Steve Raybine(1954-2021) was 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 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; 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 Corp. Raybine's freelance performance credits include Ed Shaughnessy, Dizzy Gillespie, Rick Braun, Ndugu Chancler, Michael Feinstein, Jack Jones, Roger Williams, Karrin Allyson, Dave Brubeck, as an opening act for Stanley Jordan, the Kansas City (MO) Jazz Conference, the Omaha Big Band, as well as many other local and regional orchestras.

Download Steve Raybine's bio (from 2016).

Sandy Shore, President Smoothjazz.com, August, 2005:
"When we refer to Steve Raybine as an accomplished musician, it's an understatement. Steve is not only a virtuoso vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer/arranger, he is also an instructor and clinician……BAD KAT KARMA is the 2nd solo release for this talented recording artist. This new collection of mostly original Smooth Jazz adeptly incorporates urban funk, R&B, pop and Latin influences. Steve's infectious melodies are sure to get you groovin'."

Raybine 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 presented research papers at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) conferences, which were published in conference proceedings. Raybine had numerous articles published in Percussive Notes and Sticks and Mallets. In 1997, he received the Jazz Educator of the year Award for the State of Nebraska from the National Band Association. Raybine was a Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) composer, an artist and clinician with Ludwig/Musser, endorsed Mike Balter Mallets, and owned of SAR Music, LLC.

Steve Raybine and his band performed his original contemporary jazz music which incorporates urban funk, rhythm and blues, pop and Latin music elements. His melodically-appealing music has been featured on over 130 national and international radio stations. In addition, his music has been showcased on the nation's #1 smooth jazz online radio station, www.smoothjazz.com, and XM satellite radio. His first CD release was entitled Steve Raybine: Balance Act. His 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. Steve and his band debuted at the 2003 Genuine Jazz Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado. His band played local festivals and venues in Nebraska, Iowa and Colorado, including the West Omaha Jazz and Gospel Festival, Jazz on the Green, The Soiled Dove, and appeared again at the 2005 Genuine Jazz Festival. Steve performed as a sideman for Rick Braun at The Taste of Colorado (Denver) and the Thornton Winery in Temecula, CA.

Elaine Miller, freelance writer and contributor to Smoothnotesandnews.com, August 1, 2005:
"Steve Raybine is known as the "Master of the Mallets." Bad Kat Karma has a nice underlying groove with very intoxicating, hypnotic and catching melodies…So get going, put on your Cha Cha Cool shades, in the Breezin', Sunny, Breckenridge Blue, before the Indigo Night in the Bop City and show everyone what Bad Kat Karma is! Put in a copy of BKK and experience and hear for yourself what the "Master of the Mallets," Steve Raybine has to say. I promise you, you will not be disappointed!"