Steve Raybine is a nationally known virtuoso vibraphonist who has earned a reputation for his exciting live performances and melodically-appealing and rhythmically-compelling
original contemporary jazz compostions. Raybine’s unique and refreshing musical sound and style is captivating jazz audiences throughout the United States and Europe. Labeling
Raybine as a jazz-only artist would be a huge mistake. He is equally talented at Funk, R&B, Pop and Latin sounds. You’ll 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.

As the co-founder, co-musical director, and performer/composer of the critically-acclaimed progressive jazz ensemble AURACLE, he toured the United States and 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; the Sopot Jazz Festival in Sopot, Poland and numerous jazz venues in Los Angeles. Raybine’s freelance
performance credits include Ed Shaughnessy, Dizzy Gillespie, Rick Braun, Ndugu Chancler, Michael Feinstein, Jack Jones, Roger Williams, Karrin Allyson, Dave Brubeck and as an opening act for Stanley Jordan. Raybine is a Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) composer, an artist and clinician with Ludwig/Musser, endorses Mike Balter Mallets, and is the owner of SAR Music, LLC and BAD KAT Records, LLC.

Raybine’s music has been featured on over eighty national and international radio stations. In addition, his music has been showcased on the nations #1 smooth jazz online radio
station, www.smoothjazz.com, and XM satellite radio. His first  release was entitled “Steve Raybine: Balance Act.” His second CD, “Bad Kat Karma,” was released in late June, 2005, on BAD KAT Records, LLC. It was listed as one of the top 50 jazz CD’s
in the U.K. for 2005 on the radio show, Fusion Flavors. His new critically-acclaimed CD  release is entitled “In The Driver’s Seat,” also on BAD KAT Records. Steve and his band have played jazz festivals and venues throughout the United States. For further
information about Raybine’s music and performing dates, please visit his website at www.steveraybine.com.

Steve Raybine

In The Driver’s Seat

Reviewed by Elaine K. Miller

Vibes, feelings or sensations a person experiences or feels, can be good or bad but when it relates to ‘Master of the Mallets’, Steve Raybine, the vibes are not just good but rather first-class, superior, or simply stated, sensational. When your play list can not stand the idea of yet another smooth jazz CD, playing Raybine's music can shift your musical paradigm and elevate your musical spirit. Raybine is not just another smooth jazz artist, but rather a talented musician in today's genre of contemporary jazz. An accomplished vibraphonist, percussionist, composer, arranger, author, instructor, educator and clinician, Raybine is extraordinarily unique, unlike any other in the industry, talented in jazz, urban funk, blues, pop, Latin and R & B.

In the Driver’s Seat (BAD KAT Records), the third solo CD for Raybine, exemplifies all of the above characteristics and notably 7 of the 11 cuts were written by Raybine. The album is very enjoyable and has no boundaries when it comes to listening pleasure or preference. Overall, In the Driver’s Seat is hip and groovy, has a nice underlying jazz tone and is very captivating, with memorable and catchy melodies.

The tracks that stand out on In the Driver’s Seat are Vibrafunk with a very smooth urban funk feel. The bluesy You Don’t Love Me Anymore, with the lustrous vocals of Jennifer Hill and a guest appearance by virtuoso sax man Nelson Rangell on alto saxophone. You’ve Got it All, a strikingly exquisite tune with a beautiful melody that is both soulful and sultry. The very upbeat Step It Up, featuring both alto and tenor saxophone solos by Michael Paulo and in addition, highlighting a younger Raybine, David, on the tenor sax. Lastly Turrentine’s Sugar, a remarkably elegant cut with a more traditional jazz feel and the absolutely expressively soulful take on the timeless classic Bobby Caldwell cover What You Won’t Do For Love.

The CD's five remaining tracks on In The Driver’s Seat are solid cuts that display great musical diversity. The saxophone is ubiquitous and there are many sax/vibe duets. In The Driver’s Seat has scores of bongos, congas and percussion in addition to a nice brassy horn section. This assorted miscellany can be heard in the tango-esque Latin vibed Hummingbird featuring Steve Kujala on flutes,  the catchy, sassy, get you moving Coffee Break and the be-boppish, do-woppish Strut your Stuff. Vibe solos are full and rich including covers of both Cole Porter’s Night and Day and the Gershwin/Heyward standard Summertime.

So sit back in The Driver’s Seat and enjoy only good vibes, in what may be Steve Raybine’s greatest work to date.