Review: Steve Raybine/ Cool Vibes/ Bad Kat Records: Steve Raybine is a virtuosic vibraphonist who has been quite busy throughout his career. Raybine spent eight years as a member of the popular group AURACLE (which he co-founded) and has since freelanced in a countless number of settings including with Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck and Rick Braun. He uplifts every session on which he appears. Cool Vibes is his fourth and most rewarding CD as a leader. Raybine wrote all but one of the songs on Cool Vibes, also contributing lyrics for three vocals. His music has jazz as its foundation but also seamlessly utilizes aspects of r&b, funk and pop. The 15 concise performances (all but one clock in between 2:19 and 3:53) get their point across quickly with grooving rhythms, catchy ensembles, original themes and purposeful solos. The leader’s vibes are usually in the lead, playing over infectious bass patterns played by Steve Gomez, Mark Haar or Doyle Tipler. The instrumentation varies throughout the program. The opening “Del Mar Beach” is an excellent example of the music on this set. The melodic performance features the active bass patterns of Gomez, fluent playing by Raybine, and three horns that add to the excitement of the ensembles. There are many other highlights. The vibes are well featured on the melodic and atmospheric “Kiss Me” and “Kickin’ Back,” a pair of contemporary pieces that stick in one’s mind afterwards. Two versions of the spirited blues “Cool Drinks” include heated blues playing by guitarist Jeff Scheffler plus a vocal by Nate Van Fleet on the first rendition. The energetic “Sno ‘Fun” has a prominent part for Steve Kujala on flute and piccolo. Altoist Stan Harper’s soulful playing adds to the passion of “Desert Pearl” while his soprano is in the limelight on “Coral Breeze.” The Latin tinged “Salsa Verde” has a rewarding spot for Raybine’s vibes and a memorable cool-toned Paul Desmond-inspired alto solo by his son, David Raybine. “Bad Kat Karma” has the Raybines and Harper joined very effectively by the Westside High School Concert Jazz Band Of Omaha. Cool Vibes concludes with “Tree Of Life,” a showcase for Steve Raybine’s unaccompanied vibes. With all of its variety, Cool Vibes has a strong unity and is filled with rhythmic melodies. Its performances are both accessible and creative. The result is an infectious program that is easy to enjoy. Reviewer: Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 11 books including The Great Jazz Guitarists More about Steve Raybine: Steve Raybine is a virtuoso vibraphonist; percussionist; composer/arranger; instructor and clinician. He received degrees from the prestigious Eastman School of Music, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Iowa. As the co-founder, co-musical director, and performer/composer of the critically-acclaimed progressive jazz ensemble AURACLE, he toured the United States, Europe, and recorded two albums (Glider and City Slickers) on Chrysalis Records. During his eight-year tenure with Auracle, Raybine performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland; Frankfurt Jazz Festival in Frankfurt, Germany; and the Sopot Jazz Festival in Sopot, Poland. He has played at prominent jazz venues including Dontes, the Baked Potato, the Lighthouse, the Other End, the Paradise, and the Roxy. As a Los Angeles studio musician in the mid-1970's, he played for episodic and commercial television soundtracks at MGM, Universal, and Paramount recording studios, and was affiliated with ATV Publishing Corporation. Raybine’s freelance performance credits include Ed Shaughnessy, Dizzy Gillespie, Rick Braun, Ndugu Chancler, Michael Feinstein, Jack Jones, Roger Williams, Karrin Allyson, Dave Brubeck, opening act for Stanley Jordan, the Kansas City (MO) Jazz Conference, the Omaha Big Band, as well as local and regional orchestras. You only have to listen to his music once to understand why the Independent Artist Registry, www.independentartistregistry.com/steveraybine, selected Raybine over thousands of other artists. Raybine performs nationally at colleges and universities as a jazz artist and as a vibraphone soloist, recitalist and clinician He has appeared at Northern Illinois University, Marshall University; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Northeast Missouri State University; Florida State University; Nebraska Wesleyan University; University of South Dakota; the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota-Winona campus, Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, and Creighton University; and gave a clinic at the 2000 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASICS) in Dallas, Texas. Raybine has taught Jazz Studies and Percussion at Universities for over ten years with lectures and performances featured on Nebraska Public Radio and Nebraska Educational Television. He has presented research papers at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) conferences, which were published in conference proceedings. Raybine has had numerous articles published in Percussive Notes and Sticks and Mallets publications. In 1997, he received the Jazz Educator of the year Award for the State of Nebraska from the National Band Association. He is Past-President of the Nebraska Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and is a Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) composer. Raybine is an artist and clinician with Ludwig/Musser, endorses Mike Balter Mallets, and is the owner of