The Muffins

by Jim DorschAlmost entirely instrumental, the Muffins music was a unique blend of Canterbury progressive, fusion, improvisation and much more. The group was formed in the Washington, DC area in the early 70s by Dave Newhouse (keyboards), Billy Swan (vocals, bass and guitar), Tom Scott (woodwinds) and Michael Zentner (guitar and violin). Stuart Abramowitz played drums from August 1975 until July 1976. This group recorded the home and studio demo recordings heard on the Chronometers CD.Zentner and Abramowitz left in July 1976. Drummer Paul Sears joined the next month, setting the stage for the groups most popular period. The group released Manna/Mirage in 1978, and soon after released a limited-edition, live LP called Air Fiction. The band also worked with Fred Frith on his solo LP, Gravity. Frith produced the bands next LP, 185, in late 1980. The Muffins disbanded six months later. In the early 90s, the band played at a private party, resulting in Hobart Got Burned on the Unsettled Scores compilation (Cuneiform,1995), and it wasnt until July 16, 1998, that group came together again — this time for a reunion show in Washington, D.C. This reunion lasted, leading to a number of concerts by the Muffins over the next several years. Tom Scott, Paul Sears, Billy Swan and Dave Newhouse also hit the studios in 2001.