Raya Yarbrough

Raya Yarbrough, a singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, defies easy stylistic classification. As a performer on both acoustic guitar and acoustic piano, she demonstrates skill in vocal jazz through her interpretations of standards including Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," Woody Herman's "Early Autumn," and Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring." Nevertheless, her own compositions reflect no adherence to jazz purism or bop elitism, since the Southern California native draws substantial inspiration from soul, folk, blues, and rock as well, rendering stylistic labels inadequate. Her array of influences, both direct and indirect, encompasses Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman, Abbey Lincoln, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Odetta.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Yarbrough benefited from early musical encouragement by her father Martin Yarbrough, himself a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, who introduced her to jazz and R&B during childhood. She pursued higher education at the University of Southern California, earning a BA from the Thornton School of Music. Among her instructors there were acoustic pianist Shelly Berg, who held the presidency of the International Association of Jazz Educators from 1996 to 1998, and acoustic bassist John Clayton, recognized for his work with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Yarbrough issued her first album, Raya's Mood, independently in 2004. Two years later she recorded a self-titled project, which @Telarc brought out in early 2008 under the production of guitarist Steve Bartek, noted for his role in the new wave band Oingo Boingo during the 1970s and 1980s.