Raya Yarbrough

Raya Yarbrough

2008-04-14

Sultry, seductive, bluesy, jazzy & beautiful are just a few of the adjectives to describe the voice of Raya Yarbrough. Raya started singing jazz at the age of seven and it’s easy to see how the classic artists like Nina Simone, Clifford Brown & others have shaped her musical style. It is also easy to see that Raya doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into being just another Jazz singer as she opens with the bluesy “Lord Knows I Would” & then shifts gears into the Reggae flavored “You’re So Bad For Me”. Several tracks have a certain Pop feel to them & the ending up-tempo “Better Days” Raya has a vocal scat that makes this listener believe she has many better days ahead. - Gregg Saur

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Jazz

  • reviewed 03/2016

    Carlos Vega
    Bird's Ticket

  • reviewed 09/2011

    T.K. BLUE
    Latin Bird

  • reviewed 12/1969

    BLUE NEBULA
    Relative Dimensions

  • reviewed 01/2005

    New Birth Brass Band
    New Birth Family

  • reviewed 12/2010

    KEN CLARK ORGAN TRIO
    Mutual Respect

  • reviewed 02/2012

    THE IAN CAREY QUINTET +1
    Roads & Codes

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.