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 04/2006

    Joris Teepe's Gronigan Art Ensemble
    Jazz In Jazz Out

  • reviewed 04/2007

    JULIETTE GRECO
    Le Temps d’une Chanson

  • reviewed 12/2008

    THE JAMES MOODY & HANK JONES QUARTET
    OUR DELIGHT

  • reviewed 08/2010

    ROBERTO FONSECA
    Akokan

  • reviewed 06/2005

    John Scofield
    That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles

  • reviewed 11/2014

    Joe Ferrara
    The Tiger Walks Through My Dreams

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.