Ancient Future Times

Ancient Future Times: L.E.T.S. Live on Endangered Species Day

2022-04-15T21:55:00.001-07:00

Spring 2022 Issue:

Ancient Future Times: L.E.T.S. Live on Endangered Species Day

Lustful Elephants Trumpet Spring
•L.E.T.S. Live on Endangered Species Day

L.E.T.S. Soar A.F.A.R.
•101 Minutes of Music A.F.A.R. So Far

Private Online Music Lessons
•Zoom Into Spring

Lustful Elephants Trumpet Spring

L.E.T.S. Live on Endangered Species Day

Guitarist Matthew Montfort was the inaugural performer of a series of online Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future on his birthday in February 2021. Ancient Future’s last pre-pandemic performance was in September 2019 at the Kentucky Mine Amphitheater in Sierra City, California. Indian tabla master Aditya Kalyanpur shared a video of that concert with Jhankar, an Indian arts organization in Ohio, and they came forth to sponsor a virtual concert featuring Kalyanpur, Montfort, and keyboard wizard Frank Martin in June 2021.

The first release from the concert is set for Endangered Species Day (5/20/2022). Lustful Elephants Trumpet Spring (L.E.T.S.) was composed by Matthew Montfort after studying Rag Basant, a springtime raga that captures the feeling of separated lovers longing to unite. The caption on an associated ragamala painting read: "Bound with a peacock's feathers...his face is as a flower. Elephant-like, he joyfully wanders in the forest among the gopis. Such is Basant raga." Montfort woke up in the middle of the night dreaming of a melody that conjures elephants in mating season. It begins with a low riff that depicts an elephant's legs, and then moves to a jump from low to high like an elephant trumpeting in excitement. The piece quickly became a part of Ancient Future's live repertoire, and a studio version is in production.

L.E.T.S. Save the Elephant for Earth Day

Save the Elephant Day (4/16/22) aims to raise public awareness about the dangers elephants face, such as ivory traders and loss of habitat. The public can show their support by sharing useful information on social media and by contributing to elephant conservation organizations.

There's another meaning for "save the elephants." Digital music platforms use pre-save data to determine which new releases to feature on their official release dates. So, after you do your part to save the elephants, you can then pre-save musical elephants at your favorite digital music platform now by following this link: https://orcd.co/letslive. L.E.T.S. will then appear in your music account starting on Earth Day (4//22/22)!

orcd.co/letslive (Pre-Save Now!)

L.E.T.S. Watch from A.F.A.R.

A shortened preview video of L.E.T.S. is on YouTube. The full video with hi-res audio is currently available exclusively to supporters of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project.

Teaser Preview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qntdJZeMV-0

L.E.T.S. Share on Social Media

Ancient Future will be sharing news about the release on its social media and artist pages. Please follow Ancient Future and share the posts with your friends.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancientfuture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancientfutureband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ancient_future
Ethnocloud: https://ethnocloud.com/Ancient_Future
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5oQLP9K23E63u9BHB1b4LT

The Musicians

Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), and Frank Martin (keys)

To enable its core mission of creating world fusion music, Ancient Future has grown to become a large chamber ensemble of world music masters with many smaller ensembles within it, including this trio featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Aditya Kalyanpur, and keyboard wiz Frank Martin. L.E.T.S. was recorded at the trio's first concert in which they presented an innovative and accessible take on Hindustani classical music and contemporary jazz fusion.

L.E.T.S. Soar A.F.A.R.

101 Minutes of Music A.F.A.R. So Far

With the addition of L.E.T.S. Live, the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, now has 101 minutes of music in it!

Getting our different ensembles together in the same room to rehearse and record has been more challenging due to the pandemic. A solution has been to make digital mock up tracks and replace all the sampled instruments with performances by master musicians. But this requires hundreds of extra hours of pre-production. Nonetheless, the bansuri, guitar, tanpura, and mock up tracks have been completed on Beyond Kalyan, a 28-minute suite that is waiting for one final overdub. The guitar and mock up tracks are completed for Innocent Explorations, the studio version of Lustful Elephants Trumpet Spring, and Fretless Camel, totaling more than 50 minutes of music in production awaiting final overdubs! Ancient Future Studios has just completed a soundproof recording room, but we do need to raise money to cover travel expenses and pay the musicians for their work.

Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

Supporter Levels and Premiums

Recording Newsletter-$15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15.
Download Supporter- $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25.
Limited Edition CD Sponsor- $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50.
Honorary A & R Representative- $75 (all previous plus video, including L.E.T.S. Live, and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75.
Donor VIP- $??: Make Additional Donation.
A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R- $20 Additional. (SALE $15): Buy CD-R Now.

Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!

Make a Purchase

Ancient Future's 2020 Vision sale on recordings and educational materials has been extended to encourage support. Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices.

L.E.T.S. by Ancient Future. Digital Liner Notes- $1.98 SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.
Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion by Ancient Future. CD. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion Limited Edition Poster. $15.00. Buy 1 Now. In 2021, a few 11" x 17" posters from the original 2001 printing were found deep in the Ancient Future archives. Includes the 8.5" x 11" version while supplies last.
Sangria by Mariah Parker. CD. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. CD. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future. Original Vinyl Pressing. Very Limited Stock. LP- $40.00: Buy LP Now. Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R- $19.98: Buy E-CD Now.

Private Online Music Lessons

Zoom into Spring

Private Online Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

60 Minute Lesson- $75. (Sale $60 for new students): Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
45 Minute Lesson- $65. (Sale $50 for new students): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
30 Minute Lesson- $50. (Sale $40 for new students): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

2020 Visions to Help the World Fusion Movement

2019-12-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

Ancient Future Times: 2020 Visions

January 2020 Issue:

Fun Raising 2020 Vision
•Help the World Fusion Movement Enter the New Decade

2020 Vision Sale
•Extended to End of Ancient Future's 40th Season

Music in March
•Concerts in Sonoma County

Fun Raising 2020 Vision

Help the World Fusion Movement Enter the New Decade

1. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. You can help our "fun raising" efforts to support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings:

Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!

2. Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% is already in production. It's time for some "fun raising" to fund payments to master musicians so that they can carve out time to practice their parts and record them.

Hundreds and hundreds of hours have already gone into the composition, rehearsal, pre-production, and recording the guitar and bansuri flute tracks for Beyond Kalyan, a new piece by Matthew Montfort based on Rag Kalyan. At around 30 minutes long, it is a very expansive, emotional, and difficult to perform piece. After finishing all of the melodic parts to the main piece, two live recording sessions were then devoted to recording the guitar and bansuri alap (an improvised introduction to a raga performance), and two more to recording a second guitar part that uses chords and contrapuntal motion. The next step will be recording Vishal Nagar's tabla tracks.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2030).

Supporter Levels and Premiums

Recording Newsletter-$15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15.
Download Supporter- $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25.
Limited Edition CD Sponsor- $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50.
Honorary A & R Representative- $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75.
Donor VIP- $??: Make Additional Donation.
A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R- $20 Additional. (SALE $15): Buy CD-R Now.

2020 Vision Sale

Extended to End of Ancient Future's 40th Season

Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices until February 11, 2020, the 41st anniversary of Ancient Future's first concert!

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20302). Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion by Ancient Future( Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010). CD- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017). CD- List $17.98.(SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008). CD- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012). Signed EP CD-R- List $12.98.(SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.

Digital Liner Note Discounts

Yearning for the Wind Digital Liner Notes. Download- $1.98 list (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Features detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Digital Liner Notes. Download- $2.98 list. (SALE $2): Buy 1 Now. 17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper.

Beats Book Bang for the Buck

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort (Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2). This classic "world beat bible" takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. The new companion audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book are available for Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones, and CD players.

Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now.
Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95): Buy 1 Now.
Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download (New Best Buy!)- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set (New Release!)- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Buy 1 Now.
Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Buy 1 Now.

Skype Studies Sale

Private Skype Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

60 Minute Lesson- $75. (SALE $60): Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
45 Minute Lesson- $65. (SALE $48): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
30 Minute Lesson- $50. (SALE $36): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

Music in March

YouTube Video

Concerts in Sonoma County

Saturday, March 14, 7:30 PM
Ancient Future Duet
Empowerment Healing Arts Sanctuary
616 C Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma, CA 94952

Saturday, March 28, 8 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.)
Occidental, CA 95465
Tix: $22 in advance, $26 at door.
Info: 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

The first show of March is a duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Mariah Parker (santur, keys), concentrates on Arabic, Indian, and Spanish musical themes, and has performed in Spain at festivals in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Botarell, Torredembarra, and Salou.

The second show features Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble. Her latest release, Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert, reached number 32 on the JazzWeek airplay chart. Mariah Parker will be debuting new material to be recorded for her next release at both performances.

2020 Vision

2019-12-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

Ancient Future Times: 2020 Vision

December 2019 Issue:

2020 Vision
•Ways to Help the World Fusion Movement Reduce Polarization

'Till 2020 Sale
•Recordings, Music Eduction, and Musical Scavenger Hunt

Global Guitar Summit
•12/6/19, Wu Wei Tea Temple, Fairfax

2020 Vision

Ways to Help the World Fusion Movement Reduce Polarization

1. Fun Raising: Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!

2. Support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Fun Raising A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

Hundreds and hundreds of hours have already gone into the composition, rehearsal, pre-production, and recording the guitar and bansuri flute tracks for Beyond Kalyan, a new piece by Matthew Montfort based on Rag Kalyan. At around 30 minutes long, it is a very expansive, emotional, and difficult to perform piece. Mindia Devi spent several weeks practicing her bansuri flute parts, and all of the composed sections and most of her improvised solos have been recorded. The next step will recording Vishal Nagar's tabla tracks.

It's time for some "fun raising" to fund payments to master musicians so that they can carve out time to practice their parts and record them. We have raised 22% of our funding goal so far. This is substantial, but averages just a little more than 2% per year, so we need to greatly speed up our fun raising to complete the project.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which is includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2030)

Recording Newsletter-$15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15.
Download Supporter- $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25.
Limited Edition CD Sponsor- $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50.
Honorary A & R Representative- $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75.
Donor VIP- $??: Make Additional Donation.
A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R- $20 Additional. (SALE $15): Buy CD-R Now.

3. Make and Share Diverse Playlists

Streaming payments to artists are absurdly low, and the switch from music ownership to ad supported streaming has greatly harmed artists' ability to create new work. But there are even more problems with streaming. The algorithms are set up to suggest artists who sound like the music that the listener is already listening to. So, how are people to find out about new directions in music or music from other cultures?

After you support the artists you enjoy by purchasing their work (FUN raise A.F.A.R.), you can help to support musical diversity by making and sharing your own playlists of Ancient Future with your favorite artists from different genres. This can help to expand people's awareness, rather than narrow it. Right now, due to heavily weighted major label playlists featuring Ancient Future with New Age artists popular in the 80's, Ancient Future is predominantly suggested by streaming services to fans of New Age music. This is very limiting for the world fusion music movement. Fans of New Age music have often enjoyed world fusion music, especially the slower tempo pieces. But this isn't helping the world fusion music movement to reach people who need to be turned on to more diverse music.

Apple Music

Stream Ancient Future on Apple Music

If the above link doesn't work, search for Ancient Future directly in Apple Music. Apple doesn't have an ad supported tier, so it pays the most per stream of the major streaming companies at 65/100 of a penny net to Ancient-Future.Com Records, but that's nowhere near a sustainable payment that can support the creation of new recordings. It's much better to buy the downloads while you still can. Apple does allow you to make and share playlists. Please make public playlists with diverse artists and share them.

How to Make an Apple Music Playlist

Spotify

Stream Ancient Future on Spotify

Spotify pays a lower streaming rate than Apple, but higher than YouTube. It is still extremely low, especially for the ad supported tier, where a stream nets Ancient-Future.Com Records only 17/100 of a penny, while the subscription tier nets 36/100 of a penny. All users of Spotify can create playlists.

How to Make a Spotify Playlist

Spotify playlists featuring Ancient Future with appropriate artists can be found at WorldFusionMusicRadio.Com.

Pandora

Stream Ancient Future on Pandora

Pandora pays less per stream than Spotify on its free radio format, but more than Spotify on its subscription tier. Ancient-Future.Com Records nets 8/100 of a cent per stream on Pandora radio playlists, and 41/100 of a cent for Pandora Premium. The free version of Pandora doesn't allow user playlist creation, but you can thumbs up and down tracks. The Ancient Future station on Pandora is populated almost exclusively with tracks by artists with no world music influences at all. Please thumbs down those selections. If you hear Ancient Future on any Pandora station, please thumb it up so that more people find out about world fusion music. If you are a Pandora Premium user, you can create playlists.

How to Make a Pandora Playlist

YouTube

Watch Ancient Future on YouTube

Stream Ancient Future on YouTube Music

YouTube Music pays the lowest of all major music streaming services. For example, 1,708,584 streams of a track by Ancient Future on our own label on YouTube's ad supported service overseas netted Ancient Future only $101.16. That's less than 6/1000 of a cent per stream! Yes, thousandths of a cent! If this had not been on our own label, the artist share would have been even less. This is a travesty. Perhaps it is best to listen to YouTube Music with the sound off. Their subscription tier nets Ancient-Future.Com Records 65/100 of a cent, which is on par with Apple Music, but less than 0.02% of the reported streams in 2019 were in the subscription tier, so the higher rate is just a PR stunt at this point. YouTube Music is available in more countries than Spotify and all users of YouTube can create playlists, so for the time being we are encouraging the creation of YouTube playlists to share with users in countries where Spotify isn't available. Just remember to do your own listening on other services.

