Like Mind Trio
Like a lot of good things in life, the Like Mind Trio happened almost completely by accident. Matthew had an engagement to fill for a performance at an Asheville Symphony fund raiser and called Mike to play bass. The drummer they had in mind was unavailable, but he recommended Justin who had just moved to town two months prior. They got together for a rehearsal to run down some of the material and the rapport was immediately apparent.
The group built upon that initial meeting, developing a unique style of ensemble driven, interactive improvisation. Call it jazz, but it also includes elements of chamber music and even rock. The group presents opportunities for each member to introduce musical ideas and compositions that change over time and constantly evolve. The group aesthetic is intelligent, yet accessible and always exciting.
The group built upon that initial meeting, developing a unique style of ensemble driven, interactive improvisation. Call it jazz, but it also includes elements of chamber music and even rock. The group presents opportunities for each member to introduce musical ideas and compositions that change over time and constantly evolve. The group aesthetic is intelligent, yet accessible and always exciting.
Matthew Richmond
Matthew Richmond is a percussionist, composer, and educator based in Asheville, North Carolina. He performs frequently with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Like Mind Trio, and pop-noir group stephaniesid, and has performed with a long list of ensembles and soloists in classical, jazz, rock, theater, drum corps, and world music. As vibist, percussionist, and co-composer with the Rande Sanderbeck Quartet, Matthew has recorded masterclass CD’s for Jazz Player and Saxophone Journal magazines.
As an educator, Matthew has been active in various capacities for over twenty years. He has directed concert, pop, and world percussion ensembles at the high school and college levels. He served as pit arranger and instructor for the ETSU percussion section, both marching band and indoor percussion, from 1991-97, during which time the ensemble performed at four Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. He was a music instructor for the 1999 Rochester Patriots winter percussion, and from 1999 to 2005 he directed the percussion program at A. C. Reynolds High School. He currently teaches percussion, composition, and music theory at UNCA.
Matthew’s compositions include works for string orchestra, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, chamber ensembles, electronics, and instrumental soloists. He composed and directed incidental music for Gilgamesh, a dance-drama by Black Swan Theatre and the Asheville Ballet, and Blind Desire, an original play by The Road Company theater group. His Concerto for Vibraphone was premiered in spring 2002 by the ETSU Percussion Ensemble. Many of his compositions are published worldwide by Studio 4 Music.
Matthew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from East Tennessee State University, and a Master’s in Percussion Performance and Composition from Ithaca College. His primary teachers include Gordon Stout and Rande Sanderbeck in percussion, and Greg Woodward, Gordon Stout, and Dana Wilson in composition.
As an educator, Matthew has been active in various capacities for over twenty years. He has directed concert, pop, and world percussion ensembles at the high school and college levels. He served as pit arranger and instructor for the ETSU percussion section, both marching band and indoor percussion, from 1991-97, during which time the ensemble performed at four Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. He was a music instructor for the 1999 Rochester Patriots winter percussion, and from 1999 to 2005 he directed the percussion program at A. C. Reynolds High School. He currently teaches percussion, composition, and music theory at UNCA.
Matthew’s compositions include works for string orchestra, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, chamber ensembles, electronics, and instrumental soloists. He composed and directed incidental music for Gilgamesh, a dance-drama by Black Swan Theatre and the Asheville Ballet, and Blind Desire, an original play by The Road Company theater group. His Concerto for Vibraphone was premiered in spring 2002 by the ETSU Percussion Ensemble. Many of his compositions are published worldwide by Studio 4 Music.
Matthew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from East Tennessee State University, and a Master’s in Percussion Performance and Composition from Ithaca College. His primary teachers include Gordon Stout and Rande Sanderbeck in percussion, and Greg Woodward, Gordon Stout, and Dana Wilson in composition.
Mike Holstein
Bassist/composer Mike Holstein has been playing music since early childhood. His first instruments were guitar, violin, piano and drums. It wasn’t until he was attending Western Carolina University that he discovered the bass. His affinity for the instrument was immediately apparent. Within a few years he was performing regularly and became one of the most sought after bassists in the Southeast. From the beginning he was writing his own music. He joined the creative young jazz group, the Taken Back Quartet. This ensemble soon became a fixture on the thriving Asheville music scene. They played to a loyal almost cult-like following.
In 2001, the members of the quartet along with Sharon LaMotte formed the Jazz Composers Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to the presentation and documentation of original, instrumental jazz. The Forum became a mainstay of the local music fabric as Mike and the Taken Back Quartet accompanied guest composers in concert presentations. Mike’s involvement grew with the forum whose activities now include workshops, presentations in grade schools and tours of venues throughout the region. He has presented his own music multiple times as leader and in the capacity of ‘Composer-in-Residence’.
