Hot Club jazz / Celtic roots crossover band, Celtic Django Project have just released an uplifting and delightful cover of the well-loved traditional song, Black Is The Colour. Although formed only last year, the band are already making waves, having appeared at the January 2026 Celtic Connections.

Their music swings Django and Grappelli-stye, (bringing to this listener’s mind memories of seeing the latter perform, with Martin Taylor, in Edinburgh some decades ago). A particular pleasure with Celtic Django Project is hearing the vocals performed by a Scottish voice!

While all the members are involved in the popular Hot Club of Edinburgh and Hot Club of Glasgow (Babbity) events, each musician has their own impressive background.

Versatile guitarist and singer John Carnie authored The Scottish Guitar Book, is a musician equally adept in both Celtic and Hot Club styles and was described by The Living Tradition Magazine as a “Master guitarist.”

Paul Paterson meanwhile has played with the likes of David Reinhardt, and was described by the famed bandleader of Quintette du Hot Club de France, Duved Dunayevsky as “a fantastic guitar player.”

The third guitarist in the band, Jim Mackay has for years toured the Scottish Highlands and Islands with his folk and ceilidh band and is regarded as just as accomplished in ‘gypsy jazz’ styles.

The band’s double bassist, Charlotte Paterson has recently shared the stage with famed guitarist Martin Taylor (see above!) and is a go-to bassist for ‘gypsy jazz’ events.

Fifth band member, fiddler Martin Macleod is best known for his Scottish/ Irish style, playing with some well-kent names in the trad folk world, such as Capercaillie.

So, Celtic Django Project are well worth watching out for. They’re a valuable addition to the healthy jazz-folk crossover scene that is burgeoning here in Scotland today.

 

Black Is The Colour can be bought here.

Video of Celtic Django Project at 2026 Celtic Connections performance: here.