Bria Skonberg - What It Means (2024) [Hi-Res]

The past few years have brought major life changes to everyone. In Bria Skonberg's case, in addition to the challenges of surviving as a professional musician during the pandemic, she experienced the joy of parenthood for the first time, two life-altering events that have together inspired her to feel a renewed sense of freedom in music making.

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. Recorded at Esplanade Studios during Mardi Gras of 2023, Bria is joined by an ensemble of established veterans and up and coming talent, including master Crescent City drummer Herlin Riley. This collection tells stories of life lessons that range from upbeat to down-to-earth to emotionally deep, all the while exhibiting both her mastery of the trumpet and her soulful and undeniably connective voice. Traditional jazz excursions such as "Petit Fleur" and "Elbow Bump;" a hard bop take on the Sonny & Cher hit "The Beat Goes On;" a duet with NOLA notable Gabrielle Cavassa on Van Morrison's "Days Like This;" a heartfelt dedication to her new child, John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy);" these and so many other tracks show how with her seventh studio album, Bria has solidified her artistry, mastering her signature style as one of the most distinctive artists in jazz.

Bria Skonberg: trumpet & vocal
Don Vappie: guitar, banjo
Chris Pattishall: piano
Grayson Brockamp: acoustic bass
Herlin Riley: drums, percussion
Aurora Nealand: soprano saxophone (on 1)
Rex Gregory: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet (on 4, 8-10)
Ethan Santos: trombone (on 4, 8-10)
Ben Jaffe: sousaphone (on 1, 10)
Gabrielle Cavassa: vocal (on 8)