Since 2004, Mike has been a member of the band Cotangent, a New York based group led by pianist/composer Bill Gerhardt. He has played on two recordings with this band, “Stained Glass” and “Thrive”. He also appears on Tony Moreno’s “Trio Music” (Art of Life Records). He has performed with Joe Locke, Ingrid Jensen, Randy Brecker, Frank Kimbrough, Kendra Shank, Ron Horton, Marc Mommaas and Tim Horner among others. A truly gifted musician, Mike is finding himself more in demand than ever as he performs in jazz clubs in New York, throughout the Carolinas and continues to be a force with the Jazz Composers Forum.
In 2001, the members of the quartet along with Sharon LaMotte formed the Jazz Composers Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to the presentation and documentation of original, instrumental jazz. The Forum became a mainstay of the local music fabric as Mike and the Taken Back Quartet accompanied guest composers in concert presentations. Mike’s involvement grew with the forum whose activities now include workshops, presentations in grade schools and tours of venues throughout the region. He has presented his own music multiple times as leader and in the capacity of ‘Composer-in-Residence’.
Since 2004, Mike has been a member of the band Cotangent, a New York based group led by pianist/composer Bill Gerhardt. He has played on two recordings with this band, “Stained Glass” and “Thrive”. He also appears on Tony Moreno’s “Trio Music” (Art of Life Records). He has performed with Joe Locke, Ingrid Jensen, Randy Brecker, Frank Kimbrough, Kendra Shank, Ron Horton, Marc Mommaas and Tim Horner among others. A truly gifted musician, Mike is finding himself more in demand than ever as he performs in jazz clubs in New York, throughout the Carolinas and continues to be a force with the Jazz Composers Forum.
Justin Watt
Born in Ravenna, Ohio, Justin began his study of percussion and drum set at the age of ten. He has received music degrees in Percussion Performance from two esteemed universities. In 2002 he obtained a Bachelors of Music Degree from the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University and in 2005 a Masters of Music Degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. He also spent the Fall of 2002 semester doing post-graduate work at Cleveland State University. His principal teachers include Ted Rounds (KSU), Dr. Glenn Schaft (YSU), Tom Freer (The Cleveland Orchestra), and Mark Gonder (The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra), among others.
Justin started his professional career in his early-teens playing various rock and jazz related gigs near his hometown. Throughout college he freelanced principally in Northeast Ohio most frequently in the jazz, pop/rock, theatrical and classical idioms. He recently finished a 2 year stint as the drummer for the Glenn Miller Orchestra where he toured throughout the United States, Japan and Canada. He has also performed with many notable performers such as Jim McNeely, Michael Burritt, comedian Jack Carter, Larry O’Brian, David Morgan, The Four Aces, Dolores Parker Morgan, Julia Rich, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Paul McGhee, Joey De Francesco, Nick Hilscher, Bobby Shew, Kent Englehardt and Jimmy Heath.
Currently, Justin is residing in Asheville, NC where he is free-lancing and involved with many music related projects. In addition to playing with the Like Mind Trio, he is the drummer for the Asheville Jazz Orchestra, a full sized jazz big band made up of many professional musicians from the Asheville region. Justin also plays drums in the Bill Gerhardt Trio, Shane Perlowin Trio and numerous other jazz and improvisational music groups. He is also active with several regional theater groups such as the Asheville Community Theater, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater and the Haywood Arts Regional Theater. Most recently, along with Mike Holstein, Justin co-hosts and organizes the Asheville Original Music Series, a weekly session held at the Altamont Theatre that features a regional composer and their music. In addition to these projects, Justin teaches percussion at the Asheville Music School. He is also an adjunct Percussion instructor at the University of North Carolina Asheville and teaches drum-set at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
Justin started his professional career in his early-teens playing various rock and jazz related gigs near his hometown. Throughout college he freelanced principally in Northeast Ohio most frequently in the jazz, pop/rock, theatrical and classical idioms. He recently finished a 2 year stint as the drummer for the Glenn Miller Orchestra where he toured throughout the United States, Japan and Canada. He has also performed with many notable performers such as Jim McNeely, Michael Burritt, comedian Jack Carter, Larry O’Brian, David Morgan, The Four Aces, Dolores Parker Morgan, Julia Rich, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Paul McGhee, Joey De Francesco, Nick Hilscher, Bobby Shew, Kent Englehardt and Jimmy Heath.
Currently, Justin is residing in Asheville, NC where he is free-lancing and involved with many music related projects. In addition to playing with the Like Mind Trio, he is the drummer for the Asheville Jazz Orchestra, a full sized jazz big band made up of many professional musicians from the Asheville region. Justin also plays drums in the Bill Gerhardt Trio, Shane Perlowin Trio and numerous other jazz and improvisational music groups. He is also active with several regional theater groups such as the Asheville Community Theater, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater and the Haywood Arts Regional Theater. Most recently, along with Mike Holstein, Justin co-hosts and organizes the Asheville Original Music Series, a weekly session held at the Altamont Theatre that features a regional composer and their music. In addition to these projects, Justin teaches percussion at the Asheville Music School. He is also an adjunct Percussion instructor at the University of North Carolina Asheville and teaches drum-set at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
