About me
Daringly innovative, percussionist and educator JoVia Armstrong, is a well-traveled musician and a regional Sabian and Gon Bops endorsed artist. She is also an artist ambassador for Sedo Audio (Chord & Major Earphones).
Detroit bred, she is winner of the 2014 Best Black Female Percussionist of the Year through the Black Women in Jazz Awards. She received the 3Arts Siragusa Foundation Artist Award in 2011 for her work as an educator. She is a member of Chicago Soul/Punk group JC Brooks Band 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. She 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, Syleena Johnson, The Impressions, Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble, Malian musicians Ballaké Sissoko & Babani Kone, Joe VasConcellos and Martha Reeves to name a few.
JoVia has produced lesson videos and written articles for Tom Tom Magazine based in Brooklyn, NY. She recently launched Sounds About Write Music School on the southside of Chicago that teaches instrumental lessons, theory and music production for aspiring songwriters and beatmakers.
Lastly, she is Tour Manager for JC Brooks Band and books shows for Nola Adé.