"Derwyn is an authentic member of an important school of music that is to be treasured. He belongs to a group composers that helped usher in the "third stream" style of music, combining the richness of the cool jazz era with the tradition of classical music. His voice is distinctly American and should be recognized for his contribution as a bridge composer between the past and the present, as well as popular and high art music."
"I have listened to the entire work (Symphony No. 1 Medicare) It's quite beautiful and you should feel very proud of your efforts. I love the rich jazz harmonies, and interesting form through which the listener is taken. ...it's simply a beautiful work in which you dedicate to Medicare." ...
Maestro Jung-Ho Pak, conductor
" ... he uses time and space like a master architect within an always compelling musical framework. Holder approaches jazz from a classical perspective."
"Holder keeps the listener off-balance by never taking a melody where one expects it to go: and yet each of his digressions is both logical and persuasive…there's always a discernible melody."
All About Jazz
“…at once primitive and avant, a swinging equation”
Gene Kalbacher, Hot House Magazine
"...he has a surefire sense of space and solos marvelously on 'Blues Montreal' (and) on the Jobim-inspited 'Logical Absurdity.' "
Cadence Magazine
"The music, absent the formal structure of the classical concerti, had a feel of impressionism, the edges soft and subtle...the Guitar Concerto encouraged the conviction that there will be new music that someone might want to listen to... I will admit that I often find modern music hard to take. I find what is called minimalism repetitive and boring. And to my ears, atonal music is usually aggressively ugly. Thus I approached the Holder concerto with trepidation. I was very pleasantly surprised."
Sheila Abrams, NJ Maven
" Holder's playing melds the harmonic sophistication of Thelonious Monk with Bill Evans"
Michael Hotter, Greenville Press
"Holder makes use of a wide variety of styles - from straight ahead swing to modern, to samba - in compositions that have been praised for their masterful use of time and space."
The Teaneck Suburbanite
“Scriabin meets Monk…Derwyn plays piano like the brilliant composer he is. His style is sharp and clean"
Ned Einstein, pianist
"I have listened to the entire work (Symphony No. 1 Medicare) It's quite beautiful and you should feel very proud of your efforts. I love the rich jazz harmonies, and interesting form through which the listener is taken. ...it's simply a beautiful work in which you dedicate to Medicare." ...
Maestro Jung-Ho Pak, conductor
" ... he uses time and space like a master architect within an always compelling musical framework. Holder approaches jazz from a classical perspective."
"Holder keeps the listener off-balance by never taking a melody where one expects it to go: and yet each of his digressions is both logical and persuasive…there's always a discernible melody."
All About Jazz
“…at once primitive and avant, a swinging equation”
Gene Kalbacher, Hot House Magazine
"...he has a surefire sense of space and solos marvelously on 'Blues Montreal' (and) on the Jobim-inspited 'Logical Absurdity.' "
Cadence Magazine
"The music, absent the formal structure of the classical concerti, had a feel of impressionism, the edges soft and subtle...the Guitar Concerto encouraged the conviction that there will be new music that someone might want to listen to... I will admit that I often find modern music hard to take. I find what is called minimalism repetitive and boring. And to my ears, atonal music is usually aggressively ugly. Thus I approached the Holder concerto with trepidation. I was very pleasantly surprised."
Sheila Abrams, NJ Maven
" Holder's playing melds the harmonic sophistication of Thelonious Monk with Bill Evans"
Michael Hotter, Greenville Press
"Holder makes use of a wide variety of styles - from straight ahead swing to modern, to samba - in compositions that have been praised for their masterful use of time and space."
The Teaneck Suburbanite
“Scriabin meets Monk…Derwyn plays piano like the brilliant composer he is. His style is sharp and clean"
Ned Einstein, pianist