The brainchild bassist and Indian music enthusiast Simon Mary, Mukta was assembled in 1996 with G. Tamisier, B. Menon and J. Chevalier. Mukta (‘pearl’ in Sanskrit), impressed fans of unusual musical hybrids. Pioneers of ‘Asian Vibe’, fusing Indian traditional sounds with jazz, Mukta, with their own brand of world music. In 2003 the band travelled to India, rehearsing first with local musicians before immortalising the result of their musical encounters on the album « Haveli » and a series of concerts, in Goa, Bombay, Bengalore, Delhi and Calcutta. Mukta use sonic space to perfection. There is a constant sense of improvisation throughout the work, with not a single spare note. The lessons of the masters of Indian music have been assimilated, uniting themselves with the aesthetics of the group which has always been based on the respect of non-European music. Simon Mary and his band are apostles of an unexplored sonic geography. Generous and modern shamans, talented alchemists, Mukta occupy more than ever a special place on the chessboard of new world music. In the cross between East and West, Mukta’s flame is more symbolic than ever : precious and magical, the secret burns within. BAND Simon MARY bass, art direction Geoffroy TAMISIER trp Jean CHEVALIER drumsOlivier CONGAR percussions Brigitte MENON sitar (1999 to 2002) Michel GUAY sitar, vocals (since 2002) Pascal VANDENBULCKE flute Marc DELOUYA drums (since 2008) www.simon-mary.com