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Rare Blend

Since 1995, Rare Blend’s music resonates with purists as well as those who embrace a progressive multi-genre approach to original instrumental music. Pulling from a variety of influences and musical styles, Rare Blend has gained rave reviews regionally and worldwide from major publications such as All About Jazz, Jazz Review, 20th Century Guitar magazine, Progression Magazine, Relix Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Scene, and many more...also receiving college & internet radio airplay and CD sales in the US, Europe, South America, Austrailia, Japan, etc...

Because of their diversity and growing catalog of music, Rare Blend can be found performing on bills that range from Jazz to jam band, fusion to progressive rock. They have shared bills or have opened for the likes of David Sanborn, Special EFX, Ozric Tentacles, Tunnels, Dark Star Orchestra, Kevin Eubanks, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Spyro Gyra, Frogg Cafe, Los Lobos, and others...

Started in 1993, Rare Blend (Samalot / Holt), released their debut independent CD entitled Cinefusion as a duo. Recorded and produced by Vic Samalot and Bobbi Holt, Cinefusion received local, national, and even international college radio airplay and was performed live in small intimate venues in Ohio.

In 1998, Rare Blend expanded to a four piece with bassist/composer Jeff Scott and drummer Paul Stranahan. As a quartet, Rare Blend added additional musical texture to the original concept and took the live performance to a new level.

CD album recordings added to the catalog to date:


1 CINEFUSION (1995)

2 INFINITY (2000)

3 EVOLUTION THEORY (2002)

4 STOPS ALONG THE WAY (2006)
Introduced veteran drummer (Fayreweather, Tie Die Harvest, and Wish You Were Here) Vince Broncaccio, whose talent brought a fresh nuance to the group during 2005 and 2006.

5 SESSIONS (2009) With veteran drummer Ivan George, whose fusion style influenced by Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers has brought the improvisational edge to the RB fold since 2007.


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154
Album Review

Rare Blend: Infinity

Read "Infinity" reviewed by John W. Patterson


Having previously reviewed Rare Blend's self-titled EP release, I see they have added well over 25:00 worth of new tunes. It seems they also dropped a slow tune, “Isabella" this release. It is worth repeating that Rare Blend is Vic Samalot on guitar, Bobbi Holt on keys, Jeff Scott on bass, Paul Stranahan on drums, and Tom Doggett guesting on sax. This is guitar-driven, jazzy, funked up, fusion-ish jam. Samalot stretches amply as many of the compositions are primarily written ...

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117

Recording

#5 Is Live for Rare Blend

#5 Is Live for Rare Blend

Source: Michael Ricci

Scheduled for December 14th, 2009, instrumental music group Rare Blend will release their 5th CD album Sessions, an impressive 14 track disc of live recordings from stage and studio. Unlike the groups previous CDs, Sessions highlights Rare Blends one takes, and in the moment jam-fusion instrumentals. Sessions features new songs and improvisations from shows in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and in-studio improvs recorded at Odyssey Studios in Cleveland. Also included are selections from a taping for the Crooked River Groove television ...

Both “jazz” and “jam band” in nature, "SESSIONS" is an exercise in the “single-take” mentality that has become one of the band’s trademarks. (Jud Conway - Kindweb.com)

"RARE BLEND can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with BRAND X and the best of the progressive/jazz/fusion groups, and “Sessions” is as good as anything recorded by their peers. Highly recommended to aficionados of fusion and improvisational jam bands". (Joseph Shingler - Prognaut.com / Bangor, ME)

These tracks exhibit the band’s knack for agreeable pacing and smart use of breathing space. In competently mining the heady realms of Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, etc., Rare Blend joins exclusive company.” (Progression Magazine - USA)

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sessions

TSM Productions
2009

buy

Stops Along The Way

TSM Productions
2006

buy

Infinity

TSM Productions
2000

buy
https://soundcloud.com/rareblend?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

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