Stramash II Colin Steele

• 1 Declaration of Arbroath 08:50
• 2 Elgin Laddie 05:08
• 3 Earl of Hospitalfield 06:04
• 4 Fergus 05:08
• 5 Covesea Bay 04:37
• 6 Benromach 06:48
• 7 Song from Long Ago 05:36
• 8 Cairns 06:15
• 9 Bangers and Stramash 03:52
• Total Runtime 52:18

Info for Stramash II

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.

Colin Steele, trumpet
Dave Milligan, piano
Chris Stout, fiddle
Seonaid Aitken, fiddle
Patsy Reid, fiddle, viola
Mairi Campbell, viola
Su-a Lee, cello
Rory Campbell, pipes & whistle
Calum Gourlay, double bass
Alyn Cosker, drums

Recorded February 2008 at Castlesound Studios, Pencaitland, Scotland
Engineered & mixed by Stuart Hamilton
Produced by Colin Steele

Colin Steele
joined his first jazz group the John Rae Collective at the age of 19 (which included Brian Kellock and Phil Bancroft). He then went on to work with Tommy Smith, Tom Bancroft Orchestra and pop band Hue and Cry.

Between 1990 and 1996 he travelled Europe extensively, living in France, London and Italy. On his return to Scotland in 1997 he established the phenomenally successful live music club Midnight Blue, which ran for three years and attracted over 40,000 people during this time. He began composing and formed his first quintet in 2000.

Since the release of his debut album Twilight Dreams in 2002, Steele’s highly original and melodic Scottish folk-influenced jazz has won just about every UK jazz plaudit there is; from BBC Jazz CD of the Year and Jazz Review international CD of the Year (for his album ‘The Journey Home’) to CD of the year accolades in The Guardian, Observer, Independent and The New Statesman. Steele’s compositions are inspired by Scottish and Irish folk music, but are firmly rooted in the jazz tradition. The success of his first 2 quintet recordings led to a third, 'Through the Waves' being released internationally by top European label ACT.

In 2006 Steele formed Stramash, a 10 piece Scottish 'supergroup' consisting of his jazz quintet, fiddles, bagpipes, whistle and cello. This group received universal critical acclaim, both for their concerts and for their recording, which was released in 2009. "a stunningly lyrical ensemble". (THE TIMES)

​ In 2017 after an 8 year pause in recording Colin released his 4th quintet CD "Even in the Darkest Places."

Later the same year he released ‘Diving for Pearls’ with his new quartet on the German label Marina Records. This CD was a jazz versions of pop songs written by David Scott of the Pearlfishers, one of the most melodic songwriters to come out of Scotland. The quartet also featured Steele’s long time pianist/arranger Dave Milligan, bassist Calum Gourlay and drummer Alyn Cosker. Colin released a second quartet recording exploring the work of Joni Mitchell. The recording of this music was released September 2020 as ‘ Joni -Jazz Interpretations of the Joni Mitchell songbook' and he completed the trilogy in 2025 with ' The Blue Nile' celebrating the work of one of Scotland's most influential pop bands which was also released on the Marina Records label.

In 2023 Colin was asked by the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues festival if he would like to reform and refresh Stramash. After sell out performance's in the EJBF and Celtic Connections in August 2025 they recorded 'Stramash II' which will be released 12/06/26

Over the last few years Colin has also worked on a wide variety of different projects, including forming a sextet playing original music, composing for the Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra, touring extensively with a long running theatre show 'A Funny Valentine', based on the life of Chet Baker, a quintet playing the music of Miles Davis, forming ‘the kings of swing’ playing dance music from the 30’s and 40’s, 'Stone Islands', a collaborative project with Scottish and Sardinian musicians. including Enzo Favata, Danillo Gallo and Umberto Trombetta Gandhi, as well as developing several duet projects with pianist Brian Kellock, playing the music of My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Oliver and Louis Armstrong/Duke Ellington.

This album contains no booklet.