Adam Holzman Photo by Rex Miller. Photo courtesy and © Adam Holzman
Background before joining Miles: Played in bands around LA including a funk band, the Fents.
How he got the Miles gig: In 1985, Holzman worked in a music store in LA and was spotted by producer Randy Hall, who was so impressed with his keyboard skills and synthesizer prowess that he asked Holzman to participate in some sessions he was doing with Miles. Miles in turn was impressed enough to ask Holzman to join his band as second keyboardist.
Played from: October 1985 – October 1989
Official albums and DVDs featured on: Tutu, Live Around The World, The Complete Miles Davis At Montreux, Live in Munich (DVD), Miles Davis And His Group (DVD), Rubberband, Live At Montreux – Highlights 1973-1991 (DVD), The Definitive Miles Davis at Montreux (DVD), That’s What Happened (DVD), Perfect Way: The Miles Davis Anthology – The Warner Bros. Years, Tutu: Deluxe Edition, Miles Davis 1986-1991: The Warner Years, The Last Word.
Tracks worth checking out: “Splatch,” (studio and live versions), “Amandla” (live), “Portia” (live”), “Don’t Stop Me Now,” (live), “Time After Time” (live).
Holzman on Miles: “I learnt how to run a band and to be more patient. For example, if a new piece of music didn’t sound that great initially, Miles wouldn’t panic. He would keep performing it and eventually it would develop into something hip. Miles had a great sense of humour [and] he also had this great presence. When he walked into a room, everybody knew it.”
Comments: Holzman was another important member of Miles’s bands during the final decade. He began by playing on the Rubberband album sessions, played and helped with the synthesizer programming on the early Tutu sessions and stayed in Miles’s band for four years. In late 1988, Holzman became Miles’s musical director. He left Miles’s bands to pursue other projects. Since Miles’s death, Holzman has been involved in a number of Miles-related projects. He played with the tribute band ESP 2 and also worked on a number of album projects, most notably, Doo-Bop, Live Around The World, The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux, Live in Munich DVD, The Cellar Door boxed set and the unreleased Warner Bros boxed set, The Last Word.
Website: www.adamholzman.com
