Album Reviews

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:

Raya Yarbrough's Website

all reviews | all jazz reviews

More reviews tagged #Jazz

reviewed 03/2012
MAUREEN CHOI QUARTET
Maureen Choi Quartet
reviewed 01/2004
Joel Frahm with Brad Mehldau
Don't Explain
reviewed 12/2006
ERIC FRAZIER
In Your Own Time
reviewed 11/2008
Lois Deloatch
Hymn to Freedom: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
reviewed 10/2006
MIKE FROST PROJECT
Comin' Straigt At Ya'
reviewed 06/2010
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Next Stop...Soweto, Vol. 3: Giants, Ministers and Makers -- Jazz in South Aftrica 1963-1984

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.