Press Quotes:

Trio – An exciting rare finding

"If it is art, then it is not for all. And when it is for all, then it is not art."  The first part of this striking quotation of the great composer Arnold Schoenberg fits perfectly the CD "Trio Music" of the three artists Tony Moreno (dm), Bill Gerhardt (p) and Mike Holstein (b). New York drummer Moreno is widely known to jazz aficionados as a sensitive percussionist in the tradition of Elvin Jones and Paul Motian. Highly talented professionals Gerhardt and Holstein, both very active in North Carolina, are truly "musicians' musicians". In the business this is the highest possible praise of distinction among the community of jazz musicians. And the gathering of these three exceptional musicians resulted in an artistically stellar recording session full of unexpected surprises: Interactive trio jazz of the highest level indeed!

                                                                           ~Juerg Sommer

Tony Moreno/Bill Gerhardt/Mike Holstein: "Trio Music"

(www. ArtofLifeRecords.com)

Art of Life  Tony Moreno "Trio Music"

Tony, After listening to your recording I must say that I was slightly wrong. Bill is not in the first rank, he is the first in the first rank ! The same can-- from my point of view-- be said of your percussion work and Mike's playing the bass. The conception of the album is breathtaking from A to Z, the interaction is unmatched by any other trio. And the music is full of surprises, a class of its own without clichés with chord progressions, with melodic and rhythmic turns that are fresh, unparalleled and unheard in the history of jazz.  And the music is not only interesting, it's beautiful and charming as well. Thank you so much for making this music happen and for preserving this document that makes us long for many follow-ups, hopefully. Please feel free to forward my enthusiasm to both Bill and Mike. Thanks so much once again to make such beautiful music happen. Kind regards, also to Art of Life, Bill and Mike

                                                                              ~  Juerg  Sommer 

Steeplechase Recording  Bill Gerhardt & Cotangent "Stained Glass"

Pianist Bill Gerhardt leads an outstanding group called Cotangent on this studio session. He contributed four of the seven compositions, highlighted by the demanding post-bop opener, "Visitor," which incorporates an Eastern flavor at times in the midst of its feverish theme, while featuring strong solos by tenor saxophonist Marc Mommaas and the leader. Equally enticing is the brooding, speech-like "Paragraph," which suggests the telling of a story, though without words. Bassist Mike Holstein and guest Mark Reboul open "Stained Glass" by playing waterphones, adding an eerie touch with their swirling, squeaky sound; when the full band comes in, adding trumpeter/flugelhornist Ron Horton, the piece becomes an intense post-bop cooker that avoids predictable paths. Horton is also present in "Words," a deliberate ballad that allows for terrific interplay. Drummer Tim Horner penned the loopy "Video Tapes and Lies," in which Gerhardt's opening line is suggestive of Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud" without ever playing it outright. ~ ~Ken Dryden, All Music Guide