"Culled from live performances by a relatively short-lived trio that, with Magico (1980) and Folk Songs (1981), already stood as one of label head Manfred Eicher's most inspired collaborative suggestions, Carta de Amor liberally expands on material from both studio dates, but also adds plenty of music that, if familiar to fans of Garbarek, Gismonti and Haden individually, has not been heard performed by this vibrant chamber trio before - and, in the case of Haden's uplifting "All That is Beautiful," appears on record for the first time ... A set defined by selfless interplay, unrestrained yet ever-purposeful exploration, and the kind of power made all the more dramatic for Garbarek, Gismonti and Haden's ability to instantly change directions, as one, with the subtlest of gestures"

"They released good studio albums in 1979 and 1980, but this is a set of previously unreleased performances from 1981. It's an impassioned and fiercely improvisational collection of variations on powerful themes by all three, touching on Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra repertoire and Garbarek's free-jazz history. It also showcases Gismonti as a lyrical and abstract-effects guitarist, an inspired composer and a resourceful, Jarrettish pianist ... Gismonti's percussive and chordal effects are dazzling on Cega Aderaldo and Garbarek's traditional Folk Song; while Spor sets Garbarek's free improvisations against jaw's harp sounds, wah-wah noises and frenetic strumming. There are surprises on all eleven tracks"