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 02/2005

    Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal
    Buena Vista Social Club presents...

  • reviewed 08/2007

    THE BORN AGAIN FLOOZIES
    7 Deadly Sinners

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Thad Jones
    One More: The Summary: Music of Thad Jones Volume 2

  • reviewed 04/2008

    PAUL RENZ QUINTET
    Rebop

  • reviewed 07/2007

    FOUR FINGER FIVE
    Enormous Pocket

  • reviewed 03/2004

    Susan Werner
    I Can't Be New

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.