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 SaurVARIOUS ARTISTS
Smooth Chill
Lou Caputo Not So Big Band
Uh Oh!
GRP (GABRIEL RIESCO PROJECT)
Sculptures in Time
MICROSCOPIC SEPTET
Surrealistic Swing
INARA GEORGE WITH VAN DYKE PARKS
An Invitation
SF JAZZ COLLECTIVE
Live 2006
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.