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Muriel Grossmann: Universal Code

By Mark Corroto
December 25, 2022
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Infectious is a word much maligned of late. What with a worldwide pandemic, the word has come to stand in for other terms such as contagious and transmittable. The word though has another meaning as demonstrated by saxophonist Muriel Grossmann's Universal Code. Infectious can also mean irresistible or compelling in an infectious way. Together with her quartet, Grossman broadcasts her engrossing message as a cross between soul jazz and uplifting spiritual music.

Universal Code contains the Paris-born, Vienna-raised saxophonist now living in Spain with her working quartet with two Serbian-born musicians, guitarist

Radomir Milojkovic

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Radomir Milojkovic and drummer

Uros Stamenkovic

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Uros Stamenkovic, plus the Spanish Hammond B3 organist

Llorenc Barcelo

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">Llorenc Barcelo. The quartet is joined on three tracks by Austrian double bassist

Gina Schwarz

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Gina Schwarz. If we were pressed to characterize the sound, the first impressions might lead us to the recordings of

Les McCann

piano
1935 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Les McCann and

Richard "Groove" Holmes

organ, Hammond B3
1931 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard "Groove" Holmes or

Hank Mobley

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Mobley and

Larry Young

organ, Hammond B3
1940 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Young, plus early guitar work of

George Benson

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">George Benson. These influences plus Grossman's penchant for the sound of

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane surface in tracks like the groovy blues-tinged "Post— Meditations" where Grossman doubles on tenor saxophone. The same can be said for "Compassion" where Grossman's tenor is accompanied by marimba, the vibe mixes soul and R&B into a kind of party anthem. The quartet utilizes Barcel��'s organ for the baselines, except for the three tracks with Schwarz. Her double bass towers over "Transience," "Non-Duality," and "Essence," which allows Barcel�� to add overtones and colors to the tracks. The blues-drenched "Essence" finds Grossman's soprano saxophone landing on the smoothest of glide paths. Grossman's music adds the term "easily transmissible" to her definition of musically infectious.

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Track Listing

Resonance; Clarity; Interconnection; Transience; Non-Duality; Essence; Liberation; Post- Meditation; Compassion.

Personnel

Muriel Grossmann

saxophone

Radomir Milojkovic

guitar, electric

Llorenc Barcelo

organ, Hammond B3

Uros Stamenkovic

drums

Gina Schwarz

bass

Album information

Title: Universal Code | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Dreamlandrecords

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