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 02/2007

    PAUL MOTIAN BAND
    Garden of Eden

  • reviewed 09/2015

    Bob James & Nathan East
    The New Cool

  • reviewed 09/2007

    THE WAVERLY SEVEN
    YO! Bobby

  • reviewed 05/2007

    Spanish Harlem Orchestra
    United We Swing

  • reviewed 01/2005

    Kermit Ruffins
    Putumayo Presents Kermit Ruffins

  • reviewed 10/2011

    BILL FRISELL
    All We Are Saying...

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.