Rare Blend is where rock, jazz, fusion, and world music collide! This statement definitively sums up the instrumental music group, home based in Cleveland Ohio, and now in their 12th year. Theirs is a journey that started during the independent music revolution, and that has no intention of slowing down.
Pulling from a variety of influences and musical styles to write unique instrumental arrangements, Rare Blend’s music appeals to purists as well as those who embrace a progressive multi-genre approach to original music. They continue to receive favorable press reviews, radio airplay, perform at a variety of concerts and outdoor festivals, and have been invited to be included on regional and national compilation discs. 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, Tunnels, Dark Star Orchestra, Kevin Eubanks, Blood, Average White Band, Sweat & Tears, Spyro Gyra, Frogg Cafe, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius, Los Lobos, and others...
Rare Blend's latest Disc "Stops Along The Way" took the band on the road metaphorically, with the disc chronicling their travels in 13 compositions. Each piece is rich in personality and instrumentation. Many are structured pieces but the disc also introduces 3 “live” improvisation tracks, and 2 vocal tracks that echo our universal connection.
News:
Rare Blend is planning to record their live performances as well as review archived live studio cuts for their fifth album tentatively titled Five & Live. The focus will be on capturing the best of the groups improvisations over the course of 2008.
The band has also developed a music/film series entitled Bridging The Gap where the band performs original selections and improvisations to the screenings of silent films. See RBs Film Page on their website for further info. Currently booking presentations for 2009.
Press:
This is as tasty as fusion gets - very structured, very "lyrical" for a mostly instrumental work, plus liberal rock moves to give it added weight and kick. "Stops Along The Way" stays on track for a delightful ride. (John Collinge / Progression Magazine - Lowell, MA)
The musicians perform at a very high level, the production and sound are quite good and most importantly, the compositions are all interesting. STOPS ALONG THE WAY is an album I will certainly revisit in the future. Recommended! (Marc - Proggnosis / Golden Valley, MN)
It's really astonishing what brilliant bands you can discover if you dig deeper and don't rely on the crap being published by most of big major companies. Rare Blend should appeal to everyone who likes a good rocking mixture of Jazz Rock / Fusion with a light Latin and Funk touch. (Kristian Selm / Progressive Newsletter - Leonberg, Germany)
"Stops Along The Way" is Rare Blend's most efficient recording. The songs naturally jump genres while traveling through an aural landscape that's filled with songs that pretty much fit their titles. (Michael Gallucci / Scene Magazine - Cleveland, OH USA)
Rare Blend is a very seasoned group from the Cleveland, Ohio area. "Stops Along The Way" is what I would call a jazz/fusion jam band album. I have heard a lot of mixed feelings about jam bands but when it sounds good you cant deny that the players know what they are doing. (Jimmy Caterine / Guitarnoise.com - Canada)
Wonderful compilation of tracks. I have been waiting for this release since the announcement of a new project was in the works. Get this one, and then you're hooked. You'll get the other three, like I did. (RB fan - Baltimore, MD)
Rare Blend takes a metaphorical journey on its new CD. The disc on the whole is a heady experiment and as always, the band combines bites of fusion, progressive rock, and funk. (Jeff Niesel / Free Times Magazine - Cleveland, OH)
I recently took a trip to Cleveland and happened upon a radio station ( 89.3 ) I believe, and heard some of your music. I was blown away, mostly because I too was a professional musician in the late 70s early 80s and enjoyed this style of music. It is refreshing to hear that it is still as alive as it was then! (Jimmy Valentine - RB Fan)
