Episode #79 - Bria Skonberg

Episode #79 - Bria Skonberg

Author: Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces May 6, 2020 Duration: 1:05:01

Bria Skonberg is a trailblazing triple threat trumpeter, singer and songwriter. Born in British Columbia, Canada and now residing in New York City, the Juno Award winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album has performed hundreds of festivals and stages the world over, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival. Called the "shining hope of hot jazz" by the NY Times, Bria has been at the forefront of a revival of classic American music as both a performer and educator, programming concerts and workshops for students of all ages; She is currently developing educational activities for the Louis Armstrong House Museum and co-directs the New York Hot Jazz Camp she co-founded in 2015. Described as "one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation" (Wall Street Journal), she has performed the music of Aretha Franklin alongside Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, played with U2 at the Apollo, sat in with the Dave Matthews band, was a featured guest with Jon Batiste and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at Madison Square Garden for a NY Rangers game. Bria has been featured on over 25 recordings and recently released her sixth studio solo album "Nothing Never Happens"; Her music has garnered over 10 million streams online.  A 6x Downbeat Rising Star, she tours constantly bringing her own signature sounds of fiery trumpet playing, smoky vocals and story-telling together with adventurous concoctions of classic and new.  Bria is a Bach Conn-Selmer artist; she plays a Bach Stradivarius 37 with a 3C Bach mouthpiece. Learn more about Bria at www.briaskonberg.com or visit www.bobreeves.com/79 to find the show notes for this episode.


There's a whole world of sound that happens before the music reaches the audience, a space filled with the clatter of valves, the whisper of breath, and the shared stories of a unique community. The Other Side Of The Bell-A Trumpet Podcast invites you into that world, offering a backstage pass to the realities of brass life. Hosted by the team at Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces, this series goes far beyond simple gear talk. Each episode feels like a conversation in the practice room, blending practical trumpet tips that address the daily hurdles players face with deep-dive interviews featuring the musicians themselves. You'll hear firsthand stories about the craft, the unexpected challenges of performance, and the personal journeys that shape an artist's sound. This podcast is built on decades of specialized knowledge, translating the nuanced experiences of embouchure, articulation, and endurance into accessible insights. Whether you're a student navigating your first orchestral audition or a seasoned professional refining your approach, the discussions here are grounded in real-world application. It’s about the person behind the instrument as much as the instrument itself, creating a genuine resource for anyone passionate about the trumpet. Tune in for a blend of technical wisdom and personal narrative that only comes from a lifetime spent listening from the other side of the bell.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode #105 - Roy Wiegand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:03
Roy Wiegand is a versatile and renowned trumpet player in the Los Angeles area. He has toured and performed with such well-known acts as The Who, Bobby Womack, Tom Jones, Mel Torme, Harry James Orchestra, and Wayne Newto…
Episode #104 - Keith Snell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:57
Keith Snell has pursued a multifaceted music career as a trumpet soloist, freelance musician, composer/arranger, conductor and educator. His earliest musical training and performance experiences began at the age of six w…
Episode #103 -Neal Berntsen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:08
Neal Berntsen joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra trumpet section in March 1997, having been appointed at the invitation of Music Director Lorin Maazel in 1996. He is a native of Tacoma, Washington. He began his mus…
Episode #102 - Christine Kamau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:57
Christine Kamau is a Trumpeter, Composer and Performing Artist from Kenya. Her Trumpet playing has been described as 'a wide-eared approach to jazz, paying attention to various styles without losing the jazz tonality'. K…
Episode #101 - Greg Spence and Julie Baxes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:45
From playing lead trumpet at Carnegie Hall in New York to presenting for The International Trumpet Guild Conference, Yamaha Artist Greg Spence, has "been there and done that," on the world's biggest stages as a performer…
Episode #100 - Tony Kadleck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:30
Trumpeter/composer/arranger/bandleader/educator Tony Kadleck is one of the most sought-after trumpet players on the New York City scene, and has been for some time. He moved to NYC in 1986, following his studies at the N…
Episode #99 - Sarah Belle Reid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:12
Sarah Belle Reid is a performer-composer who plays trumpet, modular synthesizer, and an ever-growing collection of handcrafted electronic instruments. Her unique musical voice explores the intersections between contempor…
Episode #98 - David Krauss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:04
David Krauss is the prodigious host of Speaking Soundly, Co-Founder of ANM, and Principal Trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. As a soloist, he has performed with the All-Star Orchestra on their Emmy Award-winnin…
Episode #97 - Larry Meregillano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:59
Larry Meregillano is a Eclipse artist/clinician. He started his professional career playing in big bands in San Diego in the early 1970's. In 1976, he was hired to play in Tom Ranier's Show band at Disneyland. A year lat…
Episode #96 - Bobby Medina and Paul Baron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:30
Body Mechanics Mastery Course Two years in the making, this is the most comprehensive trumpet course on the net! For all levels of players from beginners to seasoned pro's. Whether you're a soloist, lead player, symphoni…