Joe Lovano - Trio Tapestry - Garden of Expression

Joe Lovano - Trio Tapestry - Garden of Expression - ECM

"Garden of Expression" is the second collaboration between saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Carmen Castaldi under the rubric of Trio Tapestry. It is a recording of captivating music, all of which Lovano composed. Lovano states, "Each of the pieces is a song of expression where rhythm doesn't dictate the flow. This is not a band that starts from the beat. The momentum is in the melody and the harmonic sequence, and rhythm evolves within each piece in a very free flowing manner." 

"Free flowing" is not a bad way to describe the performances here that display a chamber jazz quality. Lovano usually states a melodic theme that he and Ms. Crispell develop in a musical conversation to which Castaldi adds rhythmic accents. The trio primarily is heard on lovely, thoughtful improvisations such as on the title track or "The Secret Chant." There is a bit more energy in Crispell's piano opening for "Dream on That," leading to Lovano's probing tenor over Castaldi's percolating percussion. 

One should not be surprised that the exquisite music on this album is also superbly recorded. Every nuance of Castaldi's percussion, every note of Crispell's piano, and every tonal shade of Lovano's tenor is clearly captured on the closing "Zen Like." The typically superb ECM engineering enhances the pleasures of this marvelous recording.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is a performance from Trio tapestry.