Mynta

Sweden and India find a common place in music through the ears and imagination of the group Mynta. Founded in 1979, the group has created their own genre of music, while preserving the integrity and traditions of their root sounds. The Swedish-Indian fusionists define world music, by extracting the organic elements that runs through the vein of centuries-old musical histories.
MYNTA is led by the Indian musicians Fazal Qureshi (tabla) and Shankar Mahadevan (vocal). These virtuosos within the classic Indian musical tradition have performed all over the world with such musicians as Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shivkumar Sharma, and Zakir Hussain. Fazal is the younger brother of Zakir Hussain, who belonged to John McLaughlin's famous group Shakti, one of the earliest fusion bands in Europe.

Performers
SANTIAGO JIMENEZ - Violin, Keyboard
DALLAS SMITH - Indian flute, Soprano, Clarinet
CHRISTIAN PAULIN - Electric Bass
FAZAL QURESHI - Tabla, Kanjira
MAX ÅHMAN - Acoustic Guitar
OLA BOTHZÉN - Percussion
SHANKAR MAHADEVAN - Vocal

"Shakti" is Shakti)

John McLaughlin's Shakti was (and still is) a musical marvel like no other, blending Indian elements with the finest in-the-moment spontaneity of true jazz. Having been a disciple of a famous Indian yogi Shri Chinmoy and delving into Indian philosophy for years, John did what any genius would do: he mastered the classical Indian style. Along with virtuoso tabla player Zakir Hussain, gifted L. Shankar, and master ghatam player T.H. Vinyakaram, John gave life to a style of music that had basked in virtuosity and intensity secretly for centuries. All said and done the whole concept behind Shakti is Indian. If one would explore Indian classical music more it would become apparent that there is hardly any other music on the face of this earth that is so evolved in its present form. Sadly few musicians from the west have delved enough into that music form. Hats off to John Mc laughlin who has.

Simply put, Shakti is one of the most originally brilliant and technically superior groups ever assembled.

"Joy", is incredible. John McLaughlin - guitar, Zakir Hussain - tabla, L.Shankar - violin, T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram - ghatam. Shakti, Montreux Jazz Festival, 1976, "Joy" -

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Breathless

Shankar Mahadevan is carving a name for himself in the world of music with his debut album Breathless (1998). An album that has made everyone sit up and take note of a man who can apparently sing an entire song in just one breath.
Breathless appears to be a steady stream of a song that goes on without a break, stanzas, verse or even a pause for breath.
"The art of music is so deep and profound that it has to be approached with a bit of intensity laced with great affectionate joy."
Among Western musicians, Shankar has grown up with Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerin and Weather Report.Shankar's career is breathlessly jingling forward with pauses just to bask in new glories.

And now - a breath... breathless!)