Bria Skonberg: Brass

Canadian-born and New York-based trumpeter, vocalist and composer Bria Skonberg focuses almost exclusively on the horn on her seventh recording, the aptly named Brass.  Even though Skonberg may be a splendid singer, she plays trumpet so extremely well it's a pretty sure bet that no one but the most diehard lovers of vocal jazz may miss her voice, heard here only on the album's last number, Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To."

Skonberg's solos are exquisite, each one a small gem of seductive improvisational artistry. She is a very good writer too, having composed four of the album's 10 numbers including the high-stepping opener, "Markham Sunrise," whose staccato groove and unique melody bring to mind the Glenn Miller orchestra's mega-hit from 1941, Mack Gordon and Harry Warren's memorable "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Skonberg also wrote the easygoing "So It Goes," the heartfelt "Of Liberty" and a bright and fast- paced tribute to the first woman known to have played jazz trumpet on a recording, "Dolly Jones."

Skonberg's back-up crew is with her like white on rice, comping and soloing with dexterity and assurance. Pianist Luther Allison (who doubles on Hammond B3 organ) is a lyric and rhythmic master, while bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Darrian Douglas comprise a sharp and adaptive rhythm section. In sum, an awesome group by any measure. The quartet is enlarged by one on Frank Loesser's heartening anthem, "Brotherhood of Man" (from the 1961 Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), as Skonberg brings welcomes aboard guest trumpeter Kellin Hanas to share front-line duties and trade solos.

Aside from that, Skonberg is by herself, playing open trumpet most of the way, muted on Jelly Roll Morton's danceable "New Orleans Bump" and the Harold Arlen standard, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," which leads to "Dolly Jones." Also worth noting is Àngel Villoldo's tantalizing "El Choclo," first recorded as the pop song "Kiss of Fire" by one of Skonberg's musical heroes, trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong. The charming ballad "Somewhere Out There," from the film An American Tale (1986), rounds out the engaging program.

While Skonberg may relish singing from time to time, the belief here is that as a jazz trumpeter, she needs no back-up plan. Whatever her inclination, more Brass, less voice would be more than satisfactory.