How to Make a YouTube Playlist

'Till 2020 Sale

Recordings, Music Education, and Musical Scavenger Hunt

Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices until 2020!

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20302). Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion by Ancient Future( Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010). CD- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017). CD- List $17.98.(SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008). CD- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012). Signed EP CD-R- List $12.98.(SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.

Music Education Sale: Get More Enjoyment Out of Music

World Music Studies for Listeners and Musicians!

Want to get more out of listening to music? Study of music traditions isn't just for musicians. For example, many listeners are attracted to the spiritual feeling of Indian classical music. But knowing the basics of tala (Indian rhythm cycles) will greatly enhance what one experiences while listening.

A great way to get started on a journey to become a better listener is to visit the education section of Ancient-Future.Com. Included are explanations of African, Arabic, Balinese, and Indian traditions along with some basic exercises to practice that require no instruments to perform. Your site surfing can even win prizes in this issue's Musical Scavenger Hunt! And as you learn more, you may wish to take a private Skype lesson to continue your studies.

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves

Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now.
Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95): Buy 1 Now.
Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download (New Best Buy!)- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set (New Release!)- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Buy 1 Now.
Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Buy 1 Now.

The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Digital Liner Note Discounts

Yearning for the Wind Digital Liner Notes. Download- $1.98 list (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Features detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Digital Liner Notes. Download- $2.98 list. (SALE $2): Buy 1 Now.17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper.

Skype Studies Sale

Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site via private Skype lessons with Ancient Future bandleader and guitarist, Matthew Montfort. Recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists, Matthew Montfort teaches all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar) along with record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

Skype Lessons

60 Minute Lesson- $75. (SALE $60): Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
45 Minute Lesson- $65. (SALE $48): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
30 Minute Lesson- $50. (SALE $36): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

Gift certificates are available for online lessons worldwide via Skype and other webcam conferencing services. And for a limited time, an additional discount is automatically offered on a Skype tutorial with purchase of Matthew Montfort's book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India at Ancient-Future.Com!

Musical Scavenger Hunt

3 Ways to Win

Hunt through Ancient-Future.Com to answer the scavenger hunt questions. All of those who get any answer right win an educational digital liner note download of their choice! Get all of the answers right and also win your choice of the Audio Guide or MIDI Groove companion tracks to the world rhythms training manual, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.

3 Scavenger Hunt Questions

Name six instruments utilized in an Eve percussion orchestra.
What is the name of the more offbeat part of a Balinese kotèkan?
What is the name of an 11 beat North Indian rhythmic cycle that includes two groupings of 1 1/2 beats?

This scavenger hunt contest is open only to subscribers to the Ancient Future Times. If you are not already receiving this newsletter, please subscribe before entering. Entries accepted through January 1, 2020. Send entries to info@ancient-future.com.

Global Guitar Summit

12/6/19, Wu Wei Tea Temple, Fairfax

Friday, December 6, 8 PM
Global Guitar Summit
Wu Wei Tea Temple
1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Fairfax, CA 94930
No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20.
Info: wuweiteatemple.com
Facebook Event

Ancient Future leader and guitarist Matthew Montfort and German fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire Teja Gerken return to the Wu Wei Tea Temple in Fairfax for an evening of music from around the world.

Matthew Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords.

Teja Gerken is known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings and two-handed tapping. His playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges.

Spectacular Summer Show in the Sierras, School Sale, Scene Seeks Support

2019-08-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Spectacular Summer Show in the Sierras, School Sale, Scene Seeks Support
Summer 2019 Issue:
Ancient Future in the Sierra Nevada September 1
•Music at the Mine in Sierra City for Your Labor Day Weekend Holiday!
Back to the Ancient Future Back to School Sale
•Recordings, Music Training Materials, Skype Studies, and Musical Scavenger Hunt

3 Ways to Contribute to the World Fusion Movement
•Make a Tax Deductible Contribution to Ancient Future, Make a Direct Donation, Support A.F.A.R.

Ancient Future in the Sierra Nevada September 1

Pictured: Matthew Montfort (guitar), Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), Doug McKeehan (keys).

Music at the Mine in Sierra City for Your Labor Day Weekend Holiday!

Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla)

Sunday, September 1, 3 PM
Music at the Mine
Kentucky Mine Amphitheater
100 Kentucky Mine Rd.
Sierra City, CA 96125
Tix: $22 adv., $25 door, $10 kids 7 to 17 years old. Kids 6 and under are FREE! Buy Tix.
Info: Call Chris Stockdale at 530-862-1076 or email cstockrock@gmail.com
Facebook Event
Press Release
Ancient Future returns to perform at the Music at the Mine series at the Kentucky Mine Amphitheater for the first time since 2000. This outdoor amphitheater is in a stunningly spectacular setting nestled below the Sierra Buttes.
This uptempo program features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, virtuoso keyboardist Doug McKeehan, and world famous Indian tabla phenomenon Aditya Kalyanpur, who is flying in from India for the event!
Montfort and McKeehan have played hundreds of concerts together with master musicians from many different traditions, and Montfort and Kalyanpur are known for their duet program that emanates strains of passionate flamenco and ethereal Indian raga and fires up crowds at outdoor festivals. This virtuoso trio's uptempo program is an exhilarating and improvisatory take on Ancient Future's broad repertoire.

Featured Musicians

Aditya Kalyanpur (Indian tabla)

Beginning his studies at the age of five under the vigilance of tabla maestro late Ustad Allarakha and tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, Aditya Kalyanpur is considered as one of the most promising torchbearers of the Punjab Gharana style of tabla performance. Aditya was first seen with his guru Ustad Zakir Hussain for the famous "Wah Taj!" television commercial at the age of 11. Having the honor of being recognized as an "A" Grade Artist of All India Radio, he has given public performances along with his guru. Since then he has lent the enchanting music of his tabla to numerous commercials. We hear his tabla ringing in the background of the film "Everybody Says I am Fine" where Zakir Hussain composed the background score. To quote the acknowledging words of tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain for his young, talented disciple; "Even a young player like, say, Aditya Kalyanpur has the ability to approach the instrument with much more expertise than someone of his age would do 30 years ago." Honored with the title of 'Taal – Mani', Aditya Kalyanpur is the recipient of I.T.C's prestigious "Vidyasagar Award" as well as the "Sangeet Visharad." He has performed with many famous groups in a variety of genres, including the Rolling Stones.

Doug McKeehan (keys)

Doug McKeehan started his piano studies at age five, and began his first professional work at the age of twelve. He studied music at the Oberlin Conservatory, Kent State University, and the University of Otago (New Zealand). He has toured Europe twice and spent considerable time in India studying with notable Indian music teachers such as Pandit Ram Narayan, Ustad Kursheed Khan and Pandit A.G. Bhattacharya. He has composed original music for stage and T.V. productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles and has been musical director of two original musical comedy productions. He cofounded Air Craft with violinist Bruce Bowers, which released a highly acclaimed progressive jazz album, So Near, So Far (Crafted Air CA 30100). Since joining Ancient Future in 1985, he has performed hundreds of concerts with the band.

Matthew Montfort (band leader, scalloped fretboard guitar)

Matthew Montfort is the leader of the world fusion music ensemble Ancient Future. He is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the steel string guitar). Montfort spent three months in intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. In 2009, he released his first solo guitar recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar, which debuted at #8 on Zone Music Reporter's Top 100 February 2009 World Radio Chart, and held the #34 spot on the Top 100 of 2009. He has performed concerts worldwide, including at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona and the Mumbai Festival at the Gateway of India in Bombay. He has performed live on national radio and TV shows such as the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions - Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills.

Back to the Ancient Future Back to School Sale

Recordings, Music Training Materials, Skype Studies, and Musical Scavenger Hunt

Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and our back to school sale offers bargain prices!

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Sangria by Mariah Parker. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.

The Ancient-Future.Com Record Store is the only place where all of the Ancient Future band recordings, including out of print major label recordings, are available on CD. The site also features releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records, the band's artist coalition label, and side projects by Ancient Future band members on other labels.

Educational Materials Sale: Get More Enjoyment Out of Music

World Music Studies for Listeners and Musicians!

Want to get more out of listening to music? Study of music traditions isn't just for musicians. The more you know about music, the more you will get out of listening to it. For example, many listeners are attracted to the spiritual feeling of Indian classical music. But knowing the basics of tala (Indian rhythm cycles) will greatly enhance what one experiences while listening.
A great way to get started on a journey to become a better listener is to visit the education section of Ancient-Future.Com. Included are explanations of African, Arabic, Balinese, and Indian traditions along with some basic exercises to practice that require no instruments to perform. Your site surfing can even win prizes in this issue's Musical Scavenger Hunt! And as you learn more, you may wish to take a private Skype lesson to continue your studies.

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2.

Comb Bound Book. $46.95 SALE $33.95. Buy 1 Now.
Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Files. $74.95 SALE $53.95. Buy 1 Now.
Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download. New Best Buy! $69.95 SALE $49.95. Buy 1 Now.
Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set. New Release! $34.95 SALE 24.95. Buy 1 Now.
Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set. $39.95 SALE $29.95. Buy 1 Now.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists.
The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Digital Liner Note Discounts

Yearning for the Wind Digital Liner Notes. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Features detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music. $1.98 list. SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Digital Liner Notes. 17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper. $2.98 list. SALE $2. Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade Digital Liner Notes. 9 page .pdf of liner notes for Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Features explanations of musical concepts. $1.98 list. SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion Digital Liner Notes. 11 page .pdf of liner notes for Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Features comprehensive notes detailing a mythical story of love through the musical traditions of the world. $1.98 list. SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.

Skype Studies Sale

Skype Lessons

60 Minute Lesson. $75. SALE $60. Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
45 Minute Lesson. $65. SALE $48. Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
30 Minute Lesson. $50. SALE $36. Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

Gift certificates are available for online lessons worldwide via Skype. The lessons can also be conducted through other webcam chat and conferencing services. And for a limited time, an additional discount is automatically offered on a Skype tutorial with purchase of Matthew Montfort's book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India at Ancient-Future.Com!

Musical Scavenger Hunt

3 Ways to Win

3 Scavenger Hunt Questions

Name six instruments utilized in an Eve percussion orchestra.
What is the name of the more offbeat part of a Balinese kotèkan?
What is the name of an 11 beat North Indian rhythmic cycle that includes two groupings of 1 1/2 beats?

This scavenger hunt contest is open only to subscribers to the Ancient Future Times. If you are not already receiving this newsletter, please subscribe before entering. Entries accepted through September 15, 2019. Send entries to info@ancient-future.com.

3 Ways to Contribute to the World Fusion Movement

1. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution to Ancient Future

Your tax deductible contribution can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings.
In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. You can help by supporting it financially:

Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!

2. Make a Direct Donation (Not Tax Deductible)

Make a Direct Donation (not tax deductible). This works well for those who are not part of the top 10% of U.S. taxpayers expected to benefit by itemizing deductions under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

3. Support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Help Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks totaling 43 minutes are already in production. The new tracks will represent a 50% expansion of the project!
We have raised 21% of our funding goal so far. This is substantial, but averages just a little more than 2% per year, so we need to greatly speed up our fundraising to complete the project. Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out.
Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which is includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030)

Recording Newsletter. $15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15.
Download Supporter. $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25.
Limited Edition CD Sponsor. $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50.
Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75.
Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation.
A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. SALE $15. Buy CD-R Now.

Progress A.F.A.R.

Beyond Kalyan

Hundreds and hundreds of hours have already gone into the composition, rehearsal, pre-production, and recording the guitar tracks for this new piece by Matthew Montfort. Beyond Kalyan is based on Rag Kalyan, but takes it in new directions, even altering the basic recipe for the raga, hence the title. It is a very expansive, emotional, and difficult to perform piece. Mindia Devi spent several weeks practicing her bansuri flute parts, and then did a five hour recording session, nailing all of the composed parts. The next step will be to record her improvised solos. After that, it will be Vishal Nagar's turn to contribute tabla tracks.
Right now, we need to raise funds to pay musicians so that they can carve out time to practice their parts and record them. To complete the project, it would really help to have funds coming in more quickly. Please sign up to support the project!

Secret Code for the Future

2019-04-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Secret Code for the Future
May 2019 Issue:
Future40 Secret Code
•40% Off Tix for 5/26/19 @ SFIAF
Guitar A.F.A.R.
•First Recording of Martin Scalloped Fretboard Guitar
World Fusion for the Future
•Movement Needs Young People
Honoring the Departed
•In the Ancient Future Beyond
Free Sonoma County Library Concert Series
•Each Concert Program Features Different Material!

Future40 Secret Code

40% Off Tix for 5/26/19 @ SFIAF

Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert

Photo by Irene Young of Ancient Future circa 1990
Sunday, May 26, 2019, 5 PM
San Francisco International Arts Festival
Gallery 308, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tix: $25 general. $30 reserved table, $35 reserved front table, $15 youth 17 and under.
Box office: 415-345-7575.
40% Off Tix (Enter Discount Code Future40 at Checkout Through May 11)
Press Release
Invite Friends on Facebook

Poster (1.1 MB .pdf)

The exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings will reunite to perform at the San Francisco International Arts Festival. The reunion show features the original lineup of Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, and Ian Dogole on percussion, plus Kash Killion on bass.

This lineup of Ancient Future played over a hundred concerts together from 1988 to 1995. In 2011, they reunited for the first time in 15 years to perform concerts at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord and Yoshi's in San Francisco. In honor of the reunion concerts, World Without Walls was re-released by Capitol Records. Twenty two years after its initial 1990 release, broadcasters worldwide voted the record as one of the top 5 world music releases of 2012. This show at the San Francisco International Arts Festival will be their fifth reunion concert.

