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 05/2016

    D-Town Brass
    Golden Belt

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Tin Hat
    The Sad Machinery of Spring

  • reviewed 08/2006

    Rykarda Parasol
    Our Hearts First Meet

  • reviewed 02/2009

    THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET
    New World

  • reviewed 03/2009

    JOSHUA REDMAN
    Compass

  • reviewed 08/2017

    Yelena Eckemoff Quintet
    In The Shadow Of A Cloud

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.