he found me, right out of the gate,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚t was a really incredible time that taught me a lot about showmanship, knowing and appreciating the audience.

sa国际传媒淗is advice that I wonsa国际传媒檛 forget was sa国际传媒榙onsa国际传媒檛 forget the balcony.sa国际传媒� Try to reach every single person that is out there. It doesnsa国际传媒檛 matter if you are playing for 10 or 10,000. Try to make sure you are connecting with everyone there.sa国际传媒�

Skonberg describes the journey as sa国际传媒渁n awesome adventure.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 kind of been my motto. Jump in and say yes. The adventures and the experiences continue to surprise me,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg.

The move to New York came in 2010, after performing at the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

sa国际传媒淚 was feeling pretty comfortable, and I knew if I wanted to continue to grow, I needed to get uncomfortable, so I moved to New York,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a wonderful, vibrant city. There is no end of different kinds of music you can get into. All of that ultimately makes it way back into my music.sa国际传媒�

Skonberg, who co-founded the New York Hot Jazz Festival, says the Pentastic is special to her because of the great trad jazz and entertainment it incorporates, which she calls her home base.

sa国际传媒淟ouis Armstrong is one of my greatest influences. I have developed more into writing original music, doing my own spin on classic,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg. sa国际传媒淭he people at the festival will hear a whole lot of different stuff.sa国际传媒�

Skonberg has seven albums, with the last two being nominated as Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. She won in 2017 with the self-titled album Bria, but her 2017 With A Twist gave up the prize to Diana Krallsa国际传媒檚 Turn up the Quiet.

sa国际传媒淵ou have to spread the love, I have to share a little,sa国际传媒� joked Skonberg about losing to B.C.sa国际传媒檚 other famed jazz musician.

If theysa国际传媒檙e lucky, audiences might get a treat at Pentastic and see Skonberg jamming with fellow trumpet player Lance Buller, a Pentastic favourite who loves to jump on stage with the other bands.

sa国际传媒淭rumpet players, we love to stick together, even though our reputation is that we have big egos,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg. sa国际传媒淏ut Lance and I are like two kids in a sandbox. Isa国际传媒檝e known him for a long time and we always have fun times together.sa国际传媒�

Shesa国际传媒檚 also looking forward to visiting with other musicians, like Bob Draga, Tom Rigney, Dave Bennet.

sa国际传媒淚 love festivals because it gives me a chance to catch up with all sorts of friends and people you wouldnsa国际传媒檛 see normally,sa国际传媒� said Skonberg.

Shesa国际传媒檚 planning to head into the studio later this year to work on her next album, so the audience might get a little preview of what is in the works. Check out for more.