Muriel Grossmann, one of modern spiritual jazz’s most compelling saxophonists, presents her new album Breakthrough. This record finds Grossmann reasserting her remarkable ability to fuse intensity and serenity, opening new doors within a tradition she has gradually made her own. Accompanied by Radomir Milojkovic on guitar, Abel Boquera on Hammond B3 organ, and Uros Stamenkovic on drums, Grossmann expands her quartet’s groove-laden language, creating a sonic landscape that feels intimately organic yet unafraid to reach skyward. Grossmann’s compositions for Breakthrough navigate a path between the genre’s spiritual legacy and the immediacy demanded by contemporary jazz. The quartet plunges into intricate rhythmic dialogues and nuanced improvisational detail, often recalling the explorative spirit of John Coltrane and the transcendental energies of Sun Ra, while always maintaining a signature melodic clarity. Throughout the album, Grossmann’s saxophones trace lines that shift from incantatory chants to exuberant declarations, her tone searching and assured. The contributions of Milojkovic, Boquera, and Stamenkovic remain tightly woven, blending elements of soul jazz, modal structures, and subtle psychedelic inflections into an ensemble sound marked by trust and deep listening.
Recorded after a period of extensive live performance and ongoing evolution, Breakthroughstands as both reflection and restart for the group. The record’s organic grooves and fusion stylings never obscure its focused emotional core; Grossmann leads with humility and precision, favoring lyricism over bravura, and allowing the music’s contemplative pulse to radiate. Each track unfurls patiently, building spaciousness before resolving into moments of urgent clarity. With an approach seasoned by years immersed in European and international jazz scenes, Grossmann’s playing radiates warmth and quiet fire, never imposing but always inviting participation and engagement.
Breakthrough is, above all, a record that rewards devotion and deep listening. The quartet’s interplay invites repeated returns, where subtle harmonic shifts and rhythmic surprises reveal a wealth of detail beneath the surface. Grossmann has again succeeded in delivering music imbued with purpose—a thoroughly modern commentary on jazz’s ability to renew, transcend, and unite. The release marks another step forward for an artist whose search for beauty and joy remains undiminished."Breakthrough is a record that not only reaffirms her magnetic presence in the spiritual jazz landscape, but also underscores a commitment to growth and expressive generosity."
