While the sweet, smoky scent of curling incense rises into the air, six musicians create a sound that has never been heard before and will never be heard again.The Incense Merchants are an improvisational music ensemble whose sound is best described as avant-garde, new-age classical with jazz tendencies.Raul Gomez, musical arts doctoral student, plays the violin. Marcelo Vieira, musical arts doctoral student, plays the cello, while Brad Walker, master’s student of jazz performance, plays the saxophone. Eric Shuster, master’s student of percussion, is the band’s percussionist; Chip Osborne, adviser for the Honors College, plays guitar; and Bill Kelley, University recording engineer, plays the keyboard.Classical instruments like the violin and cello can typically be found behind a sheet music stand, but The Incense Merchants perform what they feel with a string bow in one hand and a beer in the other.”Improvisation is at the heart of all music historically,” Osborne said. “We were looking for an outlet to be creative in addition to technical mastery.”The music starts off mildly disjointedly, but as their performance progresses, the musicians feed off each other’s energies to create cohesive magic. “It evolves, kind of like a school of fish. You’re not sure where it’s going, and you’re not sure who’s leading,” said James Ryon, oboe professor and audience member. “It puts you in a trance-like state of mind.”Each musician’s ability to listen to what others play is what holds the band together, Kelley said. They follow intuitions to contribute what the piece needs. A member of the ensemble may go minutes without playing one note.”We listen to the music being made, and it forms a personality,” Kelley said. “Sometimes I don’t have anything to contribute. If it’s smooth without me, why interrupt?”The Incense Merchants counter many things typically expected from a live performance. The ensemble may play for more than an hour without elapsing one moment. Just when the music sounds as though it might conclude, one instrument picks back up and begins a new flow. The fluidity of the music keeps this transition from sounding awkward.”The music is not bound to the instrument,” Osborne said. “The musician is responsible for making the music.”The ensemble’s name is meant to simulate the wispy and unpredictable nature of its music, Kelley said. The Incense Merchants always burn incense during performances.”It captures the mystery of the music,” Osborne said. “The incense, music and the combination of right here and right now are what transcends the heart.”Kelley spearheaded the creation of the ensemble in early June.  After inspiration from a friend to begin a new project, Kelley e-mailed local musicians to see who would be interested in an ensemble grounded in improvisation.The Incense Merchants perform at various locations in Baton Rouge every week, but regularly play at the Red Star Bar downtown every two to three weeks.—-Contact Lindsay Nunez at [email protected]