José Lencastre / Hernâni Faustino / Vasco Furtado: Vento

It would be interesting to learn the order in which the six tracks on this recording were laid down. Not so much that it would make for a better listening experience, because this is a thrilling debut, but it would give us clues into the organization and presentation of music by this new label, Phonogram Unit.

Saxophonist Jose Lencastre's trio includes Hernâni Faustino, a first-call bassist for musicians such as Luís Lopes, Rodrigo Amado and a member of the RED Trio and Lencastre's Nau Quartet. The trio is completed by drummer Vasco Furtado, who proves more than capable in keeping a pulse while originating all manner of percussive ideas.

Opening with "Here We Go," a complete meal of improvised music, the trio works through varying time signatures, solos and instrumental techniques. Faustino begins with fat plucked notes, eventually employing energized bowing, while Lencastre pecks notes and Furtado relies on a cowbell entrance that grows into a furious pulse from his whole kit. The opening track at 12+ minutes is an entire there-and-back excursion. Should it have been sequenced at the end of this disc? Maybe, or just maybe the trio has more in store.

"Abstração" is a brief overblown saxophone statement with scraping and rattle percussion and the honeyed pulse of bass. The trio can work the busy side of improvisation "Test Drive" with its intensity or mine a quiet minimal listening experience with "Ruínas." Ending with the title track, the musicians reach an equal balance of sound. Their gentlemen's agreement allows any of the three to push and stretch in any direction and the others will accommodate.