'World Without Walls' Reunion Video

YouTube Video of Ancient Future Performing Bookenka at 'World Without Walls' Reunion
"Ancient Future is a rare kind of band that might simultaneously aggravate purists, confound New Age dilettantes, seduce skeptics, and dazzle just about everybody else. Delicious compositions, intricate arrangements, crisp playing and impeccable production put these ambitious voyagers in a league of their own." - Derk Richardson, SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

Releases Featuring This Lineup

World Without Walls by Ancient Future (Sona Gaia/MCA 163).
Asian Fusion by Ancient Future (Narada Equinox ND-63023).
Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010).

Guitar A.F.A.R.

First Recording of Martin Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

Montfort's custom guitar is the result of a collaboration between Montfort, Dick Boak of the Artist Relations Department of C.F. Martin & Co., and San Francisco luthier Alan Perlman. Starting in 2014, Dick Boak worked with Montfort to help design the instrument, which features a very large sound hole to add volume, an extra upper bout sound hole so that Montfort can hear the guitar better, a cutaway with extra frets protruding into the sound hole to accommodate his extended playing range, and a short scale yet wide neck to allow for greater string bending capability. Master luthier Alan Perlman scalloped the fretboard and added other finishing touches to complete this amazing instrument in 2016.

The instrument is now broken in, and the first recording featuring it is in the works. The rehearsals for the Ancient Future's 40th Anniversary Concert helped put a focus on a new 30-minute suite in production for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project that already includes over 86 minutes of music available exclusively to supporters.
Hundreds of hours have already gone into the composition, rehearsal, pre-production, and recording some of the guitar tracks for this new piece by Matthew Montfort. Beyond Kalyan is based on Rag Kalyan, but takes it in new directions, even altering the basic recipe for the raga, hence the title. It is a very expansive, emotional, and difficult to perform piece.

The focus of A.F.A.R. this spring will be recording Mindia Devi Klein's bansuri flute and Vishal Nagar's tabla tracks. Right now, we need to raise funds to pay musicians so that they can carve out time to practice their parts and record them. Please sign up to support the project and receive tracks as they are created!

You can also make a tax deductible donation through InterMusic SF to support new compositions and recordings.

World Fusion for the Future

Movement Needs Young People

As of this moment, all types of virtuoso instrumental music are suffering from a lack of young audience members. At concerts of top performers in jazz, classical, and world music, there is a lot of gray hair in the audience. There are very few people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, and often the few in those age groups turn out to be musicians themselves.
In honor of our 40th year of world fusion, we recently embarked on cleaning up the Ancient Future postal list in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in the process found the vital statistics that are compiled in the chart below:

Scary Chart

Age Group	Fans in Group
< 40	2.4%
40's	6.5%
50's	20.2%
60's	41.1%
70's	23.3%
>80	6.6%

Young Musicians

Music pedagogy has come a long way since Ancient Future was formed, and we are producing wonderful young virtuoso performers. But we've cut music education in public schools, so new musicians are coming from those few school districts who have found a way to keep music programs, or families that can afford to pay for private lessons. But there aren't many performance opportunities for young performers because we haven't also developed an audience with musical knowledge. People need to be exposed to the elements of music to develop an interest in the higher forms of the art, and if that exposure doesn't happen in the formative years, music loses its base.

Americana in the Age of Polarization

In the past decade or so, Americana has enjoyed a resurgence at music festivals, venues, and radio shows, with young musicians joining the ranks. This has been a bright spot in music. However, since 9/11, support for world music has declined in America. Americana shows have replaced many world music shows on public radio, and even supposedly left leaning outlets like KPFA have cut world music programming. While it is important to keep Americana alive, it should not be at the expense of opening up people to music from cultures other than their own. World music can help alleviate the fear of "the other" that is so prevalent in public discourse today. America has always been a melting pot, so Americana shows should embrace American-made world fusion music. But they tend to favor music with a lot of Irish influence, undervalue the role of African music in American music forms, and ignore Asian influenced music altogether.

What You Can Do About It

Take younger relatives and friends to concerts.
Share playlists of high quality world fusion music. Free streaming should be abolished due to absurdly low artist payments, so it is best to purchase music. But streaming is how young people experience music, so we need to reach them before it is too late for an interest in higher art forms to develop. That said, streaming is a low quality music experience, and the subtleties of high level music get lost between data compression and lo-fi phones. This is quite a puzzle to fix. For now, here are some playlists to share:
1. World Music Connections. World fusion music and the traditional music that inspired it side by side.
2. Indian Guitar. Guitarists working in Indian music utilizing everything from slides to scalloped fretboards.
3. Interspecies Music. Intriguing music influenced by interspecies interactions and nature, from live jams with Pacific tree frogs from Ancient Future's Natural Rhythms to elephants playing instruments!
4. World Jazz. Jazz that influenced Ancient Future along with some more recent world jazz recordings.
5. Asian Fusion. World fusion music with Asian themes.
Send younger friends to the music education pages at Ancient-Future.Com.
Contact your local public radio station and ask them to bring back world music shows.

Honoring the Departed

Photo of Phil Fong Circa 1979 by Geoffrey Chandler

In the Ancient Future Beyond

Updating Ancient Future's mailing list resulted in almost 100 sad discoveries of fans of Ancient Future who have passed away, including the loss of visionary artist and musician Geoffrey Chandler (1951-2017), who took three of the photos on Ancient Future's first recording, Visions of a Peaceful Planet, including the above photo (originally in beautiful color, but the original is hopefully to be found buried deep in the Ancient Future archives) of original member Phil Fong (1954-2016). Also in the ancient future beyond are composer and flautist Randy Mead (1954-2012), who is prominently featured on the Quiet Fire release, and Mahanaim Satya (1945-2010), a noted jazz musician and producer who held down the bass at a number of Ancient Future concerts in the early 80's.
We've just received the very difficult news that Elias Lammam, Arabic accordion master and brother of Ancient Future performers Antoine and Georges Lammam, passed away on April 23 after suffering an aneurism on stage during a tour in Florida. This is a huge loss to the music world and our musical community. Our deep condolences go out to his family.

YouTube Video of Elias Lammam

We want to honor all of our departed fans and fellow musicians by passing the torch to future generations and working to bring more young people into the world fusion music movement.

Free Sonoma County Library Concert Series

YouTube Video of Very First Meeting of Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang

Each Concert Program Features Different Material!

Ancient Future bandleader and scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer will be joined by master musicians from many traditions for this series of hour long free concerts at libraries in Sonoma County. Each show will feature different material from recordings by Matthew Montfort, Ancient Future, and the master musicians he is performing with. Press Release.

Saturday, April 27, 2 PM, Guitar and Pipa Duet with Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang (pipa), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free. Info: 707- 996-5217 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Facebook Event.
Saturday, May 4, 2 PM, Ancient Future Duet, Rohnert Park-Cotati Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park Expressway / State Farm Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Free. Info: 707-584-9121 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Facebook Event.
Saturday, May 11, 2 PM, Ancient Future World Jazz Trio, Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Free. Info: 707-433-3772 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Facebook Event.

Festivities Begin for Ancient Future's 40th Year of World Fusion

2019-02-07T00:53:00.000-08:00

Ancient Future Times: Festivities Begin for Ancient Future's 40th Year of World Fusion
February 2019 Issue:
40th Anniversary Preview Performance Streams Live
•KPFA 94.1 FM (kpfa.org), Thursday, February 7, 10 PM PST
Ancient Future 40th Anniversary Concert
•Tuesday, February 12, 8 PM, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
Get More Enjoyment Out of Music
•World Music Studies for Listeners
Free Sonoma County Library Concert Series
•Each Concert Program Features a Different Lineup!
Ancient Future World Without Walls Reunion Concert
•Save the Date: 5/26/19 at SFIAF

40th Anniversary Preview Performance Streams Live

Original Members Benjy Wertheimer, Phil Fong, Mindia Devi Klein, Matthew Montfort

KPFA 94.1 FM (kpfa.org), Thursday, February 7, 10 PM PST

Want to hear some of Ancient Future's early music performed live, but don't live in the San Francisco Bay Area?
You are in luck, because Ancient Future will perform live on The Hear and Now with Derk Richardson on KPFA, 94.1 FM, Berkeley, California. The broadcast will take place on Thursday, February 7, at 10 PM PST, which is Mindia Devi Klein's birthday.
Special thanks go out to Jason Ranjit Parmar (tabla, udu) and Mariah Parker (piano, santur). They will be filling in for original Ancient Future members Benjy Wertheimer, who will be flying in for the 40th anniversary concert, and the late Phil Fong.
The broadcast also streams live. Visit kpfa.org at 10 PM PST and click the Listen Live link. The archived broadcast will be available for two weeks.

Ancient Future 40th Anniversary Concert

Ancient Future Circa 1981

Tuesday, February 12, 8 PM, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley

With Founding Members Matthew Montfort (Guitars), Mindia Devi (Flutes), and Benjy Wertheimer (Tabla)
Plus Georges Lammam (Violin), Vishal Nagar (Tabla), Doug McKeehan (Keys) and Mariah Parker (Santur)

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 8 PM
Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Purchase Tix: $20 in advance at the F&S, $24 at the door. All tickets are subject to an additional $4 per ticket facility fee.
Box Office Phone: 510-644-2020, open 12:30 PM – 7 PM (excluding holidays) and during all performances.
Email: info@freightandsalvage.org
Press Release
Facebook Event

Poster (384k .pdf)
Ancient Future's first concert took place on February 11, 1979, at the Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, California, a vegetarian cafe and music club co-op that was the center of a vibrant local music scene. It was the day before Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort's birthday, who was not yet of nightclub age. This concert on Montfort's birthday celebrates Ancient Future's 40 years at the forefront of the world fusion music movement. Purchase your tickets now to insure the success of this one time event!

Support the 40th Anniversary Season with a Tax Deductible Contribution!

By making a tax deductible donation to Ancient Future through InterMusic SF, you can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings.
Make a Tax Deductible Donation to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!
You can also help by signing up to support Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.

First Set

The first set of the 40th anniversary concert will feature original band members Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Benjy Wertheimer on tabla, and Mindia Devi Klein on bansuri and silver flutes. Mariah Parker will play piano and fill in for the late Phil Fong on santur.

YouTube Video of Ancient Future Circa 1978

'Visions of a Peaceful Planet' Reunion Concert Edition With Long Lost 1978 Video

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2004) $19.98 list. Buy Audio/Video E-CD Now.

Second Set

The second set will feature band members from Ancient Future's major label releases along with top master musicians from around the world who have a long history of cross cultural music collaborations with the band. Confirmed performers include Georges Lammam on Arabic violin, Vishal Nagar on tabla, and Doug McKeehan on keyboards.

YouTube Video of 'El Zaffa' by Ancient Future

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Get More Enjoyment Out of Music

World Music Studies for Listeners!

Want to get more out of listening to music? Study of music traditions isn't just for musicians. The more you know about music, the more you will get out of listening to it. For example, many listeners are attracted to the spiritual feeling of Indian classical music. But knowing the basics of tala (Indian rhythm cycles) will greatly enhance what one experiences while listening.
A great way to get started on a journey to become a better listener is to visit the education section of Ancient-Future.Com. Included are explanations of African, Arabic, Balinese, and Indian traditions along with some basic exercises to practice that require no instruments to perform. As you learn more, you may wish to take a private Skype lesson to continue your studies.

Skype Sale

30 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $50. Sale $36. Buy 1 Now.

Free Sonoma County Library Concert Series

YouTube Video of Very First Meeting of Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang

Each Concert Program Features a Different Lineup!

Matthew Montfort leads this series of free hour long educational library concerts. Every show in the series features a different program with different musicians!

Wednesday, February 20, 7 PM, Ancient Future History with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri, silver flute), and Mariah Parker (santur), Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma, CA 94952.
Saturday March 9, 3 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Teja Gerken (fingerstyle guitar), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. (Also performing Friday, March 8, 8 PM, Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930. Donation: $10 - $20.)
Saturday March 30, 2 PM, World Without Walls Trio with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Ian Dogole (percussion), Northwest Santa Rosa Library, 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, CA 95401.
Saturday, April 20, 2 PM, Guitar and Arabic Percussion Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Central Santa Rosa Library, 211 E Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.
Saturday April 27, 2 PM, Guitar and Pipa Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Shenshen Zhang

(pipa), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476.

Saturday, May 4, 2 PM, Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Rohnert Park-Cotati Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park, CA 94928.

Ancient Future World Without Walls Reunion Concert

Photo by Irene Young of Ancient Future circa 1990

Save the Date: 5/26/19 at SFIAF

The exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings will reunite to perform at the San Francisco International Arts Festival. The reunion show features the original lineup of Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, and Ian Dogole on percussion.
Sunday Evening, May 26, 2019, 5 PM
San Francisco International Arts Festival
Gallery 308, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94109

Reunion Celebrating 40 Years of World Fusion

2018-12-31T00:12:00.001-08:00

Ancient Future Times: Reunion Celebrating 40 Years of World Fusion
New Year 2019 Issue:
Ancient Future Original Band Reunion Plus!
•Celebrating 40 Years of World Fusion Music 2/12/19 at the Freight & Salvage
Please Watch and Share: 40th Anniversary Reunion Video
•Featuring Footage from First Ancient Future Video
First Set: Original Band Reunion
•Featuring Benjy Wertheimer, Mindia Devi Klein, and Matthew Montfort
Second Set: Ancient Future Hear and Now
•Master Musician Lineup Depends on YOU!
Contribute to Ancient Future's 40th Year of World Fusion
•Last Chance for 2018 Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF

Ancient Future Original Band Reunion Plus!

