Forget about "the art of the trio." It's undoubtedly a topic worth discussing when you look at this album, and one that automatically comes up when you look at any piano-centric threesome, but it's a phrase that's been overused. Instead, let's talk about the heart of the trio—how it beats, what it feeds, where it leads, and the manner in which it expands (and contracts) to forward life and development. That's a topic that's more apropos here, as pianist Jarrett Cherner radiates beauty while developing and sustaining his own stunning sonic circulatory system.

Expanding Heart finds Cherner waxing and waning on a musical-emotional front. There are pensive thoughts, bleak atmospheres, and gleeful romps to be heard, as moods veer and volley in different direction. No single train of thought or style dominates, but an overarching feeling of thoughtfulness permeates each and every performance.

Cherner is remarkably good at balancing sensitivity with dynamism, and bassist