Skyla Burrell

"Many women in the blues have great voices and have made their careers singing the blues, but not too many can double it up, slice it, dice it and sacrifice it on the best Fender has to offer like Skyla can.

There is no reason I can come up with why this band could not be in the national blues scene. They have great original material, a band packed with talent, and a lead woman who could dazzle my ears anytime!"
~ Dave Roberts, Music Monthly Magazine - April 2005


"Burrell has a great growly voice sure to get under your skin."
~ Blues Review Magazine


“It is hard to believe blues of this caliber can come from Central Pennsylvania.”
~ Todd Chrostowski - WTMD 89.7 FM


“One of the great things about being a DJ is ya get both a great collection of records and coffee coasters. Working Girl Blues is most decidedly going to the top of the stack of the former.”
~ Graham Henderson - Hope FM 103.9


"Fronted by the vibrant vocals and fiery guitar leads of Skyla Burrell, this Pennsylvania group dishes out strong, well-made electric blues. Put down that beer and get ready to get down."
~ Editors - CNET/Download.com


"Burrell's voice is as deep and wide in range as the mighty Mississippi itself. Her voice has the same timbre as Bonnie Raitt with the soul of Billie Holiday and a little of Janis Joplin's strength for good measure."
~ Jeff Royer - Fly Magazine - Various Sources Cited Below

"With a female vocalist whose voice jumps out and grabs you by the blues, The Skyla Burrell blues band is the real deal in a solid package that stays true to the real meaning of their genre."
St. Croix Music Magazine


"A superb voice, vibrating, playing with Bonnie Raitt here, Janis Joplin there (on the edge of it only, she doesn’t exaggerate), sharing sharp choruses and solos with this Tom cat, beautifully backed by the rhythm section, Ezell Jones (drums) and Tony Ryder (bass) perfectly in phase and totally showcased, they don’t play like they want to make you deaf but their contribution is round instead, powerful without exaggeration, in one word boosting, and in a total osmosis."
Blues & Co Magazine (France)


"Burrell and her three cohorts find virtue in professionalism. They deliver unpretentious, self described "Hard Drivin' Blues" in which strength and understatement unite in an easy, fluid balance without sucking up to rock."
Downbeat Magazine


"Livin' Day to Day is a poised and confident set, which more firmly establishes the Skyla Burrell Blues Band as a classy, quality blues ensemble well worth exploring."
Jim Price, WBXQ FM

"Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
Who? One no-nonsense, highly talented Pennsylvania blues quartet. Sounds like: Heavy, old school Chicago blues with a gritty twist. Is it any good? From the get-go, SKBB's rock-steady rhythm section sets down the boogie beat as Burrell keeps boldly singing for just a "Little Bit of Your Love." One cool addition to this second disc is Seth Kibel's vibrant saxophone work, playing right behind Burrell's gravelly vocals on the swing extravaganza "Fly Cat Daddy." On each cut, the animated, dueling guitar work between the two prime blues pickers eventually gives way to Burrell's barrage of passionate, steamy vocals. For their confident sophomore release, SKBB draws from a broad and enthusiastic blues palette."
Alan Kurzer - Portfolio Weekly

"Their music both swings and rocks. Not rocks in a blues-rock sense, but rocks in a hard-driving blues sense. In fact, if you’re a fan of blues-rock, this album probably won’t work for you. Their songs tend to the “straight blues” end of the spectrum, a refreshing approach nowadays. The guitars have a bit of a retro 50’s feel, light on the distortion and overdrive, some reverb, adding up to a nice clean old-school Fender sound. The rhythm section, Tony Ryder on bass and Ezell Jones on drums, is rock solid without getting in the way. My personal faves on the album include “Fat Cat Daddy”, a jazzy blues with some nice sax playing, “I’m Going Down”, a slow blues cooker, “Livin’ Day to Day”, a rockin’ boogie with some great understated drumming, and “Don’t Let Me Go”, a minor-key gut wrencher with some of Skyla’s patented blues moans."
BluesRow - Various Sources Cited Below

"On stage, she's equal parts siren, blues goddess and ringmistress"
~ The Daily Times - Knoxville

"Burrell works up a feisty frenzy of fret-work on guitar while slathering sizzling soul on her sultry vocals. Burrell fuses classic electric blues to full-tilt boogie for a humid hybrid guaranteed to mesmerize your booty right out onto the dance floor."
~ Tallahassee Democrat - Various Sources Cited Below