The start of Rare Union
began in 2019. It started with LA Smith from New York, percussionist. LA
Smith had been wanting to produce a CD, with a lot of percussion. To
pass percussion on to kids all over the world. After completing a
national tour with The Randy Oxford Band in 2014, LA decided to play at
festivals with headliners, and do percussion workshops, passing on 12
sets of bongos at each workshop to low-income kids all over the western
hemisphere.At the same time, Martin Cage lead guitarist from Nemesis,
was looking to put some of his original compositions into a CD.
LA
Smith now out of Columbia MO, and Martin Cage out of Salt Lake UT,
decided to get together, and see what would happen.They went into El
Centro studio in Columbia, Missouri and start recording. They added
Jerry Russo, a local rhythm drummer and the three of them put together
first six songs.Then the pandemic hit, and it was a challenge to bring
any artists in to the studio. The studio added UV lighting, and slowly
they started to work on the CD. Martin Cage had played with vocalist,
guitar player, Max Soler from FT Myers, in the group Nemesis. So, when
they called Max he was ready to go. Over the next year and a half, they
had several recording sessions. They had Will Reeves on bass and Danny
Carrol on drums, both from Columbia, MO. They played together in several
groups. Before too long they had 9 more songs.The songs started to get
real heart felt lyrics, guitar breaks and solos that bring out the
original sound that Rare Union turned out to be. They did not go into
the studio trying to produce a particular sound, just wanted to make
good music. What happened was chemistry, with five artists, with all
different backgrounds, from 5 different states playing together. As the
songs Martin had composed evolved and began to take shape, Max would add
lyrics, guitar. Both Martin Cage and Max Soler would switch off on lead
and rhythm. LA Smith and Danny Carroll would build the structure of the
songs and decide how to incorporate the drums and percussion. Will
Reeves did the bass lines and engineered the CD. They ended up with a
new blues rock sound.The addition of Micael Kott on Cello, from Santa Fe
NM, was added. His recording was done at Frogville Studios in Santa Fe,
NM. Michael Kott plays cello all over the world with Peter Buffet. His
cello is on “Won’t Be Lost” and “Brother of Mine”.With the CD getting
produced, and final vocals getting finished the band needed a name.
That’s where Dawn Smith suggested Rare Union. It described this band,
born in a pandemic, from five states, with all new original music. Dawn
set up all the production of the CD, web site, Domain, copywrite and
trademarks.
Naming
the CD was easy, Max Soler and Martin Cage had a friend who passed, and
he was considered a brother. So, the band named the CD, “Brother of
Mine”.Rare union is now setting dates to do three videos and the start
of the next CD in March. Wanting to have it out by the middle of
October.They have been invited to several festivals, and are lining up
festivals around the world to play. Hopping for 2023, but with the
pandemic may be 2024.
https://rareunionband.com/
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
