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 01/2006

    BEAT KAESTLI
    Happy, Sad and Satisfied.

  • reviewed 11/2009

    IVAN "FUNKBOY" BODLEY
    PIGS FEET & POTTED MEAT

  • reviewed 07/2008

    VARIOUS
    Rumble In the Great Lakes (Best of the Detroit Jazz Fest 2007)

  • reviewed 02/2008

    THE MATT SAVAGE TRIO
    Hot Ticket

  • reviewed 06/2010

    DR. LONNIE SMITH
    SPIRAL

  • reviewed 07/2004

    River Rogues Jazz Band
    From Fats to Satch

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.