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Muriel Grossmann: The Light Of The Mind

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Saxophonist Muriel Grossmann continues her transcendental journey with her 2024 release, The Light of the Mind. She reunites her quartet from her previous album, Devotion (Third Man Records, 2023), featuring guitarist Radomir Milojkovic, organist Abel Boquera, and drummer Uros Stamenkovic. That earlier album hinted at the direction taken here: a spiritually centered, unmistakably soulful exploration.

The album opens with "Pointing Out -Part I," which begins with a wash of vibrational atmospheres from organ and Moog. Stamenkovic's mallet work, reminiscent of Elvin Jones's drumming on "Psalm," sets a meditative tone, providing a foundation for Grossmann's commanding tenor saxophone. This bold opener establishes the quartet's mission: to affirm faith and music's power as a healing force.

The title track deepens this theme with a groove-oriented swing propelled by organ, drums, and Grossmann's expressive tenor saxophone, followed by a bluesy, fluid guitar solo from Milojkovic. The sound evokes the soulful energy of Brother Jack McDuff and George Benson. The funky R'n'B groove of "Unison Unveiled" conjures the spirit of groovy 1970s TV themes like Taxi and Barney Miller. Here, Grossmann switches to soprano saxophone, soaring over heavy, psychedelic grooves that pulse with life. On "Ultimate Awareness," Boquera's hypnotic, pulsing bass line anchors a rich tapestry of harp and percussion. Grossmann remains on soprano saxophone, joined by Milojkovic's blues-soaked guitar and Boquera's vibrant Hammond B3 organ. At just over 10 minutes, the track's infectious groove feels like it could easily extend into an hour-long rhapsody in a live performance. "Eternal Laughter" begins with a single bell strike, ushering in Grossmann on flute before a second bell signals the launch into a thrilling sprint. Switching to alto saxophone, Grossmann leads the charge, supported by organ, guitar, and drums in a joyous, energetic display.

The set concludes with "Pointing Out -Part II," serving as an apt coda. The quartet locks into a steady, marching beat, with organ and guitar providing sturdy support for Grossmann's verdant tenor saxophone tones. Together, they bring the album to a fittingly profound close, reinforcing the spiritual and soulful themes that define The Light of the Mind.

Track Listing

Pointing Out - Part I; The Light Of The Mind; Unison Unveiled; Ultimate Awareness; Eternal Laughter; Pointing Out - Part II.

Personnel

Radomir Milojkovic
guitar, electric
Abel Boquera
organ, Hammond B3
Additional Instrumentation

Muriel Grossmann: tenor saxopgone, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, harp, tambura, harmonium, percussion; Abel Boquera: Moog, Fender Rhodes piano.

Album information

Title: The Light Of The Mind | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Dreamlandrecords


About Muriel Grossmann

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