Tori Freestone was a late starter on saxophone having spent her early youth playing violin in the folk clubs of south east London before going on to specialise in flute at Leeds College of Music. She's paid her dues since then, making a significant contribution to larger ensembles from LOOP Collective bands such as Rory Simmons' Fringe Magnetic and the Ivo Neame sextet through to the Jamil Sheriff Big Band, London Jazz Orchestra and Neil Yates' N-Circle Orchestra among others. In contrast, for In the Chop House her debut as leader, the saxophonist-composer explores the more exposed, harmonically open-ended format of the sax-bass-drums trio. It features a pair of fellow postcode E17 dwellers, the consistently excellent, in-demand drummer Tim Giles and the acoustic bassist Dave Manington whose patient solos and sparing bass outlines allow the music here plenty of room to breathe. Meanwhile Freestone is inventive, feinting and jabbing at themes and in often playful, dance-like conversation with drums and bass, taking liberties with what we might think of as the traditional instrumental roles. The Celtic song, ‘My Lagan Love’, is informed by her roots playing folk music, while the originals reflect some of her major influences such as the lilting folky-ness of a Julian Argüelles tune or a funkily post-bop dedication to Chris Potter titled ‘Pottering Around’. Non-originals likewise, including an elliptical Wayne Shorter-ish take on Gershwin's ‘But Not for Me’ and an interpretation of the song ‘Both Sides Now’ by another of her heroes, Joni Mitchell. With its tender sax invocation reminiscent of Charles Lloyd, it's one of the highlights of a recording that has a real depth to it.