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Swing Into Spring at the Sutton Place Hotel

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51st Eight Birthday Festacular; Band Launches New Name

The 51st Eight celebrated its tenth birthday at the Chilliwack May Mardi Gras the first weekend of May. The night was a success, featuring special guests Bob Draga and Claire McKenna, an entertaining documentary on the band, and a lot of great music. The band also announced a name change to mark a new direction as they continue to make music together in the years ahead. The 51st Eight is now known as the Big Bang Jazz Band. Stayed tuned for their new website in the coming weeks.

Swing Into Spring with Bria's Hot Five

Parent Support Services of BC invites you to “Swing Into Spring," an evening of entertainment featuring Bria’s Hot Five, voted Vancouver’s Hottest Swing Band. Enjoy Bhangra Dancers, Japanese Drummers, and Jitterbug Dancers. The event features a silent auction and door prizes. Cocktails at 6 pm, the main event begins at 7 pm. At the Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver. Tickets: 125.00 per person, or a table of ten for $1250. To order call 604-669-1616.

Upcoming This Month
April showers bring more music. New Orleans North travels to Port Hardy, Victoria, and Merritt, British Columbia for some more concerts telling musical stories of the deep South. BRIA AND JIM'S BORDERLINE JAZZ BAND will be touring their CD "Over Easy" April 16-23rd at a variety of venues on the East Coast with world class line-ups led by Jim Fryer including Cynthia Sayer, Joe Midiri, Dan Levinson, Ed Wise, Mark Shane, and more. The 51st Eight will be playing hot jazz down the cool Pacific Coast at the Jazz In The Olympics Festival held April 25-27 in beautiful Port Angeles Washington.

Bria's latest CD adventure is now readily available by email briaskonberg@hotmail.com
The 2007 OKOM Records release "Over Easy" features the first album by "Bria Skonberg and Jim Fryer's Borderline Jazz Band." Co-leader Jim Fryer is a well seasoned New York trombonist and front man. This recording also includes Noel Kaletsky on reeds, Gim Burton on guitar/banjo, and Robbie Scott on drums. Check out Bria's Myspace page for Sound clips. www.myspace.com/briaskonberg

Bria's 2008 Schedule is now up!

January starts off strong with Dal Richards' 90th Birthday Celebration at both the Hotel Vancouver and the Orpheum Theatre. This month will mark her first appearances at a Jazz Vespers service, as well as in her family's home country of Sweden at the Uppsala Winter Festival. On January 17th and 24th you can hear Bria play from the comfort of your own home—a broadcast from Jim Cullum's Landing in Texas will be aired on international and satellite radio stations. New Years Resolution for more exercise? Come on by the Grandview Legion on January 12th in Vancouver to dance to the Hot Five.

Don't forget to check in with Bria's MySpace page for the newest sound clips.
Welcome to another great year!

Bria Featured on new Dal Richards CD

Vancouver swing legend Dal Richards has released a new CD entitled "Dal and Friends" featuring Bria, among others. Visit Dal's Website for more info.

Bria wins Kobe Jazz Festival Award

Bria Skonberg is this year's winner of the Kobe Jazz Friendship Award,
received at the Breda Jazz Festival in Holland on May 20th, 2007. This
highly regarded honour includes an invitation to perform as a featured
soloist at the 26th annual Kobe Jazz Street Festival in Japan, held October
5-8 this year. This is the 13th year of the award, established between
sister festivals Breda and Kobe to recognize up and coming young talent and
their international musical contributions.

Breda Jazz Festival :: Kobe Jazz Street Festival

Mighty Aphrodite new CD: Live In Arizona

The Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band has just released a new recording. It was recorded live at the 2006 Arizona Classic Jazz Festival. Available from the Mighty Aphrodite website.