Ancient Future Circa 1981. Shown: Mindia Devi Klein, Benjy Wertheimer, Matthew Montfort

Celebrating 40 Years of World Fusion Music 2/12/19 at the Freight & Salvage

Ancient Future's first concert took place on February 11, 1979, at the Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, California, a vegetarian cafe and music club co-op that was the center of a vibrant local music scene. It was the day before Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort's birthday, who was not yet of nightclub age. Exactly 40 years and one day later, this anniversary concert on Montfort's birthday celebrates Ancient Future's four decades at the forefront of the world fusion music movement.
We are thrilled to announce that the first set of the concert will feature original band members Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla, esraj), and Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri, silver flute)!
The second set will feature band members from Ancient Future's major label releases along with top master musicians from around the world who have a long history of cross cultural music collaborations.
Purchase your tickets now to insure that there is a budget for robust roster of musicians, and check the Facebook Event and Press Release pages for surprise lineup announcements of featured performers. You can also help by making a tax deductible donation to Ancient Future through InterMusic SF.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 8 PM
Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Tix: $20 in advance, $24 at the door, plus $4 per ticket facility fee.
Purchase Tix. Box Office Phone: 510-644-2020.
Email: info@freightandsalvage.org
Press Release
Facebook Event

Poster (384k .pdf)

Please Watch and Share: 40th Anniversary Reunion Video

YouTube Video of Ancient Future Circa 1978.

Featuring Footage from First Ancient Future Video

This concert video teaser features an amazing archaeological find: the very first video of Ancient Future, recorded in late 1978, months before Ancient Future's first concert! Please watch it and share it to insure that YouTube will feature it in searches. Thanks to Jonah and Mariposa at Marin Artists International who, after learning of the reunion concert, were able to rescue parts of Ancient Future's first video recording session from archival oblivion. This video showcases an excerpt from 'Eternal Embrace' by Phil Fong. Performances of two complete pieces have been recovered, and are now included as a video session on the eCD version of Visions of a Peaceful Planet, available exclusively at Ancient-Future.Com.

Reunion Concert Edition With Long Lost 1978 Video

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2004) $19.98 list. Buy Audio/Video E-CD Now.

First Set: Original Band Reunion

Ancient Future Circa 1981. Shown: Benjy Wertheimer, Mindia Devi Klein, Matthew Montfort

Featuring Benjy Wertheimer, Mindia Devi Klein, and Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future was formed in late 1978 by students at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California, including Mindia Devi Klein (who went by Mindy in those days), Matthew Montfort, Benjy Wertheimer, and Phil Fong. On April 19, 2015, the original lineup of Ancient Future performed together for the first time this century to a full house at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. Sadly, Phil Fong was unable to attend the reunion as he was battling ALS. He passed away on July 18, 2016.
The first set will feature all three surviving original Ancient Future band members: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla, esraj), Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri and silver flute). If enough funds are raised through ticket presales and donations, there may be additional featured guest artists. Check the press release and Facebook event pages periodically for surprise announcements.
This lineup of Ancient Future made two recordings that are now considered world fusion classics. In December, 1978, the band went into Tres Virgos Studio in Mill Valley to record Montfort's song Moonbath. The song became the springboard for the first Ancient Future record, Visions of a Peaceful Planet. The concept for Natural Rhythms, the band's second record, grew out of a spontaneous recording session at a friend's recording studio near a frog pond. The sound of croaking frogs was leaking into the studio, so Montfort went out to the pond with a zither and began to play, and found that certain rhythms produced musical responses from the frogs. Several months later, Montfort and Klein went to Bali to study gamelan music. They were amazed to find paintings all over the island portraying Balinese rice paddy frogs playing gamelan instruments, so they ventured out into the rice paddies where a frog jam session ensued.

Original Lineup Releases

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2004).
Natural Rhythms by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com 2005).

Second Set: Ancient Future Hear and Now

Master Musician Lineup Depends on YOU!

The second set will feature band members from Ancient Future's major label releases and top master musicians from around the world. The lineup will depend on funds raised through ticket presales and donations, so get your tickets now so we can afford to bring more musicians. Check the press release and Facebook event pages periodically for surprise announcements!

Major Label Period

Ancient Future Circa 1990. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Jim Hurley, Doug McKeehan, Ian Dogole
"Ancient Future is a rare kind of band that might simultaneously aggravate purists, confound New Age dilettantes, seduce skeptics, and dazzle just about everybody else. Delicious compositions, intricate arrangements, crisp playing and impeccable production put these ambitious voyagers in a league of their own." - Derk Richardson, SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN
This lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential major label recordings played over a hundred concerts together. In 2011, they reunited and began to perform concerts at venues from Yoshi's in San Francisco to the Frick Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In honor of the reunion, World Without Walls was released digitally by Capitol Records for the first time ever at digital retailers such as iTunes. Twenty two years after its initial release in 1990, broadcasters worldwide voted the record as one of the top 5 world music releases of 2012.

Major Label Releases

Quiet Fire by Ancient Future (Narada/MCA 1012).
Dreamchaser by Ancient Future (Sona Gaia/MCA 154).
World Without Walls by Ancient Future (Sona Gaia/MCA 163).
Asian Fusion by Ancient Future (Narada Equinox ND-63023).

Video

YouTube Video of Ancient Future at their 'World Without Walls' Reunion at the Freight and Salvage. Shown: Doug McKeehan (keyboards, piano), Kash Killion (bass), Ian Dogole (percussion), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Jim Hurley (violin), Mariah Parker (santur)

World Music Collaboration Period

Photo of Ancient Future Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi by Julie Marten. Shown: Pandit Habib Khan (sitar), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
Over the years, Ancient Future has expanded its musical vision through collaborations with master musicians from more than two dozen countries, cultures, and musical traditions who are now an integral part of what is today more than just a band. Ancient Future has grown to become a large multinational music ensemble with many smaller ensembles within it, enabling Ancient Future to realize its core mission of creating world fusion music. Some popular offerings include the Indo-Arabic, Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, and Asian Jazz programs.

Ancient Future Indo-Arabic Roots. Shown: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Georges Lammam (Arabic violin), Vishal Nagar (Indian tabla)

World Music Collaboration Releases

Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010).
Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030).

Video

YouTube Video of El Zaffa from Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Shown: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Georges Lammam (Arabic violin), Salaheddin Takesh (Arabic percussion), Doug McKeehan (keyboards), Sapphira (belly dance).

Contribute to Ancient Future's 40th Year of World Fusion

Last Chance for 2018 Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF

Ancient Future has big plans to celebrate 40 years of world fusion music. Help us bring music to the world in this important milestone year. Your tax deductible contribution can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, and support new compositions and recordings.
In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. You can help by supporting it financially:
Make a Tax Deductible Donation to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!

Other Ways to Support the Music

Not part of the top 10% of U.S. taxpayers expected to benefit by itemizing deductions under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act but still want to contribute?
You can make a direct donation (not tax deductible), or sign up to support Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks totaling 43 minutes are already in production. The new tracks will represent a 50% expansion of the project! Help us finish them in our 40th year.

The Future Isn't What it Used to Be, But the Ancient Future Is at 40th Anniversary

2018-12-01T23:42:00.004-08:00

The Future Isn't What it Used to Be, But the Ancient Future Is at 40th Anniversary

Holiday 2018 Issue:
Ancient Future 40th Anniversary & Bandleader Birthday
•2/12/2019, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley. Get Tix Now To Insure Robust Roster!
Holiday Sale
•Recordings, Music Training Materials, Skype Studies, and Private Lesson Gift Certificates
Your Chance to Contribute to the World Fusion Movement
•Make a Tax Deductible Contribution to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!
Help Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line
•Fund Finishing New Studio Tracks Now In Production

Ancient Future 40th Anniversary & Bandleader Birthday

YouTube Video of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer.

2/12/2019, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley. Get Tix Now To Insure Robust Roster!

Ancient Future's first concert took place on February 11, 1979, at the original Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, California, the day before Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort's birthday, who was not yet even drinking age. This concert on his birthday also celebrates 40 years of world fusion music from Ancient Future.
The exact lineup for the show has not yet been announced, but it will include musicians from Ancient Future's long history of cross cultural music collaborations. It will feature top master musicians from around the world along with band members from the original and historic Ancient Future lineups.
Purchase your tickets now to insure that there is a budget for robust roster of musicians, and stay tuned for surprise announcements of featured performers!

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 8 PM
Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Purchase Tix: $20 advance, $24 door, plus $4 per ticket facility fee.
Box Office Phone: 510-644-2020, open 12:30 PM – 7 PM (excluding holidays) and during all performances.
Email: info@freightandsalvage.org
Facebook Event
Press Release

Poster (Please print and post this 246k .pdf)

Likely Coconspirators

Help us bring musicians who perform in Ancient Future's many programs by purchasing advance tickets or making a tax deductible donation to Ancient Future through InterMusic SF. There are two sets, and if we can raise enough money, we'd like to feature two core rhythm sections along with guest artists from the various periods of the band's history. Here are some of the possible coconspirators that could be featured if the show sells out well in advance: Vishal Nagar (Indian tabla, collaborator since 2013), Shenshen Zhang (Chinese pipa, collaborator since 2011), Mariah Parker (santur, collaborator since 2005), Georges Lammam (Arabic violin, collaborator since 1998), Pandit Habib Khan (sitar, collaborator since 1996), Jim Hurley (violin, collaborator since 1988), Doug McKeehan (keys, collaborator since 1985), Ian Dogole (percussion, collaborator since 1985), Mindia Devi Klein (Indian bansuri, silver flute, original member), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla, esraj, original member). The more money that is raised, the more collaborators that can be featured!

Holiday Sale

Recordings, Music Training Materials, Skype Studies, and Private Lesson Gift Certificates

Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and our holiday sale offers bargain prices!

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Sangria by Mariah Parker. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008. List $17.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. SALE $10. Buy 1 Now.

Educational Materials

Ancient Future Music publishes educational materials for use in music classes, music schools, private lessons, and independent study.

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2.

Comb Bound Book. $46.95 SALE $33.95. Buy 1 Now.
Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Files. $74.95 SALE $53.95. Buy 1 Now.
Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download. New Best Buy! $69.95 SALE $49.95. Buy 1 Now.
Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set. New Release! $34.95 SALE 24.95. Buy 1 Now.
Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set. $39.95 SALE $29.95. Buy 1 Now.

Digital Liner Note Discounts

Yearning for the Wind Digital Liner Notes. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Features detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music. $1.98 list. SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Digital Liner Notes. 17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper. $2.98 list. SALE $2. Buy 1 Now.
Sympathetic Serenade Digital Liner Notes. 9 page .pdf of liner notes for Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Features explanations of musical concepts. $1.98 list. SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.
Planet Passion Digital Liner Notes. 11 page .pdf of liner notes for Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Features comprehensive notes detailing a mythical story of love through the musical traditions of the world. $1.98 list. SALE $1.50. Buy 1 Now.

Skype Studies Sale

Skype Lessons

60 Minute Lesson. $75. SALE $60. Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
45 Minute Lesson. $65. SALE $48. Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
30 Minute Lesson. $50. SALE $36. Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

In Person Private Music Lesson Series

Matthew Montfort is accepting a limited number of students at his studio in San Rafael, California, and will travel to student's homes in the San Francisco Bay Area. A lesson series makes an excellent gift for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students. Gift certificates for private lessons in Marin are available.

60 Minute Private Lessons. 4 pack. $300. SALE $252. Buy 1 Now. A set of four one hour private lessons in San Rafael.
45 Minute Private Lessons. 4 pack. $260. SALE $212. Buy 1 Now. A set of four 45 minute private lessons in San Rafael.
30 Minute Private Lessons. 4 pack. $200. SALE $168. Buy 1 Now. A set of four 30 minute private lessons in San Rafael.

To contact Matthew Montfort about lessons, e-mail him at info@ancient-future.com or call 415-459-1892.

Your Chance to Contribute to the World Fusion Movement

Make a Tax Deductible Contribution to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!

Your tax deductible contribution can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings.
In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. You can help by supporting it financially:

Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!
Make a Direct Donation (not tax deductible). This works well for those who are not part of the top 10% of U.S. taxpayers expected to benefit by itemizing deductions under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Help Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

Fund Finishing New Studio Tracks Now In Production

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks totaling 43 minutes are already in production. The new tracks will represent a 50% expansion of the project!
We have so far raised 20% of our funding goal. This is substantial, but we need to greatly speed up our fundraising to complete the project during our 40th year of world fusion music. We need additional supporters and funds now, so please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out.
Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which is includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030)

Recording Newsletter. $15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15.
Download Supporter. $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25.
Limited Edition CD Sponsor. $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50.
Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75.
Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation.
A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. SALE $15. Buy CD-R Now.

Las Vegas Concert, 8 Ways to Win, 40th Anniversary Concert, Contributions

2018-08-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Las Vegas Concert, 8 Ways to Win, 40th Anniversary Concert, Contributions
September 2018 Issue:
Ancient Future Performs in Las Vegas
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar), Georges Lammam (Arabic Violin), and Vishal Nagar (Tabla)
8 Ways to Win
•Musical Scavenger Hunt
Ancient Future 40th Anniversary & Bandleader Birthday
•Save the Date: 2/12/2019, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
Contribute to the World Fusion Music Movement
•Ancient Future Accepts Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF!

Ancient Future Performs in Las Vegas

Photo by Julie Martin, Sharif, and Inni Singh. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Georges Lammam, and Vishal Nagar.

