Even though Austrian saxophonist and composer Muriel Grossmann has released a dozen albums over the past thirteen years, it seems that she is just beginning to receive the global-acclaim that she ultimately deserves. As a follow-up to two brilliant releases over the past couple of years for the Estonia-based RR GEMS label, in Golden Rule (2018) and Reverence (2019), UK’s Jazzman Records has released a great new compilation highlighting some of Grossmann’s earlier recordings.

Born in Paris, raised in Vienna, and now residing in Ibiza, the well-travelled saxophonist has also worked alongside a number of notable European avant-gardists, including Joachim and Rolf Kühn, Wolfgang Reisinger and Thomas Heidepriem. Her sound, however is strongly rooted in the spiritual jazz and modal traditions of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, often combining those influences with Afro-centric rhythms, freewheeling solos, and hypnotic cosmic grooves.

This compilation specifically draws on selections from two sel-released albums previously available only on CD/digital, 2016’s Natural Time (“Your Pace”, “Peace For All”) and 2017’s Momentum (“Elevation”, “Chant” and “Rising”). The music is equally powerfully vibrant and meditative, capturing the spirit of those classic late sixties/early seventies Impulse! recordings, yet pushing the sound forward. Both sessions feature her regular quartet of guitarist Radomir Milojkovic, bassist Gina Schwarz, and drummer Uros Stamenkovic.

As Muriel Grossmann continues to make waves and finally begin to receive the proper recognition as one of the premiere saxophonists in jazz today, this compilation appropriately highlights some essential recordings that many of us might have missed a few years back.

Muriel Grossmann — ‘Elevation’
(Jazzman Records)

1. Elevation
2. Rising
3. Chant
4. Your Pace
5. Peace For All

BUY RECORD

‘Momentum‘ (2017)

‘Natural Time‘ (2016)

• Compilation
• Jazz
• New Releases
• Spiritual Jazz