Colin Steele - Stramash II

RELEASED 12/06/26

When Colin Steele released 'Stramash' in 2008, it was nothing short of groundbreaking. Fusing the melodic soul of Scottish folk music with the harmonic sophistication and improvisational fire of jazz, it created a sound that felt entirely new. Eighteen years on, Steele returns with the long-awaited sequel: 'Stramash II'.

The original 'Stramash' was met with universal critical acclaim. The Independent hailed it as “the best amalgam of bop and folk yet,” while The Sunday Times named it the second-best jazz release in the world in 2008 — narrowly edged out by Melody Gardot. Yet despite the accolades, the album defied easy categorisation. Too jazzy for some folk purists, too folk-infused for certain jazz traditionalists, it sat gloriously outside the boxes. Perhaps the world simply wasn’t ready.

It is now.

In recent years, a new wave of Scottish musicians has reshaped the musical landscape. Pianist Fergus McCreadie has garnered international success, even playing with his trio on the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s recent film 'Highest 2 Lowest'. Alongside artists such as saxophonists Matt Carmichael and Norman Wilmore, this new generation has embraced and expanded the fertile ground between Scottish folk traditions and contemporary jazz. The climate has changed. Ears have opened.

With ‘Stramash II’, Steele reclaims the helm with his trailblazing ten-piece ensemble and delivers a set of deeply personal, strikingly beautiful compositions. Folk-rooted melodies intertwine seamlessly with jazz harmony, groove and improvisation, creating music that is cinematic, evocative and utterly distinctive.

On the elegiac “Declaration of Arbroath,” you can almost see the Scottish lairds emerging from the early morning mist, gathering to sign the historic document. “Elgin Laddie” begins with the lilt of a reel, fiddles dancing with unmistakable Scottish character before being joined by a jazz rhythm section and horns straight out of 1930s Harlem.

“Fergus,” dedicated to Fergus McCreadie, opens with a restless, dynamic ‘choppy’ fiddle motif, quickly joined by a powerful piano trio groove and fiery improvisation. Hypnotic bagpipes soar above the original riff, blending ancient and modern in thrilling fashion.
 
“Benromach” takes listeners on a journey through a traditional Speyside whisky distillery before spiralling into an exuberant, alcohol-fuelled bagpipe frenzy — with a playful hint of Lionel Ritchie along the way.

The album closes with “Bangers and Stramash,” a groove-driven finale in which melodies are tossed between horns and strings, pushing the latter thrillingly beyond their comfort zone. In truth, every track here is a banger.

And the musicianship is, quite simply, stellar. 'Stramash II' brings together an extraordinary cross-section of Scotland’s finest players: folk luminaries Chris Stout (fiddle), Rory Campbell (pipes and whistles) and Patsy Reid (fiddle/viola); classical virtuoso Su-a Lee (cello); and leading lights of the Scottish jazz scene Seonaid Aitken (fiddle), Dave Milligan (piano/arranging), Phil Bancroft (saxophone), Calum Gourlay (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums).

With 'Stramash II', Colin Steele doesn’t just revisit a bold idea — he confirms its legacy. This is music that honours tradition while fearlessly reimagining it. A celebration of Scotland’s musical past and present, and a powerful statement of where it can go next.