Skonberg Plunges into an Array of Soulful Tunes
For the average person, a plunger is only necessary for one task: pushing water through porcelain. The brass musician, however, sees that bowl-shaped rubber appliance as a tool that opens up a whole new world. That plunger creates a sound that resembles the human voice and brings the listener along for an incredible, convincing conversation. In other words, the plunger lets a brass player talk … but without words.
From February 20 through 23, trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg did just that with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO). With the series titled “Modern Romance,” Skonberg dazzled the audience for two hours with songs such as “All of Me,” “Moon River,” and “It’s All Right With Me.” These songs and others were familiar tunes to the audience that created a toe-tapping atmosphere.
As with any versatile performer, Skonberg was able to instantly change gears, from singing a passionate song to pointing her trumpet to the upper balcony and blasting that bebop style familiar to the jazz idiom. With Byron Stripling (former lead trumpeter of the Count Basie Orchestra and future pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony) at the helm of the orchestra, the audience was in for a special two-for-one feature that showed off both master musicians singing with suave and trumpeting with pizzazz. And let’s be one honest, when one trumpeter solos with another trumpeter, other trumpeters may want to come along for the ride. Thanks to a fabulous arrangement by Mark Buselli, CJO trumpeters Rob Parton and Jim Powell joined Skonberg and Stripling on a tender rendition of “Body and Soul.”
In addition to the love standards, Skonberg and the CJO performed some of her own compositions including “Time to Go” (from the album With a Twist). On the afternoon’s penultimate tune “So Is the Day” (featured on her newest album Nothing Never Happens), both Skonberg and CJO trombonist Ryan Hamilton brought out their plungers and gave a bluesy clinic on how to really make their instruments just flat out Talk!
Both Bria Skonberg and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra clearly demonstrate that jazz and swing are alive and well. Be sure to catch a future performance from either entertainer.
