The trio Tapestry, led by Joe Lovano, released one of the most acclaimed albums of 2019. With "Garden of Expression," the ensemble further develops its musical vision, achieving a new depth of focus. Joe Lovano, whose saxophone playing spans an enormous stylistic range from jazz history to the present day, displays exceptional sensitivity in his collaboration with Tapestry. The compositions, created specifically for the trio, elicit subtle, nuanced responses from his fellow musicians, with Lovano describing the exchange within the group as "magical." Carmen Castaldi's spatially aware drumming refines the mutual understanding that he and Lovano have cultivated since the 1970s. Furthermore, the trio provides Marilynn Crispell with ample opportunity for solos, counter-melodies, and improvised embellishments, her keen ear for tonal color emphasizing the band's chamber music-like character. The subtle musical details are impressively showcased in this recording, which was made under optimal acoustic conditions in the Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in Lugano and directed by Manfred Eicher.
