Formed in 1989, Advent began as a collaboration between Alan Benjamin and Henry Ptak, with Henry’s brother Mark joining very shortly thereafter. Leveraging diverse-yet-harmonious backgrounds and a common desire to create music that would, first and foremost, satisfy the members’ own progressive and somewhat eclectic musical desires, the band released its critically acclaimed (self-titled) debut CD on Mellow Records in 1997 and also contributed several pieces to both Gentle Giant and Procol Harum tribute-album projects around the same time.
The group released its long-awaited follow-up CD, Cantus Firmus, in 2006—to numerous rave reviews—and, after a series of live performances in support of the album, went on release its most ambitious studio album to date, Silent Sentinel (2015). Armed with the powerful rhythm section of long-time drummer Joe D’Andrea and new bassist Tom Hyatt, Advent is currently preparing to hit concert stages once again later this year (2019).