Sisterhood of Swing debut, U2 @Apollo, NY/CA/NV ++

Hey Friends,

Hope your summer's off to a great start! I've been having fun seeing and meeting many of you along the festival path :) Before sharing future plans I just have to tell you some of the wacky "pinch-me" moments that happened behind the scenes... On May 24th the Town Hall Ensemble played Bob Dylan's historic debut concert with guests such as Bill Murray, Lisa Fischer, Steve Buscemi.. surreal! The most funny moment for me came during sound check.. I got to play harmonica as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog impersonated Dylan singing with the Milk Carton Kids :D

Another totally unbelievable highlight was a last minute call to play in a horn section with U2 at the Apollo Theater, also featuring members of the Sun Ra Arkestra (!!?!) We were the surprise for the encores; I had never played the Theater and waiting for a huge curtain to reveal the crew and support those iconic rockers (nice guys too) was a moment I'll never forget.

So, what now? LOTS. This upcoming Tuesday night June 26th I'm leading an all star orchestra of female force called SISTERHOOD OF SWING to open Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing Series. It's a huge honor and I've been up to my ears sourcing and taping charts. It's going to be EPIC!!

Read an interview about the project here:

After all this excitement I'll need to recalibrate big time. Next week I'm taking myself off the grid for my first writing retreat. I'm going to be independently making my next recording and will come back to you with ways that you can be part of that process, if you'd like :) It makes a big difference to know that others are along on this journey.

I have a few special hot jazz dates in NYC (see below) and I'm coming back to California for a variety of shows with my NYC crew (one including Wycliffe Gordon!) before the annual highlight that is the Sacramento Jazz Camp. Hope to see you out there!!

Thanks always! :)

Bria

TOUR SCHEDULE

June 26

Lincoln Center NYC

June 27

Birdland w/ David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band July 19

Hot Jazz Age at Spiegeltent Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

July 21

Blue Note Jazz Club, Napa CA

July 22

Stanford Jazz Festival and Workshop, CA

July 23

Reno, NV

July 25

Sunset Jazz at Newport, CA

July 26

Kuumbwa Jazz Club, Santa Cruz CA

July 28

Lesher Theater w/ Wycliffe Gordon, Walnut Creek CA July 29- August 4

Teagarden Jazz Camp. Pollock Pines CA August 11

Louis Armstrong House Museum, Queens NY