Introduced to music fans by France’s jazz-fusion guitar master Jean-Pierre Llabador, Bernard Margarit released an intriguing new album of mostly rare instrumental sounds in 2025 entitled Fifth Element. Recorded with Bernard’s wife and partner in their band Jee & Bee, Joyeeta Sanyal, the 5-track, 20-minute mini-album is rich in World Music elements, no doubt partly due to Joyeeta’s Indian heritage.

Bernard’s electric guitar work is quite impressive and paired with Joyeeta’s sitar sounds, the album takes on a mystical edge. Every track expertly combines a pop-like melodic essence with a near disco beat escorting the music, while the World Beat groove is also very much in abundance. Start to finish, the Fifth Element album is a must for World Beat enthusiasts.

Case in point is track 2, “Ganesha Mantra”, a tribute to the Hindu archetype Ganesha. With vocals performed by Bernard’s daughter Tania Margarit, the track is a highlight. Also on hand is Fred Martin, who composed the title track and also supports on keyboards and programming.

This latest Jee & Bee album was released on Jean Pierre Llabador’s record label, Castle Records. For fans just catching up with French guitar hero Bernard Margarit, he also played guitar on Jean-Pierre Llabador’s 2024 solo album 3’33 Treasure Hunt.

There is also another fairly recent Jee & Bee album titled Electro Indian Vibes as well as a range of solo guitar-based albums released by Bernard, and with the Ganapati Trio, this in addition to a duo EP from the early 1990’s by Bernard Margarit and Jean-Pierre Llabador entitled Friendship.