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar), Georges Lammam (Arabic Violin), and Vishal Nagar (Tabla)

This program by the pioneering world music group Ancient Future blends the rhythms and melodies of the Arabian Peninsula, Spain, and India with contemporary jazz and rock, producing an irresistible and exhilarating fusion that captures the essence of pilgrimage, cultural exchange, exploration, and migration. The trio consists of scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort performing with Arabic violin virtuoso Georges Lammam and Indian tabla master Vishal Nagar. These multifaceted artists create an innovative musical experience that guides listeners on a hypnotic voyage through time and place.
Musical concepts such as taqsim (an Arabic method of melodic improvisation), tala (the recurring rhythmic cycles of Indian classical music), and compás (the rhythmic structure of flamenco) will be showcased.
Saturday, September 8, 2 PM
Ancient Future Indo Arabic Trio
Winchester Cultural Center
3130 S. McLeod Dr.
Las Vegas NV 89121
Adm: $12 advance, $14 day of show
Purchase Tix
Info: Call 702-455-7340
Press Release
Facebook Event (Please Invite Friends)

8 Ways to Win

Musical Scavenger Hunt

Start the school year with this scavenger hunt to win music education materials and learn about the ancient musical traditions of the world! Hunt through Ancient-Future.Com to answer the scavenger hunt questions. All of those who get any answer right win an educational digital liner note download of their choice! Get all of the answers right and also win your choice of the Audio Guide or MIDI Groove companion tracks to the world rhythms training manual, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now. New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
Not just for percussionists, this classic "world beat bible" takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of interesting, imaginative and fun exercises for all music lovers that require no instruments to perform.

8 Scavenger Hunt Questions

Name six instruments utilized in an Eve percussion orchestra.
What is the name of the more offbeat part of a Balinese kotèkan?
What is the name of an 11 beat North Indian rhythmic cycle that includes two groupings of 1 1/2 beats?
What is the name of a common South Indian 8 beat rhythmic cycle?
What is the name of the Egyptian wedding procession rhythm that is the basis for a popular Ancient Future track?
What moods are associated with Rag Alhaiya Bilawal?
What are the three main schools of scalloped fretboard guitar?
Name two subjects available for study through private online lessons via Skype and other services through Ancient-Future.Com.

This scavenger hunt contest is open only to subscribers to the Ancient Future Times. If you are not already receiving this newsletter, please subscribe before entering. Entries accepted through September 15, 2018. Send entries to info@ancient-future.com.

Scavenger Hunt Prizes

Win Audio Guide or MIDI Groove Tracks (Get All Answers Right)

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). A set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear. New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). A complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. Load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.

Win Digital Liner Notes (Get Any Answer Right)

Seven Serenades Liner Notes. 17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper. $2.98 (SALE $2): Buy 1 Now.

Yearning for the Wind Liner Notes. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. These entertaining and educational liner notes feature cover art, musicians biographies, and detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music. $1.98 (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now.

Ancient Future 40th Anniversary & Bandleader Birthday

Photo of Ancient Future Circa 1979. Shown: Benjy Wertheimer, Phil Fong, Mindia Devi Klein, Matthew Montfort.

Save the Date: 2/12/2019, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley

Ancient Future's first concert took place on February 11, 1979, at the original Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, California, the day before Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort's birthday, who was not yet even drinking age. This concert on Matthew Montfort's birthday also celebrates 40 years of world fusion music from Ancient Future.
The exact lineup for the show has not yet been announced, but it will include musicians from Ancient Future's long history of cross cultural music collaborations. It will feature top master musicians from around the world along with band members from the original and historic Ancient Future lineups. Stay tuned for surprise announcements of featured musicians.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 8 PM
Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Tix: $20 in advance at the F&S, $24 at the door. All tickets are subject to an additional $4 per ticket facility fee. Advance tickets will be available starting fall 2018.
Box Office Phone: 510-644-2020, open 12:30 PM – 7 PM (excluding holidays) and during all performances.
Email: info@freightandsalvage.org
Press Release

Ancient Future History: Reunion Concerts of Yore

Original Lineup Reunion

YouTube Video of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer.
On April 19, 2015, three members of the original line-up of Ancient Future performed together for the first time this century. Ancient Future was formed in 1978 by students at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California, including Mindia Devi Klein (who went by Mindy in those days), Matthew Montfort, Benjy Wertheimer, and Phil Fong, who sadly was unable to attend the reunion as he was battling ALS. He passed away on July 18, 2016.

World Without Walls Reunion

YouTube Video of Ancient Future Performing Bookenka at "World Without Walls Reunion." Shown: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Jim Hurley (violin), Doug McKeehan (keyboards, piano), Ian Dogole (percussion), Kash Killion (bass), and Mariah Parker (santur).
This lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings played over a hundred concerts together from 1988 to 1995. In 2011, they reunited for the first time in 15 years to perform concerts at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord and Yoshi's in San Francisco. In honor of the reunion concerts, World Without Walls was released digitally by Capitol Records for the first time ever at major digital retailers such as iTunes. Twenty two years after its initial release in 1990, broadcasters worldwide voted the record as one of the top 5 world music releases of 2012, after which they continued to perform reunion concerts at venues such as the Frick Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Berkeley's Freight and Salvage.
"Ancient Future is a rare kind of band that might simultaneously aggravate purists, confound New Age dilettantes, seduce skeptics, and dazzle just about everybody else. Delicious compositions, intricate arrangements, crisp playing and impeccable production put these ambitious voyagers in a league of their own." - Derk Richardson, SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

Contribute to the World Fusion Music Movement

Ancient Future Accepts Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF!

Your tax deductible contribution can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings.
With proceeds from recordings now going mostly to tech companies, and grant supported and city sponsored concerts of original music becoming an endangered species, we really need your help to continue our efforts. In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. It must be supported financially. Could you do your job without pay? How would you pay your bills? This is what the world fusion music movement faces: dramatically rising costs of living in the midst of major reductions in financial support for music.
Make a Tax Deductible Donation to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!
Not part of the top 10% of U.S. taxpayers expected to benefit by itemizing deductions under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act but still want to contribute? You can make a direct donation (not tax deductible), or sign up to support Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.

World Rhythms 16: Arabic Rhythms and Musical Scavenger Hunt

2018-07-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Issue 16. Summer 2018:
In this issue:

Arabic Rhythms
- Chiftitelli
- Elzaffa

Ancient Future Live

Musical Scavenger Hunt Contest

World Music Lessons Via Skype

Arabic Rhythms

Rhythm in Arabic music is organized into cycles of beats and pauses. Each cycle consists of a fixed number of metric pulses, including a hierarchy of strong beats, weak beats, and silent beats that define a groove. In performance some of the rests or silent beats may be filled in, but the underlying feel is maintained. The sounding beats vary in timbre and are described with onomatopoeic syllables. The strong beat is described using the syllable "dum" for the heavy low-pitched center sound of the drum. The weak is represented by the word "tek" for the bright, high-pitched edge or side sound of the drum and is not necessarily less loud than the strong beat. In some ways, it shares a similar feeling to the off-beat in Western music.

Chiftitelli

MIDI. >play
Chiftitelli is the Turkish word for belly dancing. It is an 8 beat rhythm with 3-3-2 accent pattern in the first four beats that is very popular with belly dancers.

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   | 1   +   2   +   3   +   4   + | 

dum     tek tek     tek tek       dum     dum     tek 

1   2   3   1   2   3   1   2

Elzaffa

MIDI. >play
Elzaffa is a musical procession. The main pattern is 8 beats long.

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   | 1   +   2   +   3   +   4   + | 

dum     tek ka  tek     tek       dum     tek     tek    (tek ka)

Drum Syllables

dum (right hand clear low tone)
tek (right hand high crisp tone)
ka (left hand, sounds like tek)
After studying the traditional rhythm, check out Ancient Future's performance of Matthew Montfort's world fusion composition in this rhythmic mode, "El Zaffa."

'El Zaffa' YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/mHle2ipjQsU
El Zaffa 4:26 (Matthew Montfort. © 2001 Ancient Future Music). iTunes. >YTmusic. Full version/best audio quality appears on Planet Passion (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2010) CD, $17.98 (SALE $10!): Buy CD Now.

Ancient Future Live

Concert Poster (259k pdf)

Arabic Fusion Program

This program blends the rhythms and melodies of the Arabian Peninsula with contemporary jazz and rock, producing an irresistible and exhilarating fusion that captures the essence of pilgrimage, cultural exchange, exploration and migration. Ancient Future's performance features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, Arabic violin virtuoso Georges Lammam, Arabic percussion master Antoine Lammam, and keyboardist extraordinaire Doug McKeehan. These multifaceted artists create an innovative musical experience that guides listeners on a hypnotic voyage through time and place.
Saturday, July 28, 8 PM
Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Doors open at 7:30 PM
Adm: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating
Tix: tickets.throckmortontheatre.org
Event: throckmortontheatre.org/event/ancient-future/
Info: 415-383-9600
Facebook Event
Listen on Spotify
Sunday, August 4, 8:30 PM (SOLD OUT!)
UCO Lick Observatory Benefit
Main Building Hall
Mount Hamilton, CA 95140
Adm: $45 general seating, $90 preferred, $199 VIP

Concert Review

"Woe, is for all of you who missed the Ancient Future event sponsored by Rhythm & Bliss. The group Ancient Future is made up of Musical Masters in their genres. The band consists of 24 musicians that come together in different configurations and create fused music. This configuration was an Arabic/Rock fusion. I have no words to describe what it is to hear live musical virtuosos. After hearing and dancing to this quality of music nothing else stirs my soul the same way. It was truly a grand evening. I was so very glad to have been there." – Mary Wheeler, The Harrakat, Eugene, Oregon

Musical Scavenger Hunt Contest

13 Ways to Win

Participate in this educational scavenger hunt to win music education materials and learn about the ancient musical traditions of the world! Hunt through Ancient-Future.Com to answer the scavenger hunt questions. All of those who get any answer right win an educational digital liner note download of their choice! Get all of the answers right and also win your choice of the Audio Guide or MIDI Groove companion tracks to the world rhythms training manual, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now. New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
Not just for percussionists, this classic "world beat bible" takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of interesting, imaginative and fun exercises for all music lovers that require no instruments to perform.

13 Scavenger Hunt Questions

What rhythm was used as the basis for the fast section of the title track from the Ancient Future album Quiet Fire?
Name six instruments utilized in an Eve percussion orchestra.
What is the name of the more offbeat part of a Balinese kotèkan?
What rhythm was used as the basis for the composition "Gamarock" from the Ancient Future album Dreamchaser?
What is the name of an 11 beat North Indian rhythmic cycle that includes two groupings of 1 1/2 beats?
What is the name of a common South Indian 8 beat rhythmic cycle?
What is the name of the Egyptian wedding procession rhythm that is the basis for a popular Ancient Future track?
What moods are associated with Rag Alhaiya Bilawal?
What is the name of the second, higher part of a North Indian melodic composition?
How many sympathetic strings does a North Indian sitar typically have?
What are the three main schools of scalloped fretboard guitar?
What instrument was traditionally made from the shell of an armadillo?
Name two subjects available for study through private online lessons via Skype and other services through Ancient-Future.Com.

This scavenger hunt contest is open only to subscribers to the Ancient Future Times. If you are not already receiving this newsletter, please subscribe before entering. Entries accepted through August 13, 2018. Send entries to info@ancient-future.com.

Scavenger Hunt Prizes

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Digital Liner Notes

Educational Digital Liner Notes. 17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper. $2.98 (SALE $2): Buy 1 Now.

Educational Digital Liner Notes. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. These entertaining and educational liner notes feature cover art, musicians biographies, and detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music. $1.98 (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now.

Educational Digital Liner Notes. 11 page .pdf of liner notes for Planet Passion by Ancient Future. The liner notes are a digital version of the cover art and comprehensive CD booklet, which details a mythical story of love through the musical traditions of the world. $1.98 (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now.

World Music Lessons Via Skype

And Other Multimedia File Exchange Methods

Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Now you can study any of the subjects on the education section of Ancient-Future.Com through private correspondence lessons (via Skype or any method of file exchange) with Ancient Future bandleader and guitarist, Matthew Montfort. Feel free to email info@ancient-future.com with any questions you may have about how correspondence lessons can help you in your musical development!

Concerts, Contributions, and Contest with 13 Ways to Win

2018-07-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Concerts, Contributions, and Contest with 13 Ways to Win
July 2018 Friday the 13th Issue:
Ancient Future Performs at Throckmorton Theatre 7/28
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (Guitar), Georges Lammam (Violin), Antoine Lammam (Percussion), and Doug McKeehan (Keys)
Contribute to the World Fusion Music Movement
•Ancient Future Now Accepts Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF!
Summer Tour Stops
•Performances in California and Nevada
Musical Scavenger Hunt Contest
•13 Ways to Win

Ancient Future Performs at Throckmorton Theatre 7/28

'El Zaffa' YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/mHle2ipjQsU

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Guitars), Georges Lammam (Violin), Antoine Lammam (Percussion), and Doug McKeehan (Keys)

This program blends the rhythms and melodies of the Arabian Peninsula with contemporary jazz and rock, producing an irresistible and exhilarating fusion that captures the essence of pilgrimage, cultural exchange, exploration and migration.
Ancient Future's performance features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, Arabic violin virtuoso Georges Lammam, Arabic percussion master Antoine Lammam, and keyboardist extraordinaire Doug McKeehan. These multifaceted artists create an innovative musical experience that guides listeners on a hypnotic voyage through time and place.
Saturday, July 28, 8 PM
Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Doors open at 7:30 PM
Adm: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating
Tix: tickets.throckmortontheatre.org
Event: throckmortontheatre.org/event/ancient-future/
Info: 415-383-9600
Facebook Event
Listen on Spotify

Poster to Share or Print and Post

Concert Poster (259k pdf)
Ancient Future will also perform this program at the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton on August 4. That show sold out immediately with tickets that ranged in price from $45 to $199, so advanced tickets are highly recommended for the July 28 show at the Throckmorton Theatre.