SAR Music, LLC and BAD KAT Records, LLC. Discography. Steve Raybine and his band perform his original contemporary jazz music which incorporates urban funk, rhythm and blues, pop and Latin music elements. His first CD release was entitled Steve Raybine: Balance Act, and received airplay in the U.S. and on Eastside Radio 89.7 FM, Sydney, Australia. His second CD, Bad Kat Karma, was released in late June, 2005, on BAD KAT Records, LLC. Both CDs were showcased on the nation’s #1 smoothjazz online radio station, www.smoothjazz.com. In late fall of 2005 - 2006, Raybine’s hit single, Bad Kat Karma, Breezin’ and Breckenridge Blue were featured on over eighty (80) radio stations from coast to coast, numerous radio and internet stations in the U.S. and abroad (UK, Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain). Bad Kat Karma appeared on XM Satellite Radio’s Watercolors Channel, and Cable’s Music Choice, worldwide. Additionally, Steve Quirk of Fusion Flavours selected Raybine’s cover of George Benson’s iconic Breezin’ from Bad Kat Karma, as #50 on his Best of 2005 hit list at www.fusionflavours.com/bestof2005.php. Sunny was recently released March 1, 2007, and in its first ten days of airplay, appeared on numerous radio stations in seven U.S. States, worldwide on Sirius Satellite Radio, as well as on DMX Cable Radio Channels “Jazz Vocal Blend,” “Smooth Jazz,” and internet’s leading smoothjazz radio network, Smoothjazz.com. In the Spring of 2009, he released his 3rd CD, In the Driver’s Seat. Several singles including You Got It All, Step it Up, and the Bobby Caldwell cover, What You Won’t Do For Love, were released and received favorable airplay on over 150 terrestrial radio stations, satellite radio networks and internet stations through the U.S. as well as Europe. (See list available on request.) CD and download sales reported via iTunes, CD Baby and others throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Steve’s fourth CD is scheduled for release in mid-summer, 2015. Performances. Raybine’s band debuted at the 2003 Genuine Jazz Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado. His band has played local festivals and venues in Nebraska and Iowa, including the West Omaha Jazz and Gospel Festival, Jazz on the Green, and appeared again at the 2005 Genuine Jazz Festival. He appeared again at the 2006 Genuine Jazz Festival, was a headliner at the 2006 Omaha Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival, and appeared at the Ft. Meyer’s Jazz on the Green, Southwest Florida’s premier jazz event, (www.jazzonthegreen.com) in October, 2007. From 2008 - current, Raybine has appeared regularly at Omaha’s premier jazz nightclub, the Ozone, for “Smoothjazz Thursdays,” and twice at Omaha’s Jazz on the Green, in 2009 and 2011. He opened the 2010 Omaha Riverfront Jazz & Blues Festival with Boney James, headlined at both Jazz on the Green and Midtown Crossings in 2011, performed at the Omaha Arts & Entertainment (OEA) Awards in 2011 (and in 2013, received the OAE Award for Best Jazz Artist). Steve spent much of 2014 in the studio recording his latest CD, Cool Vibes. Booking Information/Electronic Press Kits. For further information about Raybine’s music and performing dates, please visit his website at www.steveraybine.com, on Facebook at Steve Raybine, or contact Cardinal EntertainmentTM at (402) 334-0900; (402) 657-2293; fax (402) 334-0534 or visit www.cardinalentertainment.com. Steve’s electronic press kit is available at http://www.steveraybine.com/presskit.htm More about Steve Raybine: 1. COOL VIBES, 2016 15 track CD release on BAD KAT Records, LLC 2. Raybine's music incorporates Jazz; R&B; Latin and Pop/Rock styles 3. Raybine's music has been played numerous times on over 150 terrestrial and Internet radio stations. 4. Raybine has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival; Genuine Jazz Festival, Breckenridge, CO.; Jazz on the Green, Fort Myers, Florida; Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival; Omaha Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival; Jazz on the Green, Omaha, NE. 5. Raybine's freelance performance credits include: Dave Brubeck; Dizzy Gillespie; Michael Feinstein; Karrin Allyson; Rick Braun; Ed Shaughnessy 6. Raybine is a vibraphone artist and clinician with LUDWIG/MUSSER 7. Raybine is sponsored by MIKE BALTER MALLETS 8. Raybine was a co-founder of the progressive jazz band AURACLE, on Chrysalis Records and ATV Publishing 9. Raybine has a Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Eastman School of Music in percussion performance 10. Raybine has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) from the University of Iowa in percussion performance 11. Raybine has been a music educator for 30 years in college/universities; K-12 and adults 12. Raybine's Music 4 Life, LLC has 40 music motivational posters on J. W. Pepper, music retailer 13. Raybine is a BMI Composer 14. Raybine worked as a Los Angeles studio musician as a percussionist 15. Steve Raybine's website is: www.steveraybine.com 16. Raybine's TWITTER ACCOUNTS are: @BadKatCafe (42,000) followers @Music4LifeLLC (8,500) followers 17. Facebook me at: Steve Raybine 18. Steve Raybine is a jazz vibraphone artist; percussionist; pianist; composer/arranger; recording artist; producer and music educator 19. Raybine's CD'S featuring his music on BAD KAT Records are: BALANCE ACT BAD KAT KARMA IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT COOL VIBES 20. Raybine's music can be purchased on: CD BABY iTunes Amazon