The Bria Skonberg Quartet is a powerhouse combination of emerging talent in the New York jazz scene and includes Bria Skonberg on trumpet and vocals, Sean Cronin on bass, Darrian Douglas on drums and Dalton Ridenhour on piano. Leader Bria Skonberg is "poised to be one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation." – Wall Street Journal. This year she earned a Jazz Journalists’ Association nomination for “Up and Coming Jazz Artist of The Year”, is included in Downbeat Magazine’s Rising Star Critics‘ Poll, and was honored with a NY Bistro Award for "Outstanding Jazz Artist." Best known for her knowledge of classic jazz and instigative nature, she is creating a style rooted in hot jazz, world percussion, soul and modern effects. For this venture she has assembled a group of unique individuals from the US and Canada that are proficient in the roots of jazz with 21st century sensibilities. Bassist Sean Cronin, a free spirited musical mastermind, has been a part of all of Bria's original projects since 2007.
He leads his own psychedelic jazz/fusion experience named "Very Good" on both coasts. Pianist Dalton Ridenhour, a native of St. James, Missouri, has been a featured artist at ragtime festivals since his early teens. He gained his Masters' degree at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and the Eastman School of Music, recorded his first solo album on Rivermont Records and is a first call pianist in New York with the likes of Dan Levinson. Rounding out the group on drums is Darrian Douglas, originally from Jackson, Mississippi. Darrian moved to New Orleans in 2008 where he took over the drum chair in the Ellis Marsalis' Quartet for the next four years. During that time he also played with Irvin Mayfield, Germain Bazzle, Topsy Chapman, and recorded with his own group "The Session."
Bria first met Darrian at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Since his 2012 arrival in New York he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Victor Goines, Joe Temperley and more. This group has recently recorded Bria's second album for Random Act Records, a follow-up to "So Is the Day" (2012) which peaked at #7 on the US National Jazz Charts. The recording, released in 2014, features world percussionist Mino Cinelu.
Website: www.briaskonberg.com
