Adam Holzman [The Fents] with Zombie Apocalypse

 

Long long ago I posted The Fents' wonderful EP from 1979, back here.  Their discography can be seen here.  I always thought the 1983, 1987 albums were not quite as fiercely creative as the EP.  Anyways, the main creator and keyboardist was or is Adam Holzman who had a wonderful subsequent career, as you can read there:

Born on February 15, 1958 in New York City, son of Jac Holzman and Nina Merrick. Keyboard player with Miles Davis 1985-1989. Currently playing with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. Also toured and recorded with Grover Washington Jr., Chaka Khan, Steps Ahead, Wayne Shorter, Wallace Roney and his own band, Adam Holzman & Brave New World. Led Los Angeles jazz-rock band The Fents back in the 80's. Also teaches in the jazz department of the New School University in New York City.

So it's always interesting to hear what these greats from the past are up to nowadays.  His recent album is all instrumental furious fusion, of the kind we've heard quite a bit in the last couple of years (such as McGill, Manring, Stevens, or Ritchie DeCarlo).  

For example, Friend or Foe:

The Fents' 1979 EP

From Tom Hayes:

The Fents - s/t. 1979 private (EP).

The Fents - First Offense. 1982 VIP (later on the Not Yachting label).

When I first got together with my good friend Jeff in the late 1980s, we did what any two fanatical music fans do: Bring new tunes over to discover. By that time I had a pretty decent collection of rare progressive rock LPs from Italy, Germany, France, Scandinavia, etc... and Jeff possessed a lot from the US, England and Japan. And Jeff was also way ahead of the curve when it came to fusion. I wasn't as keen on the sounds of the 1980s back then, so some of the obscurities he brought over were lost on me. The Fents "First Offense" was one of those albums. A couple of years ago, Midwest Mike sent me a pile of CD-R's and this was included amongst them. That reignited my interest...

There's no question that "First Offense" is of 1982 vintage, especially after taking in the opening track. Funky slap bass, synthesizers and slick production qualities are laid out early and offer a somewhat dubious beginning. Perhaps a First Offense indeed. But The Fents were far more interesting than that, and as the album unfolds, a sophisticated blend of instrumental jazz and rock emerges, with complicated rhythms, smoking solos, and grittier sounds. The band themselves were influenced by some of the leading fusion artists of the day like Bruford, Holdsworth and the Dixie Dregs, and those artists' fingerprints are all over this.

Perhaps even more surprising on this visit with Jeff was his rediscovery of the very rare first EP. This album contains 4 songs, and a decidedly rougher edge - more akin to the progressive rock meets fusion bands of the late 70s. A CD that contains both of these albums would be ideal. The Fents finished their career with the 1987 album "The Other Side", which I understand was pressed on CD at the time of release.  Of interest to modern progressive rock fans, keyboardist Adam Holzman now occasionally plays with none other than Steven Wilson...

Priority: 3

Typical of their Muffins-like happy bussing along is the first track on the EP (to me, superior to First Offense) something called Ladsize, by guitarist Ted Hall:  

Note on the back the thanks given to Immanuel Kant and the laws of physics...

There is some biographical information to be found here.

Bonus, their first full length album, thanks to the blogger who ripped and shared that one long ago...