Jazz Affair 2017

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Friday, May 26th, 2017
6:00 PM

Rising Star Trumpeter Bria Skonberg Performs at Jazz Affair 2017

“I want to make music that makes people feel, and think.” — Bria Skonberg

The Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society presents 2017 Vocal Jazz Album of the Year JUNO winning jazz trumpet player and singer/songwriter Bria Skonberg at this year’s 12th annual Jazz Affair.

This highly anticipated Nanaimo, BC event will take place on May 26th, 2017. Jazz Affair is a concert fundraiser that raises essential funds for yearly local music student programs, education, and festival travelling costs. This celebrated jazz community event takes place at the Coast Bastion Hotel at 11 Bastion Street, with doors open at 6 pm. The evening includes a delicious dinner, concert performances, silent auction, and raffles.

Tickets are $60 per person and are available through the Port Theatre box office at 125 Front Street, 250-754-8550.

Other featured performers for the evening will include the Nanaimo Musicians’ Association. The NMA Big Band is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Student jazz combos will perform from NDSS, the Wellington Jazz Academy, and the Wellington Senior Jazz Band.

Multi-award winning critically acclaimed Bria Skonberg has been described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the “most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation,” while Vanity Fair has referred to her as a Millennial “Shaking Up the Jazz World.” DownBeat magazine recognized Skonberg as one of the “25 for the Future” last summer shortly before the release of BRIA in September 2016, her debut on Sony Music’s OKeh Records. The Chilliwack, BC native earned her degree in jazz trumpet performance from Capilano University. She juggled working weekends, travelling to festivals and shows with completing schoolwork all while on the road. Skonberg built her stage-show chops with Dal Richards and capped off that exciting period playing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She was featured at the Paralympics opening ceremony. In 2012, Bria released So Is The Day (Random Act Records); her first album on a US-based label. That album project showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in, and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli. So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics, drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News.

In 2015, a year after her second album, Into Your Own, was released, Skonberg received the Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing! Award. To date, Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide. She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival. Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine (2014-15), Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards (2014), a DownBeat Rising Star (2013-15), and a nominee for Jazz Journalists’ Association’s Up and Coming Artist (2013).

Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society is thrilled to have Skonberg headlining this year’s Jazz Affair. The two-day fundraising event begins May 25th with clinics for student musicians and is open to all School District 68 students and students of VIU. You will not want to miss this fun, engaging evening with your chance to hear Bria.

Be sure to mark this exciting special event on your calendar and purchase tickets now, as we are expecting this event to sell out. For further information and reservations for 8 or more guests please contact Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society president Sue Dawson at (250) 616-4838. See you there!