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 12/2005

    VARIOUS ARTISTS
    Our New Orleans

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Tin Hat
    The Sad Machinery of Spring

  • reviewed 05/2017

    Johanna Sillanpaa
    From This Side

  • reviewed 04/2008

    Brad Mehldau Trio
    Live

  • reviewed 06/2010

    DR. LONNIE SMITH
    SPIRAL

  • reviewed 05/2007

    BELA FLECK AND CHICK COREA
    The Enchantment

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.