Mike Pride’s Scrambler starts off with a bang. On the first track, “A Cry For Unity” , the drummer-leader starts the trip with a barricade of beats. Soon enough his “Cry For Unity” is answered by a tremendous trio of sounds, William Parker booming his bass in with Charlie Looker’s subtle yet key guitar, allowing Tony Malaby to fly out of the boundaries of his sax. Looker steps front stage in “Sometimes It Just Goes To Show” with a refreshing tone. Clean and fast, with the occasional handmade effect, Looker delivers. At the drop of a hi-hat, this band of four can go off in their own dimensions, as they weave in and out of each other to create a smooth and ‘scrambling’ sound. The beauty is that as much as these guys go out riffing, they tighten up just as quickly with a flawless transition. A master collaboration of musicians.– allaboutjazz Continue reading →