Scottish trumpeter and composer Malcolm Strachan returns with his third solo album Look On The Bright Side, a groove-led and uplifting opus blending soul-jazz, contemporary jazz, latin grooves, and afrobeat touches, shaped by cinematic 1970s influences and rich, fluid arrangements.

On Look On The Bright Side, Malcolm Strachan sounds more open than ever. His third solo album moves effortlessly between soul-jazz, latin grooves and afrobeat touches, anchored by the warm, cinematic feel of 1970s jazz but driven by a clear sense of forward motion. The album sees Strachan stepping further into his role as a composer and bandleader, drawing together the threads of a career spanning more than two decades at the heart of the UK’s jazz, funk and soul scene.

Where his debut About Time from 2020 channelled the spirit of classic Blue Note recordings and follow-up Point Of No Return from 2023 leaned into the groove-heavy CTI era, Look On The Bright Side feels broader in scope – still rooted in groove, but more open to outside influences and a more consciously uplifting tone.

“I wanted the music to feel upbeat and positive”, says Strachan. “I start at the piano, working through chord ideas until I find something that feels right. Once the harmony is there, the melodies tend to come naturally”. That approach gives the album its fluidity, with tracks evolving from feel as much as structure and arrangements that leave room for interplay and movement.

The album was anticipated by single “Quest For Love” that glides on a warm, dancefloor-ready groove, effortlessly marrying a soulful melodic core with a refined club sensibility. The unmistakable vocals of Tanja Daese (Lucinda Slim) add a human touch that feels both intimate and expansive, elevating the track into something that lingers long after the last beat fades.

Another highlight is “Leave It All Behind”, where the mood turns resolutely forward-facing. Built around themes of release and renewal, the track unfolds with an uplifting energy—its arrangement subtly swelling as it captures that universal moment of stepping into the unknown and choosing lightness over weight.

Rounding things out, “The Eclipse” ventures into more left-field territory. Here, afrobeat-inflected rhythms intertwine with echoes of 1970s soul-jazz, creating a loose, exploratory atmosphere. It’s a piece that feels unbound by convention—playful, textural, and quietly daring in its experimentation.

Look On The Bright Side brings together a core group of long-time collaborators including Atholl Ransome, George Cooper and Sam Bell, alongside new additions Pat Illingworth (drums) and Sam Quintana (double bass). Special guest percussionist Steve Forman – known for his work with Lee Ritenour, Al Jarreau, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan and George Duke – adds further depth, while string arrangements bring a cinematic dimension to selected tracks.

Strachan’s path to this point began in Scotland, introduced to jazz at an early age by his father. After studying at Leeds College of Music, he became immersed in the city’s funk and soul scene, later building a career that includes work with Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamiroquai, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Jess Glynne and Blue Note legend Lou Donaldson, alongside his role as a founding member of The Haggis Horns.

Across Look On The Bright Side, those influences are present but never overstated. Instead, the focus remains on feel – groove-led, melodic and open, with a sense of positivity running throughout. Recommended for listeners drawn to the intersection of soul, jazz and rhythm, it’s a record that feels both rooted and forward-looking – a natural progression from an artist continuing to refine his voice.