Interview with Muriel Grossmann: The mind is nothing more than a great tool to bring our true essence forth: Videos

Jazz interview with jazz Austrian alto, soprano, tenor saxophonist, singer and composer Muriel Grossmann. An interview by email in writing. 

JazzBluesNews.Space: – You’re playing is very sensitive, deft, it’s smooth, and I’d say you drift more toward harmony than dissonance. There is some dissonance there, but you use it judiciously. Is that a conscious decision or again, is it just an output of what goes in?

Muriel Grossmann: – Conscious. It is an inner urge towards a sound that I feel close to my nature. I am playing since I was 5 years old and had a lot of time to investigate harmonies in different contexts. I came from a classic approach to experience world music and R &B and popular music. Latter when I started with jazz I got familiar with those harmonies and when I met Joachim Kühn I started to investigate the diminished augmented approach. Over the last 10 albums I had a lot of time to discover different concepts through my various compositions. Since the album Earth Tones (DR 07 CD) I started to use soundscapes so called drones (instrument groups giving a sound foundation to the quartet) that give character to the different compositions and you can clearly hear  I have been directing towards this certain inner esthetic that you can now again experience in the new record GOLDEN RULE. I hope the listener will enjoy it as much as I do.

JBN.S: – How to prevent disparate influences from coloring what you’re doing?

MG: – I am taking an extensive approach on elaborating an album. The composing takes the smallest amount of effort. I have a concept in my mind; mostly it comes from reflecting about a major theme at this period of time. During the creation of Birth Of The Mystery (DR 05 CD) I was reflecting and experiencing the chemical, emotional and physical happenings of pregnancy and made visualizations of the birth of my son, during Earth Tones (DR 07 CD) I felt an extreme connection to our planet, and a need for conscious human behavior on a global level. During Natural Time (DR 08 CD) I meditated on the universal values of human beings and on bringing forward the essence of our true nature. If then the objective is offering it for others – standing for our values, preserving nature and collaborating now for our future generation, a positive Momentum (DR 09 CD) is created. Recording is a real energetic and powerful process. Having the chance to play with experienced fellow musicians is a real treat. I enjoy working together with musicians over an extensive period of time; the language then really provides depth through the interconnected evolution. So my music is a result of deep reflection and collaboration and I really enjoy this process of evolving our sound over time; it seems to naturally create powerful mysterious music. I believe music should elevate people.

JBN.S: – What do you love most about your new album 2018: <GOLDEN RULE>, how it was formed and what you are working on today.

MG: – The new album GOLDEN RULE was also brought out by RR GEMS Records as a beautiful 2x Gate fold Vinyl by
https://www.rrgemsrecords.com/. GOLDEN RULE is a natural step after Momentum coming from deep reflection on life happenings and it is naturally evolving in a more complex direction through harmony and instrumentation. During GOLDEN RULE I was reflecting on the golden agreement, a basic commitment, common to both religious traditions and humanistic principles to reciprocity and respect: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” … that is the fundament verdict of our human interconnected life to live in Happiness and Harmony. I also was paying homage to one of the great spiritual music leaders JOHN COLTRANE. We are currently working on the following album, which will be the apotheosis of the last ones, and we are also finishing an album with the great Austrian and European drummer and dear friend Wolfgang Reisinger, with whom I had the opportunity to play and record over the years. Peter Herbert is on the bass. He is also just a legendary figure of the Austrian jazz scene. The record will be called HEAVEN ON EARTH. Foto by Laura Gonzalez Guerra. CD review by russian: http://jazzquad.ru/index.pl?act=PRODUCT&id=5060

and by english: http://ukvibe.org/?s=Muriel+Grossmann

JBN.S: – What’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?

MG: – There is a big difference between intellectualizing and using our mind in a wise way. If we come to know our mind we don’t let our thoughts and emotions dictate how we feel and act and we will be able to help alleviate the suffering in our own life and ultimately for everyone we come in contact. Choosing to take the path to discover our true nature and the true nature of the reality around, we slowly convert into the one that we truly are. For music it is the same. The mind is nothing more than a great tool to bring our true essence forth.

JBN.S: – There’s a two-way relationship between audience and artist; you’re okay with giving the people what they want?

MG: – I am not sure if I can answer that question in a satisfying way. I’m coming from the belief that people will be most happy to hear music played by musicians that have the best intention to express their essence with the highest potential of their dedication. I cannot know what people truly want to hear or see, is it spot on authenticity or superficial entertainment? I think through a change in education listeners would change and then the music market could develop towards higher quality.

JBN.S: – Please any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions, which you’d like to share with us?

MG: – I have many great memories from the gigs and recording sessions, we were playing this concert in Hungary, in a great Jazz Club called Opus. During the first set, we were really burning, playing very strong, but somehow I thought that the audience was not all the way with us although they were clapping after tunes and all that. After the set was finished one huge line was formed, they all wanted to buy the record, so this goes to show how your perception can dictate a reality that is not maybe there.

JBN.S: – If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

MG: – I am fond of the fact that people have an easy access to all musical content through the internet, but I am not so happy that through the low quality of mp3 and general musical accessory people get used to listen to music, that has lost a great deal of richness and complexity. How to change the degeneration of our music …  again the right education would help, … some other suggestions?

JBN.S: – Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go?

MG: – I would love to see all my favorite saxophone players live. John Coltrane, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Illinois Jacket, Frank Wes, Cannonball Adderly … That would be of the greatest inspirations.

JBN.S: – I have been asking you so far, now may I have a question from yourself…

MG: – What are you looking for in music, what do you want to hear, what makes you wanna put a record on?

JBN.S: – Thank you for answers. Jazz and blues music always sounds at home and at work. In music and mostly in jazz, I look for life rhythms and just live in music.

JBN.S: – So putting that all together, how are you able to harness that now?

MG: – I’m harnessing things day by day. Everyday is a new experience and by doing the right thing, the path is set for the future to come. THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL QUESTIONS THAT REALLY LET ME SPEAK MY HEART.

Interview by Simon Sargsyan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmIzattOjBc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22yFVI0pc0w