Ewen Henderson: Steall

A member of the renowned Henderson family of Lochaber, Ewen has played with Mànran, Battlefield Band and Afro-celt Sound System. This debut under his own name – Steall means torrent – showcases a lad o’ parts, steeped in west-highland culture, playing fiddle, pipes, piano and much else, assisted by guitarist Ewan Macpherson, percussionist James Mackintosh and bassist James Lindsay, while Thomas Gibbs adds clarinet to a sprightly hornpipe set.

It is as a fiddler that Henderson opens with a lightsome trio of jigs including the enduring Gillean an

Dròbhair, breaking out Highland pipes for the closer. His compositions include the lovely air Camus Daraich, while his skills intersect as he fiddles a snappy MSR (march, strathspey and reel) set over a pipe drone. Songwise, the album includes a ditty by the bard of Glenorchy, Duncan Ban Macintyre, and a bitter clearance protest by Dr John Maclachlan, accompanied by Henderson’s piano.