"The “classic” piano trio need not result in music high in gloss and technique and low in stimulating listening, as these three players prove on Vigil. Their music comes from somewhere other than the cocktail lounge, though hazarding a guess as to where might be a little fraught, especially as, on this evidence, the trio is intent on getting as far away from that lounge as is humanly possible. 
Although this is in essence a trio of equals and thus a model for some kind of democracy, Alby Balgochian’s bass repeatedly catches the ear. On the likes of “The Window Of Views,” he’s all over the music like a man with the most vibrant lust for life, shadowing, leading and following; Andy McWain’s piano playing, fluid in the sense that he has got the better of technique, responds as much to the prompts of Laurence Cook’s drums as it does to Balgochian. The word “trialogue” might not have attained legitimacy yet, but it’s high time it did, especially when it describes more or less precisely what’s going on here. 
Though this is rarefied music, there are of course historical precedents. Having said that, the looming but always welcome shadow of Cecil Taylor hardly makes its presence felt, and while the opening of “Impervious Light” comes closest to Taylor’s sonic rush, the impression is quickly dispersed by the trio’s move into less dense space. 
Andy McWain, for all of the individuality of his contributions, doesn’t go under the piano lid for greater variation in sound, and his devotion to the keyboard per se gives the music a limited, dry sonic palette. That is no problem when he works the palette as effectively as he does here, and indeed it might be argued that the resulting restriction, if indeed that’s what it is, is an integral part of the music’s success—especially when Balgochian coaxes unearthly bowed sounds out of his bass at the beginning of “Indestructible Red.” 
Part of the great appeal of this trio lies in the fact that the musicians know when not to play, something that cannot realistically be said of too many who worship at the altar of technique. That lends a further edge of distinctiveness to this disc, and it rewards repeated listening. 

 Nic Jones September 08, 2006 All about Jazz . com

"...I can't say that I've heard of Massachusetts-based pianist, Andy McWain, before this, but I've known of the great avant/jazz drummer Laurence Cook through his work with Bill Dixon, Thurston Moore, Joe McPhee, Daniel Carter and Paul Flaherty. Mr. Balgochian has been playing in the Cecil Taylor Trio & Orchestra, as well as a having a fine trio of his own with Sabir Mateen. This is a free piano trio and a strong one at that. Beginning slowly, but taking off quickly for the stratosphere. Albey's bass is in the center and is the busiest, quickly buzzing fleet, fast streams of notes as the piano and drums take their time and building together ever upwards. There is an organic connection and development in the way this disc unfolds. The playing is often streamlined and suspenseful and spacious. They do not play songs or do charted terrain, yet they work so well together, sailing and soaring together. In a blindfold test, you might mistake them for Herbie, Ron and Tony when they played with Miles in the mid-sixties. They occasionally erupt and reach for the stars. Which is pretty amazing considering few of us have heard of this trio before this very endeavor. It would be a shame for them to go unnoticed, so, dig in." - BLG 
downtownmusicgallery.com

"...a jazz trio. A classic format, but - happily - not engaged in an revisionist exercise here.Albey Balgochian is Cecil Taylor's current bass-player. Laurence Cook started in the end of the 60s and played with Alan Silva, Paul Bley and Bill Dixon to name a few. So different generations and experiences meet in this trio. No problem because all three speak the language of jazz fluently and they must have enjoyed that day in october 2004 enormously, when they made the recordings for this cd. The drummer has a modest way of playing but he makes sure that he is there. Always interested in the sound of color of instruments, my attention was caught to the very characteristic sound of Balgochian on bass. For instance, the opening of the last track opens with a vibrant bass-solo with some nice dissonance. McWain is an original and enthusiastic player with lots of ideas...A very pleasant cd from an original trio."
Dolf Mulder   www.vitalweekly.net