Mungal Patasar: "I am a musician of the world, India is my memory,Trinidad and Tobago the ground under my feet, Europe my door to the world, my music is a gift that belongs to everyone." The music of Sitar virtuoso Mungal Patasar and Pantar was best described by a music journalist Simon Lee who wrote in the Trinidad Sunday Guardian on April 28,1996 when the band was just started. " imagine the blending of two of the most unique acoustic instruments; the ancient sitar of classical Indian music and the only acoustic instrument invented in the twentieth century, the steelpan, originally crafted by Trinidadians in the forties from oildrums. Now add the intricate rhythms of the tabla, combining with the subtlety of a jazz drummer or the dynamics of an African percussionist. Mix in calypso melodies derived from Africa and Europe, complimented by classical Indian Ragas: bouncing Reggae motifs carried by keyboard and Bass and melodic infusions of saxophone. In the final stage stir all of this with generous improvisations. Now you have the sound of Pantar." Throughout the years while Mungal was developing his own skills as a musician he tutored thousands of students in Shastra Sangeet: vocal and instrumental music. His school Caribbean School of Indian Music has been the premier music institution for as long as thirty-five years. Because of his heavy traveling schedule he now teaches a small group of talented musicians and vocalists. Mungal Patasar and Pantar has performed at several major festivals all over the World. St. LUCIA, Jazz Festival-1996 St Lucia Jazz Festival 2005. FRENCH GUYANA- CAYENNE- Trans Amazonienne. SURINAME Jazz Festival BARBADOS UWI BARBADOS 2005 St KITTS All star show CARIFESTA MARTINIQUE - CMAC, The Calebasse Café TRINIDAD - WE BEAT FESTIVAL St James, PAN JAZZ FESTIVAL, BDC & UNDP, WITCO annual function, Premier of film- MISTIC MASSEUR, MEDIA AWARDS of Royal Bank & MATT, GRACE KENNEDY and many more to numerous to mention. CANADA- MALBOROUGH FESTIVAL. HUMMING BIRD CENTRE Toronto- Pantar, David Rudder and Andy Narrel GERMANY- ITB FRANCE Wreem Festival, Festival de Thau, MIDEM, Montpellier and several other smaller venues. USA -Lincoln centre N.Y.C., MIAMI - MIDEM SWITZERLAND - MONTREAUX Jazz Festival. Mungal Patasar retired as Director of Culture in the Ministry of Culture, Trinidad and Tobago in the year 2002 to to devote his time to his music. 1994- He was awarded the Humming Bird (gold) medal(a national award) for his contribution to culture. He formed the band Mungal Patasar and Pantar. (see details below.) 1986- He was awarded a government scholarship to study Classical Indian Music in India. In 1990 he returned home after having completed the BA Music, B Mus. And the M.Mus (gold medal) 1983- He began the Caribbean School of Indian Music where he taught vocal and Instrumental music. 1978 - In this year he began the legendary fusion of sitar and Steel pan with Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Clive Zanda, Scofield Pilgrim and Toby Tobias. This group toured the Caribbean and England and received tremendous encouragement from all who heard the music. Mungal Patasar and Pantar: The Band Mungal Patasar and Pantar was founded in 1994 by Mungal Patasar. Prior to this Mungal was well known for his experiments with Indian Classical Music, Calypso and Jazz. Mungal emerged in the musical landscape of his beloved country in 1965 as a mandolin player and moved through several Indian orchestras playing Indian film songs. In 1969 he began studying Indian classical music and having played several instruments he began learning the Sitar under Prof. HS Adesh. His guru was so impressed with him that in a public gathering he showered his blessings with the statement that Mungal has to emerge as a great musician. (Gurus do not normally compliment students in this way.) Mungal's introduction to cross over music started with some of the best jazz musicians of the country who lavished their praises on him. He was later awarded a government scholarship to study classical Indian Music (shastra sangeet) in India. He was exposed to several great teachers including Shree Kalyan Lahiri, Prof. Gangrade, Shri Gopal Shankar Mishra son of Lal Mani Mishra, Krisna Chakravarti, Ram Chakravarti, Pundit Ravi Shankar and Shree Manilal Naag. He emerged from this experience with the gold medal at the Masters degree in the Prayag Sangeet Samithi. After completing his studies Mungal continued on the path of fusion music. In 1996 he recorded his first album "Nirvana" with his band Pantar. This CD caught the notice of Virgin Records, France. He was then signed to record his second album Dreadlocks (2001). The band Mungal Patasar & Pantar released its third album entitled Calebasse Café in October 2005.