Concert Review

Contribute to the World Fusion Music Movement

Ancient Future Now Accepts Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF!

As the Ancient Future Times reported in its April 2018 issue, Ancient Future has been accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, and we are happy to report that we have now received more than one tax deductible contribution!
Your tax deductible contribution can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings.
With income from recordings now instead going mostly to tech companies, and grant supported and city sponsored concerts of original music becoming an endangered species, we really need your help to continue our efforts. The world needs world fusion music, but it must be supported financially. Could you do your job without pay? How would you pay your bills? This is what the world fusion music movement faces: dramatically rising costs of living in the midst of major reductions in financial support for music.

Donate to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!

Summer Tour Stops

Performances in California and Nevada

Saturday, July 21, 8 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.), Occidental CA 95465. Tix: $22 in advance, $26 at door. Info: 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
SOLD OUT: Sunday, August 4, 8:30 PM, Ancient Future Arabic Dance Ensemble, Benefit Concert for UCO Lick Observatory, Main Building Hall, Mount Hamilton, CA 95140. Adm: $45 general seating, $90 preferred, $199 VIP.
Sunday, August , 5 PM to 9 PM, Hindustani Guitar and Violin Concert featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Sharat Chandra Srivastava (violin), and Rajvinder Singh (tabla), Private Location, Oakland, CA, 94607. Adm: $20. Email mikedave@gmail.com to receive an invitation and make reservations.
Saturday, August 18, 8 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Adm: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating. Tix: tickets.throckmortontheatre.org. Info: 415-383-9600.
Saturday, September 8, 2 PM, Ancient Future Indo Arabic Trio featuring Matthew Montfort, Georges Lammam, and Vishal Nagar, Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., Las Vegas NV 89121. Adm: $12 advance, $15 day of show. Purchase Tix. Info: Call (702) 455-7340. Facebook.

Musical Scavenger Hunt Contest

13 Ways to Win

Participate in this educational scavenger hunt to win music education materials and learn about the ancient musical traditions of the world! Hunt through Ancient-Future.Com to answer the scavenger hunt questions. All of those who get any any answer right win an educational digital liner note download! Get all of the answers right and also win your choice of the Audio Guide or MIDI Groove companion tracks to the world rhythms training manual, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now. New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
Not just for percussionists, this classic "world beat bible" takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of interesting, imaginative and fun exercises for all music lovers that require no instruments to perform.

13 Scavenger Hunt Questions

What rhythm was used as the basis for the fast section of the title track from the Ancient Future album Quiet Fire?
Name six instruments utilized in an Eve percussion orchestra.
What is the name of the more offbeat part of a Balinese kotèkan?
What rhythm was used as the basis for the composition "Gamarock" from the Ancient Future album Dreamchaser?
What is the name of an 11 beat North Indian rhythmic cycle that includes two groupings of 1 1/2 beats?
What is the name of a common South Indian 8 beat rhythmic cycle?
What is the name of the Egyptian wedding procession rhythm that is the basis for a popular Ancient Future track?
What moods are associated with Rag Alhaiya Bilawal?
What is the name of the second, higher part of a North Indian melodic composition?
How many sympathetic strings does a North Indian sitar typically have?
What are the three main schools of scalloped fretboard guitar?
What instrument was traditionally made from the shell of an armadillo?
Name two subjects available for study through private online lessons via Skype and other services through Ancient-Future.Com.

This scavenger hunt contest is open only to subscribers to the Ancient Future Times. If you are not already receiving this newsletter, please subscribe before entering. Entries accepted through August 13, 2018. Send entries to info@ancient-future.com.

Scavenger Hunt Prizes

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Digital Liner Notes

Educational Digital Liner Notes. 17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper. $2.98 (SALE $2): Buy 1 Now.

Educational Digital Liner Notes. This download is a seven page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. These entertaining and educational liner notes feature cover art, musicians biographies, and detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music. $1.98 (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now.

Ancient Futures Hodl Free Concerts

2018-05-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Ancient Futures Hodl Free Concerts
May/June 2018 Issue:
Ancient Futures
•An ICO* for the Ages
First Contributions Roll In
•Ancient Future Now Accepts Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF!
Free Ancient Future Duet Concerts
• World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
Future Discounts on Ancient Traditions
•Enter MUSICED10 at Checkout for 10% Discount on Music Education Offerings
Ancient Future Summer Tour Stops
•Performances in California and Nevada

Ancient Futures: An ICO* for the Ages

Ancient Future is issuing its first ICO* to ethereal investors. Like other ICOs, no one should invest in Ancient Futures unless they are at peace with all of their investment disappearing into a space-time vortex. But unlike other ICOs, in that event, Ancient Futures will still produce returns in the realm of musical vibrations.
Contrary to popular opinion, Ancient Futures are not expired futures contracts. They are premiums for supporters of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. The mission of A.F.A.R. is to produce an archive of recordings of cross cultural collaborations. The best of these recordings will be selected to be released commercially at a "future" date, at which point they will be on their way to becoming "ancient" recordings, hence the title.
Blockchain technology is not environmentally friendly, so a new premium transfer technology is in the initial stages of development in the Ancient Future. Blockheadchain technology is envisioned to telepathically transfer Ancient Futures in blocks from the heads of holders into an Akashic records database that may utilize clairvoyant A.I. technology, or if the space-time continuum moves backwards, may employ paper or stone. Please note that blockheadchain technology as contemplated is so advanced that it may never be invented.
In any case, participants are encouraged to HODL (Hold Onto for Deep Listening) their Ancient Futures to benefit from music appreciation.
*Initial Creative Offering

Mining Ancient Futures

Mining Ancient Futures is easy and environmentally friendly. You don't need to live in a cool climate or near a hydroelectric dam. All you need to do is to visit Ancient-Future.Com or come to an Ancient Future concert to become an Ancient Futures miner. Ancient Futures can be mined in four different audio resolutions. There are a limited number of Ancient Futures available to be mined, as each resolution is limited by number or time. Once 300 320 kbps mp3, 200 44.1k/16 bit wav, and 100 96k/24 bit wav Ancient Futures have been mined, the archive will be closed to mining. The best of the music produced will then be released commercially, increasing the value of the limited Ancient Futures that have been mined.

128 kbps mp3: Mine @ $15. Limited time offering of Ancient Futures.
320 kbps mp3: Mine @ $25. Limited to 300 Ancient Futures.
CD quality 44.1k/16 bit wav: Mine @ $50. Limited to 200 Ancient Futures.
Hi-res 96k/24 bit wav plus video: Mine @ $75. Limited to 100 Ancient Futures.

#Cryptourgency #BeAncientFutureReadyNow

Things move quickly through time and space in the crypto realm, so Ancient Future is looking for an Ancient Futures ICO Specialist. Duties include promoting the ICO for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings and contemplating the implementation of blockheadchain technology for the Akashic records. The position of Anti-Social Media Manager is also open. Duties include advising #HowHashtagsWork and keeping in touch with those who have joined the #DeleteFacebook movement while encouraging cross-cultural pro-social communication on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other social media sites. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com.

First Contributions Roll In

Ancient Future Now Accepts Tax Deductible Contributions Through InterMusic SF!

As the Ancient Future Times reported in its April 2018 issue, Ancient Future has been accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, and we are happy to announce that we have now received our first tax deductible contribution!
Your tax deductible contribution can help support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings.
Donate to Ancient Future Through InterMusic SF!

#FundraisingFun

Not having much experience in fundraising, Ancient Future needs help reaching out to potential individual donors and charitable funds. Please share this newsletter with anyone you think might be interested in contributing. Ancient Future is looking for a Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking. Duties include raising money for activities, applying for grants, and helping to build a non-profit organization to support world fusion music. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com.

Free Ancient Future Duet Concerts

'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future Ethnocloud Video

World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

In their first duet performances together since 2016, world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar present an innovative and accessible take on Hindustani classical music and contemporary fusion, with expressive and energetic renderings of raga and tala.

Saturday, May 19, 2018, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free! Info: 707-996-5217 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event. Press Release.
Sunday, May 20, 1:20 to 1:50 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park,1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Free! Donations for charity accepted. Facebook Event.

Future Discounts on Ancient Traditions

Enter MUSICED10 at Checkout for an Additional 10% Discount on Music Education Materials

Make a difference in your life by learning about the ancient musical traditions of the world. For a very limited time, Ancient-Future.Com is offering an additional 10 percent discount from the already low reduced sale price of all of our music education materials! Just enter the coupon code MUSICED10 at checkout. The coupon expires on June 1.

Ancient Traditions - Future Possibilities

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95
(SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now. Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95): Buy 1 Now. New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists.

New Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005.
V 4.0, 2017). New Release! Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Buy 1 Now. Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Buy 1 Now.
This new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Educational Digital Liner Notes

Ancient Future Summer Tour Stops

Performances in California and Nevada

Sunday, August 4, 8:30 PM, Ancient Future Arabic Dance Ensemble, Benefit Concert for UCO Lick Observatory, Main Building Hall, Mount Hamilton, CA 95140. Adm: $45 general seating, $90 preferred, $199 VIP. Tickets at www.ucolick.org/summer.
Saturday, September 8, 2 PM, Ancient Future Indo Arabic Trio featuring Matthew Montfort, Georges Lammam, and Vishal Nagar, Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., Las Vegas NV 89121. Adm: $12 advance, $15 day of show. Purchase Tix. Info: Call (702) 455-7340. Facebook.

#AncientFutureNearYou

Does it seem like Ancient Future never performs in your area? If so, you can help change that by making a donation to cover some of the travel expenses, or volunteering to become a local Concert Circuit Creator. Duties include developing a circuit of world fusion friendly presenters and booking concerts. Anyone interested in stepping forward is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com.

Ancient Future Times: Building Ancient Future's Future

2018-04-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

April 2018 Issue:
Building Ancient Future's Future
•Path to Progress for World Fusion Music Seen Ahead
Ancient Future Duet at Watermelon Music in Davis
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Uzbek Percussion Ambassador Abbos Kosimov
Free Sonoma Library Concert Series Finale
• Matthew Montfort with Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
A Future for Music Education
•Ancient Traditions Hold the Key

Building Ancient Future's Future

Photo by Michael Braden of Bui Huu Nhut Recording A.F.A.R.

Path to Progress for World Fusion Music Seen Ahead

The previous issue of the Ancient Future Times reported on the challenges facing music in the digital age and Matthew Montfort's efforts with the Content Creators Coalition to make positive change to mitigate the tech industry's "creative disruption" of the music business.
We asked for help, and are happy to report that progress is being made!

Ancient Future Signs Fiscal Sponsorship Deal with InterMusic SF!

Ancient Future has been experiencing a shortfall between the income that comes in from concerts and recordings and what is needed to support our mission. Donations can help make up the difference, and we are proud to announce that Ancient Future has been accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF (formerly San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music). InterMusic SF is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

So, Now You Can Make a Tax Deductible Donation to Subsidize Concerts...

Support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings...

Uzbek Percussionist Abbos Kosimov Recording A.F.A.R. YouTube Video

In 2017, there were over 1.5 million streams of tracks on Ancient-Future.Com Records. Over 95% of those streams were ad supported, and 89% were on YouTube. Unfortunately, YouTube only paid $0.00006 per stream. Streaming rates were allowed to be set so low partly due to the assertion that free streaming would result in increased sales, but for the year that saw an unprecedented 1.38 million ad supported streams of tracks from Planet Passion, only 233 track downloads from the record were sold.
A music distribution system dominated by ad supported streaming does not support the creation of new recordings, so we have been exploring another way to fund recordings. The concept of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.) is to involve fans of world fusion music in supporting the production of an archive of live and studio recordings of cross cultural collaborations. The best of these recordings will be selected to be released commercially at a "future" date, at which point they will be on their way to becoming "ancient" recordings, hence the title.
There are already more tracks in the archive than will fit on a CD, and there are three new studio tracks currently in production that will add over 30 more minutes of music to the archive.
There are four supporter thank-you packages available ranging from $15 to $75 offer everything from 128 kbps mp3 downloads all the way up to 96k 24 bit hi-res recordings. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.
And now you can make a tax deductible donation to the project at the Ancient Future donation page on InterMusic SF!

And Volunteer to Create a World Fusion Support Organization!

InterMusic SF also provides workshops and support to help affiliates grow their organizations and apply for grants. The last issue of the Ancient Future Times asked for volunteers to help with fundraising, promotion, and booking tasks. Since then, there have been meetings to discuss creating a team of volunteers and benefactors. Some work has already been done by a wonderful volunteer who helped with updating Ancient Future's concert presenter database.
The following positions are envisioned:

Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking. Duties include raising money for activities, applying for grants, and helping to build a non-profit organization to support world fusion music.
Concert Circuit Creator. Duties include developing a circuit of world fusion friendly presenters and booking concerts.
Anti-Social Media Manager. Duties include supporting and keeping in touch with those who have joined the #DeleteFacebook movement while encouraging cross-cultural pro-social communication on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other social media sites.
Traditional Media Archeologist. Duties include searching through the charred remains of the traditional media to locate the whereabouts of current media contacts to maintain a database of world fusion friendly media.

