I can’t say that jazz is my thing but, apparently, Colin Steele is a Scottish trumpeter of some repute in that musical genre and “Stramash II” is the follow up to a previous album called “Stramash” that integrated Scottish musical tropes with jazz to some commercial success.
Whilst there are obvious influences from Scottish traditional music, there is no doubt that this is actually a jazz album and one that owes more to smooth jazz than any part of some disturbance in The Force. The playing is therefore precise and eloquent with much made of the participant’s ability to knock out a solo of many chords without ever appearing to break out in anything resembling a sweat and it is, of course, always nice to hear musical motifs from the hills and glens reimagined in a somewhat unfamiliar scenario.
If smooth jazz is your thing then your good taste will likely draw you this most politely performed album and, as a bonus, it can be guaranteed that nothing contained in “Stramash II” will upset your maiden aunt when she calls round for afternoon tea.