Rare Blend
For over 15 years, 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 continues to receive favorable press reviews, and radio airplay, performing 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, Ozric Tentacles, Tunnels, Dark Star Orchestra, Kevin Eubanks, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Spyro Gyra, Frogg Cafe, Los Lobos, and others...
Victor Samalot
Victor Samalot Acoustic / Electric Guitar--25 years playing guitar, instructor, composer, arranger. Creates by gelling jazz, rock, Latin, and fusion. Favs: Jeff Beck, Phil Keaggy, Carlos Santana, Andy Summers, and many others...
Bobbi Holt
Bobbi Holt Keyboards / Vocals---20 years playing keyboards and singing. Composer and arranger, likes to work with string movements and exotic, cultural moods. Favs: Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Jan Hammer. Vocals in all styles and genres particularly jazz, soul, and rock.
RB Alum
>>1995... Rare Blend (Samalot / Holt), released their debut independent CD entitled Cinefusion as a duo. Recorded and produced by Vic Samalot and Bobbi Holt, the disc received local, national, and even international college radio airplay and was performed live in small intimate venues in Ohio.
>>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:
>>INFINITY (2000)
>>EVOLUTION THEORY (2002)
>>STOPS ALONG THE WAY (2006) Introduced veteran drummer (Fayreweather, Tie Die Harvest, and Wish You Were Here) Vince Broncaccio, 2005 and 2006.
>>SESSIONS (2009) Introduced veteran drummer Ivan George, influenced by Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers, 2007.
Big Thanks to the following for their outstanding contribution to RB over the years!
- Jeff Scott - Bass Guitar
- Paul Stranahan - Drums/Percussion
- Ivan George - Drums / Percussion
- Vince Broncaccio - Drums / Percussion
- Darren Frate - Bass Guitar
- Eric Highman - Bass Guitar
- Mike Kovacs - Drums
- George Lawrence - Drums
- Gabe O'Brien - Percussion
- Chris Rossvanes - Percussion
- Kip Reed - Bass Guitar - studio
- Steve Zavesky - Drums
