RAJA Hayat
San Francisco, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Alafia!
Thank you for the heads up on Raja's performance. I had the pleaseure of being there and witnessing Raja and Bobby. This was my first time hearing Raja and the experience was more than pleasing. As a vocalist and musician I recongnize that Raja sings with a style all her own.hugging notes and rounding out phrases with dynamic ease. I loved the variety of ballades to blues. Great! I'm looking forward to future opportunites to hear her sing. Keep me posted. MM -
Nov 11 2006 - MM
Alafia!
Thank you for the heads up on Raja's performance. I had the pleaseure of being there and witnessing Raja and Bobby. This was my first time hearing Raja and the experience was more than pleasing. As a vocalist and musician I recongnize that Raja sings with a style all her own.hugging notes and rounding out phrases with dynamic ease. I loved the variety of ballades to blues. Great! I'm looking forward to future opportunites to hear her sing. Keep me posted. MM -
Nov 11 2006 - MM
What gorgeous sounds come from this beautiful women! Like finest brandy. Last night , I walked into Cafe D'Milanio on Ocean avenue in my neighborhood near City College, thinking I would read a book while eating a good dinner. Instead, I walked in on a performance by RAJA and her guitarist/collaborator and was transported to the Cafe Carlyle in New York or Yoshi's or the Plush Room. Never heard of her until last night...now I'm a fan. She's the real thing
October 15, 2006 - Tom
What gorgeous sounds come from this beautiful women! Like finest brandy. Last night , I walked into Cafe D'Milanio on Ocean avenue in my neighborhood near City College, thinking I would read a book while eating a good dinner. Instead, I walked in on a performance by RAJA and her guitarist/collaborator and was transported to the Cafe Carlyle in New York or Yoshi's or the Plush Room. Never heard of her until last night...now I'm a fan. She's the real thing
October 15, 2006 - Tom
Discography
CD work in progress
Photos
Bio
Originally from Buffalo, New York , RAJA grew up listening to jazz with her dad, who was an avid jazz lover. Under the tutelage of Dr. Helen Dilworth and Judy Hubbell of City College of San Francisco, jim Larkin and the the mentorship of San Francisco Blues Hall of Fame Herbert Mims Jr., RAJA has developed a unique style all her own and has become noted for hugging notes and rounding out phrases with dynamic ease. Her style has been described as “sultry and intimate”.
RAJA performed with such artist as The Herbert Mims Jr. Quartet, Mr. Bill Bell (The Jazz Professor), Nassar Aberday Quartet, The San Francisco All Stars and the group Bow,Hammer and Skin.
Some influences are Carmen McCrae, Ella Fitzgerald,Mary Stallings, Billy Holiday,Dianne Reeves, Nina Simone,NNenna Freelon,Dinah Washington
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