play2Daringly innovative, percussionist and educator JoVia Armstrong is a well-traveled musician and a Sabian endorsee.  Detroit bred, she is winner of the 2014 Best Black Female Percussionist of the Year through the Black Women in Jazz Awards.

Jovia received the 3Arts Siragusa Foundation Artist Award in 2011 for her work as an educator.  She is a member of Chicago soul group JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound and a member and writer behind World /Jazz group Musique Noire.  Their debut CD “Good Hair” in 2008 was nominated for three Detroit Music Awards.  They recently won the 2015 Best Black Female Jazz Group through Black Women in Jazz Awards.

Jovia released her debut album, “Fuzzy Blue Robe Chronicles” in 2009. She has performed with El DeBarge, Rahsaan Patterson, Maysa, Eric Roberson, Frank McComb, Res, Omar, The Impressions, Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, Malian musicians Ballaké Sissoko & Babani Kone, Joe VasConcellos and Martha Reeves.

THE BACKSTORY

BORN IN:
Detroit, Michigan
LIVES IN:
Chicago, Illinois
 DRUMMING SINCE:
It's been a while...
CURRENT PROJECT(S): JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Musique Noire; Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Project; AACM of Chicago; Frank McComb; Project Hatari

THE INSIDE SCOOP

BIGGEST INFLUENCE(S): Paulinho DaCosta, Most Jazz Fusion artists, Azymuth, Tania Maria, Chucho Valdes, Bamboleo, Rabih Abou Khalil, any world music
FAVORITE ALBUM YOU PLAYED ON: Musique Noire’s “Good Hair”, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound’s “Howl”
FAVORITE ALBUM YOU DIDN’T PLAY ON: Dave Weckl’s Multiplicity; Any Avishai Cohen album; Regina Carter’s Reverse Thread; Any Cassandra Wilson album, Jean Luc Ponty “No Absolute Time”
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Touring with the Beyond Black Project featuring Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko in France. Performing with El DeBarge and Omar (UK)

THE GON BOPS SKINNY

FAVORITE GON BOPS INSTRUMENT:
The Cajons
GON BOPS SET-UP: Various GB Cajons, Tumbao Pro Series, various GB auxiliary percussion
Website:
www.joviamusic.com