On their debut album Gecko, the saxophonist-composer Tom Smith and his trio sound like old hands at the kind of contrapuntal chamber jazz that's previously been presented by English ensembles such as Stan Sulzmann's Neon trio, Tim Garland's Nocturnes and Acoustic Triangle. That's an influence that could stretch all the way back via ECM to the Modern Jazz Quartet. Smith borrows a spark of that inspiration by hiring saxophonist Garland as producer and the vibrant clarity of the recording justifies his selection. Formed in 2016 the ex-Royal Academy, two-time Young Jazz Musician of the Year finalist has compiled an attractive set of originals that interweaves rhythmic vamps with richly melodic counterpoint with an elegant precision while never lacking in warmth or passion. It might not be the kind of fashionable young booty-shaking British jazz hitting the headlines at the moment, but the recording is bursting with pulsating rhythms considering there's no drum and bass section. The impressive line-up of 2018 Kenny Wheeler prize winner Jonny Mansfield on vibes and bright young pianist Will Barry combines excellently with Smith's colourful sax tone and phrasing. The inspirational backdrop to the compositions revolves in part around personal themes about gender and sexual identity, in this case, only serving to intensify the engaging compositional narrative.