Advent (6)

Perhaps a modern equivalent to the symphonic side of classic English progressive-rock groups, Advent seeks to blend true classical-quality composition with the excitement and dynamics of rock music. Initially formed over 20 years ago as a collaboration between guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Alan Benjamin and keyboardist/vocalist/composer Henry Ptak, with keyboardist/vocalist Mark Ptak joining upon his graduation from the Berklee College of Music, this early incarnation of the group quickly developed a demo tape that received an extraordinary amount of praise at the time including serious interest from major labels Polygram and EMI Classical. As a result of the band’s participation in two Gentle Giant tribute projects - the independently released Giant Tracks and Giant for a Life on the Italian label Mellow Records - Advent received an enthusiastic offer to press its self-titled debut album as well, with Mellow Records releasing the CD in April of 1997. In spite of the sonic limitations associated with its rather modest production, the album was greeted with numerous accolades and also sold out more quickly than just about any other title in Mellow’s expansive catalog. After working on a tune for ESPN Classic and another tribute recording The Best of the Whalers, a double-CD tribute to Procol Harum, the group concentrated nearly all its efforts on creating a second album that would expand and improve significantly upon the first, both in terms of creativity and audio fidelity. With the addition of accomplished jazz drummer Drew Siciliano, Advent completed this effort, culminating in the release of Cantus Firmus in 2006 - a CD that received a host rave reviews, as well as impressively high rankings in several “best of 2006” lists. Feeling very strongly that it was time to bring the band’s music to a live setting, Advent rehearsed intensely for a series of concerts that began with a much-heralded debut at the New Jersey Proghouse in May of 2007. Since that time, the group has gone on to deliver striking performances at ProgDay in North Carolina and MarProg in Connecticut. During this time, Advent's then-expanded six-piece lineup also recorded Canto XXVI (The Evil Counselors) for the Colossus/Musea Dante’s Inferno 4-CD concept compilation - another effort which has generated a significant amount of recognition. Armed with a powerful new rhythm section of Joe D'Andrea on drums, vocals, violin and Brian Mooney on bass, vocals, the group has spent the last few years refining its live performance and composing groundbreaking material for the new album, Silent Sentinel, which was officially released on August 11, 2015.