VIBRAPHONIST STEVE RAYBINE

Talking Smooth Jazz welcomes vibraphonist Steve Raybine.  In the late 90’s, Steve Raybine received some great encouragement from Rick Braun, his friend and former bandmate in the critically-acclaimed 70’s progressive jazz ensemble, Auracle. A longtime fan of the veteran vibraphone master and percussionist, the Smooth Jazz superstar suggested, “Why don’t you try to do for vibes what I’ve done with the trumpet?” Embracing Braun’s challenge, Raybine, a longtime music educator who was head of the jazz program at the University of Nebraska-Omaha at the time, has made it his mission since the release of his 2000 debut album Balance Act to make the vibes the centerpiece of a fresh contemporary sound within the genre – a dynamic alternative to the plethora of sax, guitar and keyboard artists.   His latest release, Cool Vibes, a soulful, tropical- tinged collection whose 15 tracks explore Raybine’s lifelong passions for jazz, R&B, Latin, pop/rock and blues. 

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