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 08/2008

    INARA GEORGE WITH VAN DYKE PARKS
    An Invitation

  • reviewed 06/2006

    Bobby Previte
    The Coalition of the Willing

  • reviewed 02/2006

    THE BLUECAT EXPRESS
    The Spirit of New Orleans

  • reviewed 02/2008

    BEN ALLISON AND MAN SIZE SAFE
    Little Things Run the World

  • reviewed 02/2004

    Babatunde Lea
    Level of Intent

  • reviewed 05/2015

    Houston Person
    The Melody Lingers On

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.