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 06/2012

    BRUCE KAPHAN QUARTET
    Bruce Kaphan Quartet

  • reviewed 03/2014

    DAVID WIATROLIK
    Dave and the Gin Mill Gypsies

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Brian Marsella's Imaginarium
    The Clocks Have Gone Mad

  • reviewed 11/2014

    Joe Ferrara
    The Tiger Walks Through My Dreams

  • reviewed 05/2007

    Various Blue Note Artists
    Somethin’ New

  • reviewed 01/2009

    THE BAD PLUS
    For All I Care

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.