Danish drummer-composer Kirk has graced our pages a few times recently and the present quartet (minus Boulton who appears on just three of the album’s eight tracks) were reunited in Smith’s recent big band line-up at Ronnie Scott’s. So, birds of a feather evidently, and neo-mainstreamers by general inclination on this showing.

‘Opening Night’, the first of Kirk’s eight compositions on the album, is a languid exercise in Johnny Hodges-style alto playing that also hints at wider interests, Webb equally enterprising in his solo. ‘Palagio Shout’ is hectic, allowing Smith to display the rapidity of his thinking (and execution), Webb lucid in updated Wilson-style, bass and drums getting a turn. ‘Fontainebleu’ is a slow burner featuring Smith’s haunting soprano, the intensity of his solo building in classic fashion. ‘Honey’ benefits from Boulton’s rhythm guitar, Webb spare, riding the beat like Count Basie used to do.

The Italian-born Smith, now based in New York, but known for his Kansas Smitty associations in London, has an engaging sound, a fund of ideas and clearly revels in the close company of like-minded players all pulling together in swing style, this especially evident on ‘A Thing Like That’. Here the Hodges influence mutates into something more passionate, as he deploys the alto’s upper register and the precise articulation of later players. Webb is quite a find too, valuing precision and the notion that less is sometimes more. Kirk deserves our attention as much for his supportive drums as for his compositional flair. Delightfully varied, swinging music: to be encouraged!