Anyone interested in stepping forward is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com. The positions could eventually become paid ones once sufficient financial support is generated by a genius Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking.

Ancient Future Duet at Watermelon Music in Davis

World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Uzbek Percussion Ambassador Abbos Kosimov

One of the variations of the trailblazing world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this duet features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by Uzbek percussion virtuoso Abbos Kosimov. This improvisatory program focuses on the world music traditions of Central Asia, India, and Europe, renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking world music recordings, and new unreleased works!
Saturday, April 28, 8 PM
Ancient Future Duet
Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek Percussion)
Watermelon Music
1970 Lake Blvd., Suite #1
Davis CA 95616
Adm: $15. Tix at watermelonmusic.com. Info: Call 530-758-4010 or email info@watermelonmusic.com. Doors open at 7:30 PM.
Facebook Event.

Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars)

The leader of Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort, released his first solo recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar, in 2009. He is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. He is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor. He has performed concerts worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai, and live on national shows such as the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills.

Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion)

Abbos Kosimov with Drums in the Air YouTube Video

International phenomenon Abbos Kosimov is a master of the doyra (a frame drum with metal rings) and an ambassador of Uzbek culture. Abbos is known for taking the doyra to unprecedented new heights. He developed finger tapping techniques inspired by North Indian tabla masters, adding new dimensions to the instrument's sonic capabilities. Abbos also plays qayroqs, darbuka, dof, and riqq.
Abbos was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to a highly musical family. His father played santoor (hammered dulcimer) and his brother played ney (flute), and began studying doyra at age ten. In 1988, Abbos graduated from the College of Culture and Music under dorya master Mamurjon Vahbov. Abbos completed his higher education at the Tashkent State Institute of Culture in 1994, and established his own Abbos school where he taught the most talented youth of his country to play doyra. In honor of the 10th anniversary of Uzbekistan's Independence, Abbos was awarded with a medal and given the illustrious title of Honored Artists of Uzbekistan by the president of Uzbekistan. In 2005, Abbos moved to the United States, leading to performances and recordings with artists such as Steve Wonder, Zakir Hussain, Giovanni Hidalgo, Terry Bozzio, Swapan Chaudhuri, Kronos Quartet, and Omar Sosa.
Abbos released his solo album, Infinite Rhythm, in July 2012. That same year, Abbos met Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort when they were both hired to perform with renowned Indian singer Pandit Binay Pathak. Abbos has since recorded tracks for Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.

Free Sonoma Library Concert Series Finale

'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future Ethnocloud Video

Matthew Montfort with Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

The finale concert of a series of free hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County libraries will introduce the audience to Indian rhythms and feature scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.

Saturday, May 19, 2018, 2 to 3 PM
Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla)
Sonoma Valley Regional Library
755 West Napa Street
Sonoma, CA 95476
Free. Info: 707-996-5217 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
Facebook Event.

A Future for Music Education

Ancient Traditions Hold the Key

While the musical period that Ancient Future has inhabited has been marked by some wonderful innovations, there have also been declines in the public perception of the value of music and major budget cutbacks to music education in public schools. Raising new generations without exposure to music education cannot be good for the art of music, or society in general.
We need to place more value on music, because it can bring people together in ways that other mediums can't. When President Bush visited Singapore in 2006, their diplomacy efforts included a gamelan performance. Invited to play himself, Bush beat a metalophone with a rubber mallet for a time, and then said: "I'm going to quit while I'm ahead." This is a shame, as he was obviously having fun and his first performance was greeted with applause by the members of the gamelan orchestra, as shown in World Rhythms News Issue 9. Imagine the conflicts that might be avoided if world leaders spent time learning the traditional music of their adversaries.
While heads of state may not yet be studying world music, you can make a difference in your own life by learning the ancient musical traditions of the world. Below are some educational resources available from Ancient Future.

Free Online Lessons at Ancient-Future.Com

The rhythmic and melodic aspects of the musical traditions of the world are a good place to begin one's studies. Timbre or tone color is often one of the first aspects of a musical tradition to be noticed by the uninitiated and many of the instruments in use in world music are very interesting subjects in themselves.
The fundamentals in primary school education are often described as the three R's: Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. This world music training course concentrates on the three T's: Time, Tune, and Timbre.
The time portion of the training includes introductions to the rhythms of West Africa, home of the astounding art of polyrhythms; Bali, where the interlocking rhythms of gamelan music fill the night air; India, birthplace of tala (rhythmic cycles); the Arab world, home of iqa'at (rhythmic modes); and world fusion rhythms created by combining ideas from many traditions. The tune portion showcases rich melodic content of the ragas of North India and South Indian vina music arranged for guitar. Under timbre there are articles on North Indian sitar, South Indian vina, scalloped fretboard guitar, Andean charango, North Indian tabla, South Indian mridangam, Balinese gamelan, and the percussion of the Ewe orchestra of West Africa.

Workshops and Skype Lessons

30 Minute Skype Lesson. $50. Sale $36. Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson via Skype or other video conferencing service.
Matthew Montfort offers online lessons in the subjects covered in the educational section of Ancient-Future.Com via Skype; rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts; and instruction for all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, mandolin, sitar, and other plucked instruments.

Ancient Traditions - Future Possibilities

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now.
Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95): Buy 1 Now. New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists.

New Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). New Release! Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Buy 1 Now. Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Buy 1 Now.
This new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Buy 1 Now.
A complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Quote

World Rhythms 15: We Have the Beats!

2017-12-12T20:54:00.000-08:00

Issue 15, Dec. 2017: We Have the Beats!
The World Rhythms News is an infrequent newsletter dedicated to world music education brought to you by the band Ancient Future. Subscribe at Ancient-Future.Com.
In this issue:

Future Possibilities

World Fusion Exercises

When musicians are exposed to the musical knowledge developed by traditions that are not native to their upbringing, new traditions are created. This process is normally an organic one. The more musical knowledge you have, the more that knowledge comes through in the music you create.
But it can be fun to make exercises bringing ideas from different traditions together. The book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India includes an entire chapter on world fusion exercises. But rather than including a large set of exercises, just a few key examples are presented to inspire you to create your own.
We begin with a world fusion exercise, and then delve into the traditions it is based on.

Tihai Kotèkan

This exercise combines Balinese and North Indian rhythmic concepts. This intermediate level example from Chapter 4, Exercise I, page 127 of Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is in a 15 beat rhythmic cycle. Recite the drum syllables of the tihai (North Indian rhythmic phrase that repeats three times and lands on the first beat of the rhythm cycle), starting first with the bottom part of the kotèkan (Balinese interlocking rhythm), and then proceeding to the top and more offbeat part. For an explanation of the notation below, see the North Indian Tala page. Also see the Pronunciation Guide to Indian Drum Syllables.
Play Tihai Kotèkan

    + (hand clap on sam)
15 |dhin * dha ge *   na ge *  ki ta *  ka dhin *   dha ge
4  |dhin * dha *  dhi na *  na ki *  ta ka *    kre dha * 
    1             2            3           4

    2 (hand clap on 2nd tali, or section marker of the tala)
    dhin * * *  * * dhin * dha ge *   na ge * ki ta
    dhin * * *  * * dhin * dha *  dhi na * na ki * 
    5           6          7             8
    0 (hand wave on khali, or empty beat of the tala)
    *  ka dhin *   dha ge dhin *  * * * *  dhin * dha ge
    ta ka *    kre dha *  dhin *  * * * *  dhin * dha * 
    9              10             11       12

    3 (hand clap on 3rd tali)                 +                      
    *   na ge *  ki ta *  ka dhin *   dha ge |dhin
    dhi na *  na ki *  ta ka *    kre dha *  |dhin
    13           14          15               1

Key: Each syllable is a quarter of a beat, or 16th note. An * signifies a rest.

Ancient Traditions

Here we will explain the two traditions behind the above fusion exercise.

Tihai

A tihai is a common North Indian cadential pattern repeated three times in succession. The last note of the cadence is timed to fall either on the sam, the first beat of the tala (rhythmic cycle), or on the the beginning note of a main musical phrase. One repetition of the pattern is known as a pala. Musicians become skilled at fashioning tihais on the spur of the moment to create a cadence, and must continually be aware of where they are in the rhythmic cycle and consequently how many counts are left in which to play a tihai.
In North Indian music, the term laya refers to both the main tempo of the beats in the tala and the relative speed of the notes played during each beat of the tala. Another way to look at the later meaning is that the number of divisions per beat is referred to as the laya. Instead of looking at four notes per beat in 4/4 time as sixteenth notes, the speed of the notes relative to the beats is considered a laya of four, or chaugun laya. Of course, the laya used is an important part of calculating the tihai math.

Tihai Math

Does math make your brain hurt? Then skip to next part. But you will become a better musician if you embrace math.
While North Indian musicians create tihais by a more or less intuitive process gained through years of practice and familiarization with the elements of tala, it is helpful to know mathematical formulas for arriving at tihais, of which there are many. The math behind the above tihai could be expressed using the following formula, which works for all tihais that start on the sam:
G = [(CTL +1) - 3P] ÷ 2, where C = the number of repetitions of the rhythmic cycle required to bring the tihai to sam, T = the number of beats in the tala (rhythmic cycle), L = the number of laya divisions, P = the length of one pala of the tihai expressed in laya divisions, and G = the gap or breath between pala repetitions expressed in laya divisions.
The tihai formula is used to figure out what the the gap or rest between the palas of the tihai needs to be to make the tihai land on sam given the length of the pala, the number of divisions in the laya, and the number of beats in the tala. Here's how the math works for the tihai in the world fusion exercise above:
The tihai takes only 1 cycle of 15 beats with a laya division of 4 notes per beat, so CTL = 1 x 15 x 4, or 60. Therefore, CTL + 1 = 61. One pala of the tihai takes up 17 laya divisions of 4 notes per beat, so 3P = 3 x 17, or 51. Therefore [(CTL +1) - 3P] = 61 - 51, or 10. 10 ÷ 2 = 5, so the gap is equal to 5 laya divisions of 4 notes per beat, or 5 16th note rests.
Try making your own tihai using the G = [(CTL +1) - 3P] ÷ 2 formula!

Kotèkan

A gamelan is an ensemble normally composed primarily of percussion. In Bali, orchestras of tuned gongs, bronze kettles, bronze metallophones, bamboo xylophones, drums, cymbals and flutes fill the night air with animated music. Melodic parts interlock, divided in such a way that musicians play alternate notes to form the melody line. These interlocking parts, known as kotèkan, require cooperation and a keen sense of rhythm to perform. The two parts of a kotèkan, which are thought of as male and female, are known as nyangsih and polos. The main accents of the nyangsih part are usually on the offbeat, while the main accents of the polos part are usually on the beat.
Knowledge of kotèkan can be extremely valuable. These interlocking rhythms have a unique way of bringing people together in cooperation towards a common goal, and there are many creative possibilities for applying them to contemporary music.
Here is an example of a traditional kotèkan. The bottom part is the polos, and the top part is the nyangsih.
Play Kotèkan

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities includes a set of cards representing all 26 mathematically possible one beat kotèkan patterns without rests. They are very useful for creating your own kotèkan patterns for pre-existing or yet to be written melodies.

Create Your Own Tihai Kotèkan

Using the tihai formulas and kotèkan cards in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities, you can create your own tihai kotèkan. You might even come up with something that will become part of one of your compositions. Tihai kotèkans make for intriguing endings such as the final tihai kotèkan employed on a track released by the band Ancient Future:
"Nyo Nyo Gde" by Matthew Montfort from World Without Walls by Ancient Future: Play on Ethnocloud. Play on Spotify. Play on iTunes.

Where's the Beat?

A. West Africa, Bali, and India, birthplaces of polyrhythm, gamelan, and tala.
B. Within every performer, where musical dreams are made.
C. In a rhythm training manual by Matthew Montfort called Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.
D. In the new companion set from Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India.
E. Through world rhythm workshops and Skype study with Matthew Montfort.
F. All of the above.

The Answer

If you answered "all of the above," you are well on your way to finding the beat! Read on to find out how a training manual on the rhythms of Africa, Bali and India can help performers of all types reach their musical dreams, enable listeners to get more out of music, and is now bringing these ancient rhythms into the grooves of the future with the release of an audio companion edition for digital audio workstations, sequencers, computers, tablets, smartphones, CD players and other gizmos!

The Beginning, the Beat, the Book

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Mill Valley: Panoramic Press, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95). Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95). New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95).
This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists. Indeed, Matthew Montfort, leader of the trailblazing world fusion music group Ancient Future, was inspired to write the book because it was difficult for him to find musicians who had the skills to perform multi-cultural music. By enabling home study of non-Western rhythms with enough material for years of practice for most students, the training develops refined rhythmic skills, promotes multi-cultural musicianship, stimulates new ideas for composers and improvisers, and fosters cross-cultural music appreciation.

The New Audio Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). New Preview Release! Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set- $34.95 (SALE 24.95). Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95).
A new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities will be released in fall 2017. The preview beta release is on sale now at Ancient-Future.Com. The downloads are set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set.
West African drum music, Balinese gamelan, and Indian tala are oral traditions, and the new downloadable files make it very convenient to integrate the tradition of learning by ear into the rhythm studies. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks, which are also available separately as downloads.

The Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music (2005). New Preview Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95).
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide Tracks is a set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that help facilitate correct practice habits. The download version is divided into three zipped folders of MP3 files. Volume I covers the exercises in Chapter 1, West Africa, and Chapter 2, Bali. Volume II A covers the South Indian exercises in Chapter 3, India. Volume II B covers the North Indian exercises in Chapter 3, India, and Chapter 4, Future Possibilities. Two printable .pdf booklets are included: the A.T.F.P Audio Guide Tracks CD Booklet, a wrap around CD booklet with instructions for burning CDs if desired, and the A.T.F.P Audio Guide Track List, which includes the names, durations, tempo settings, and book page numbers for all 115 audio guide tracks.

The MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Preview Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95).
Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India is a complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps with explanations of the sounds of West African drums, Balinese gamelan, South Indian mridangam, and North Indian tabla. A full set of tabla samples is included along with supporting files for using them with VSTi instruments (PC) and GarageBand (Mac).

The Beat

The Eve Orchestra of West Africa

The Eve people of the island town of Anyako off the coast of Southeastern Ghana have developed a music rich in polyrhythmic interplay, such as in the drum music of takada, a dance and drumming club developed by the Eve women. The instruments of their percussion orchestra are detailed in the West African section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves. The exercises are arranged for General MIDI agogo, bongo, conga and maracas. MIDI maps of the Eve instruments are included for those who want to experiment with different drum sounds.

The Interlocking Rhythms of Balinese Gamelan

A gamelan is an ensemble normally composed primarily of percussion. In Bali, orchestras of tuned gongs, bronze kettles, bronze metallophones, bamboo xylophones, drums, cymbals, and flutes fill the night air with animated music. Melodic parts interlock, divided in such a way that musicians play alternate notes to form the melody line. These interlocking parts, known as kotèkan, require cooperation and a keen sense of rhythm to perform. The Balinese section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves details the music and instruments of the Gamelan Semar Pegulingan and other ensembles.

The Rhythmic Cycles of India

The perception of the cyclic nature of life is reflected in Indian classical music through the device of tala, a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle. There are two different traditions in Indian classical music, the Carnatic music of South India and the Hindustani music of North India.
The tabla is a North Indian drum set comprised of two drums with goat-skin heads. For every sound on the drum there is a corresponding syllable. These syllables are known as bols. Each North Indian tala has a theka, a standard set of bols that identify the rhythmic cycle. The MIDI files of these thekas are arranged for General MIDI conga and bongo, and make excellent groove tracks for creating compositions or practicing. The North Indian section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves features a full explanation of the tabla bols complete with audio links to tabla samples of each bol, and files for VSTi instruments and GarageBand that remap the MIDI files to the included tabla samples.
The mridangam is a South Indian two-headed barrel drum made of jackwood with goatskin heads. South Indian drumming has a language all of its own known as solkattu. For the sounds produced by the mridangam, there are corresponding syllables known as konokol. The South Indian section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves features an explanation of the konokol syllables used in the solkattu compositions that are presented. The South Indian rhythm exercises have been arranged for General MIDI conga and bongo. Instructions and sequencer files are included to help in remapping the MIDI files to tabla or mridangam samples.

The Author

Scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort has devoted his life to cross-cultural music through his role as the leader of the world music group Ancient Future. He spent years of study with some of the world's best musicians, such as gamelan director K.R.T. Wasitodipuro, North Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan, and vina master K.S. Subramanian, with whom he did an intensive study of South Indian note-bending techniques. He has recorded with legendary world music figures ranging from Bolivian panpipe master Gonzalo Vargas to tabla maestros Swapan Chaudhuri and Zakir Hussain, and performed concerts worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai. He has taught masterclasses at prestigious universities, schools, camps, museums, and resorts, and has over four decades of teaching experience, including two on the faculty of Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco. He is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com, a curated "best of" site, along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, and Alex De Grassi. He was interviewed in the December 2009 Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine about the scalloped fretboard guitar and the application of the rules of Indian raga to the music of Jimi Hendrix as exemplified by "Purple Raga" from his debut solo recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.

The Workshops and Skype Lessons

Matthew Montfort offers instruction based on Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities through online lessons via Skype and rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts.

The Quotes

"You can view this deceptively slim masterwork from a few different angles: as a friendly yet serious appetizer on three of the most sophisticated rhythm systems on earth; a chance to work on your rhythmic sight reading; a three-culture dip with matching mp3s for your ears; a gateway to exotic spices, complete with MIDI files, for your songwriting or drumming; or a fun way to organically digest complex time signatures. No matter how you slice it, this scholarly labor of love is packed with rich flavors for those patient enough to harvest them." – E.E. Bradman, Bass Player Magazine
"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. The first section of the book covers traditional music of West Africa, Bali and India with theories and exercises. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms. The last section of the book mixes patterns from different cultures, demonstrating the powerful music these simple exercises can generate." – Richard Kadrey, San Francisco Chronicle
"A hands-on exploration of Balinese, African, and Indian rhythms that should appeal to all musicians. One needn't play percussion instruments, or any instruments at all, for that matter, to use and benefit from the book." – Drums and Drumming
"A very practical manual. There is enough material to keep interested musicians busy for years. Montfort has done a great service for western musicians interested in world music. A pleasure to work with." – Option
"Very highly recommended for any instrumentalists hoping to expand their rhythmic horizons. If you've never investigated the beautiful clash of African polyrhythm, the incredible interlocking textures of Balinese music, or the complex metric structure of Indian classical music, check out Ancient Traditions – it will blow your mind and deepen your groove." – Guitar Player
"If you're tired of programming your drum machine with the same old 4/4 back-beat, or you want to sharpen your rhythmic chops, this book is highly recommended." – Electronic Musician

The Performers

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities has been used and admired by many teachers and musicians around the world.
Lou Harrison (1917-2003), prominent composer and founder of the American gamelan movement, called the work "a very useful contribution to musical scholarship."
Reinhard Flatischler, founder of the TaKeTiNa rhythm training process, was an early enthusiast of the method book.
John Bergamo (1940-2013), composer and coordinator of the percussion department at the California Institute of the Arts, found a copy of Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities when he cleaned out his desk at retirement. As he finally had the time available, he worked his way through it, after which he called the author to thank him for writing it, and encouraged him to write more world music training manuals. One is in the works.
Steve Smith, stellar jazz and rock drummer of Journey fame, went through the book in preparation for a percussion summit with tabla master Zakir Hussain.
Start your own journey to musical excellence with Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities!

All compositions, recordings, video, and text in this article © 2017 Ancient Future Music. All rights reserved.

Future of Ancient Future

2017-11-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Future of Ancient Future
November 2017 Issue:
Help Build Our Future: Join a Campaign to Save Music
•Check Out This Video Shedding Light on the Artist's Plight in the Digital Age
Free Library Concert Series Continues After the Fires
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
Guitar Summit at Wu Wei Temple in Fairfax
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar)
Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck
•Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

Help Build Our Future: Join a Campaign to Save Music

Check Out This Video Shedding Light on the Artist's Plight in the Digital Age

By Matthew Montfort
I'm on the board of directors of the Content Creators Coalition, a nonprofit uniting artists organizing in favor of fair rates for music. We just released two funny new videos referencing Apple's "Hi, I'm a Mac" campaign that take aim at YouTube's tiny compensation for ad-supported streams and its takedown process for unauthorized usage that is basically impossible for artists to use.
But YouTube promptly responded with its own takedown of our inital video post! As Richard Morgan wrote in the New York Post, "While videos of ISIS beheadings somehow slipped past YouTube censors, the video streaming site didn’t have any problems finding a playful ad campaign by some indie musicians — and promptly pulling the plug on it." The video was later restored when it became clear that pulling the video had caused a backlash that was generating negative publicity for YouTube.

What This Means for Ancient Future's World Fusion Music Mission

The videos demonstrate one of the major difficulties Ancient Future has in continuing its mission in the digital age. For emerging artists and those in less mainstream genres, the tech industry's "creative disruption" has "elevated" artists from workers or small businesses to beggars. No doubt you see lots of requests from artists seeking support through tech solicitation hubs such as Kickstarter. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that I am sadly lacking in my solicitation skills.
Ancient Future has been experiencing a shortfall between the income we need to support our mission and the income that comes in from concerts and recordings. I tried to make up the difference by working non-stop on the computer, but this ended up causing tendon problems. It has come to the point where I can't personally continue to put in all the business hours necessary just to keep Ancient Future going, much less to expand our reach, which is what is necessary to further the mission of world fusion music.
I have come to the conclusion that Ancient Future needs a team of volunteers, benefactors, and superfans in order for world fusion music to reach its potential for social change. Here are some things you can do to help!

Ways to Support Ancient Future in the Digital Age

Volunteer Positions Available

Ancient Future needs a Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking to help raise money for activities, apply for grants, and explore starting a non-profit organization to support world fusion music. Other open positions include Concert Circuit Creator (duties include developing a circuit of world fusion friendly presenters and booking concerts), Anti-Social Media Manager (duties include encouraging cross-cultural pro-social responses on the anti-social media without simply enriching said companies at the expense of artists), and Traditional Media Archeologist (duties include searching through the charred remains of the traditional media to locate the whereabouts of current media contacts to maintain our database of world fusion friendly media).
Anyone interested in stepping forward is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com. The positions could eventually become paid ones once financial support is generated by a genius Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking.

Direct Donation to Subsidize Concerts

Like the symphony, Ancient Future's world music rehearsals and performances cannot be supported by ticket sales alone. Yet arts funding has been cut drastically, especially in the USA and in California, and the advancement and indeed survival of the art of music is at stake.
You can help support Ancient Future's local San Francisco Bay Area concert season, or with a big enough donation, provide seed money to get Ancient Future to perform in your local area. Contributions can be made online or via check payable to "Ancient Future" sent to:
Ancient Future
PO Box 264
Kentfield, CA 94914-0264
Contributions are not currently tax deductible because Ancient Future is not registered as a 501(c) nonprofit organization. But hopefully Ancient Future's next Director of Solictations, Begging, and Busking (you?) can rectify that.

Donate to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Bui Huu Nhut and Abbos Kosimov Recording A.F.A.R.. Photos by Michael Braden

The concept of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.) is to involve fans of world fusion music in supporting the production of an archive of live and studio recordings of cross cultural collaborations. The best of these recordings will be selected to be released commercially at a "future" date, at which point they will be on their way to becoming "ancient" recordings, hence the title.
There are four supporter thank-you packages available ranging from $15 to $75, and while donations to the A.F.A.R. project are not currently tax deductible, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! Please do what you can to support the music. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.

Live Video of A.F.A.R. Track

Watch video on Ethnocloud

Free Library Concert Series Continues After the Fires

Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam and World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future's first concerts after October's devastating Northern California fires will be in areas that were very much under threat. The fires forced the evacuation of Ancient Future percussionist Antoine Lammam, who will be performing at three of the concerts. Fortunately his home was spared. Others, including supporters of Ancient Future, were not so lucky. Our hearts go out to everyone affected. The recovery will take a sustained commitment.
These free hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County libraries will introduce the audience to Indian and Arabic rhythms and feature world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by either Arabic percussion virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.

November Concerts

Wednesday November 8, 2017, 5 to 6 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Free. Info: 707-433-3772 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
Wednesday November 8, 2017, 7 to 8 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway Building 100, Windsor, CA 95492. Free. Info: 707-838-1020 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.

Winter Concerts

POSTPONED: ~~Saturday, December 2, 2017, 2 to 3 PM~~, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free. Info: 707-996-5217 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
Saturday, January 6, 2018, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free. Info: 707-869-9004 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.

'El Zaffa' by Ancient Future

Video of Arabic fusion music by Ancient Future

'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Video of Indian fusion music by Ancient Future

Guitar Summit at Wu Wei Temple in Fairfax

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar)

Friday, December 8, 8 PM, Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20. Info: visit wuweiteatemple.com.
Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar, an instrument with a modified fretboard in which the wood between frets has been carved out in order to facilitate intricate note-bending ornaments. He has released two solo CDs: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com.
Teja Gerken is a contemporary steel-string fingerstyle guitarist whose playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Micheal Hedges. Known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings, two-handed tapping, percussive effects, and other extended guitar techniques, Teja will also bring Celtic, jazz, and classical styles to the summit.

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

New Guides and Grooves

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95).
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide Tracks is a set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95).
Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India is a complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Workshops and Skype Lessons

60 Minute Skype Lesson. $75 (Sale $60). Custom private one hour online lesson via Skype or other video conferencing service.
Matthew Montfort offers instruction based on Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities through online lessons via Skype and rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts. He also offers instruction for all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, mandolin, sitar, and other plucked instruments.

Quote

Beat's by the Books

2017-09-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Beat's by the Books
September 2017 Issue:
Where's the Beat?
•West Africa, Bali, and India, birthplaces of polyrhythm, gamelan, and tala.
Ancient Future Performs Free Library Concert Series
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Where's the Beat?

The Answer

The Beginning, the Beat, the Book

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Mill Valley: Panoramic Press, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2.
This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists.

The New Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). New Preview Release!
This new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

The Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide Tracks is a set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

The MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India is a complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

The Eve Orchestra of West Africa

The Interlocking Rhythms of Balinese Gamelan

The Rhythmic Cycles of India

The perception of the cyclic nature of life is reflected in Indian classical music through the device of tala, a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle. There are two different traditions in Indian classical music, the Carnatic music of South India and the Hindustani music of North India.
The tabla is a North Indian drum set comprised of two drums with goat-skin heads. For every sound on the drum there is a corresponding syllable. These syllables are known as bols. Each North Indian tala has a theka, a standard set of bols that identify the rhythmic cycle. The MIDI files of these thekas make excellent groove tracks for creating compositions or practicing. The North Indian section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves features a full explanation of the tabla bols complete with audio links to tabla samples of each bol, and files for VSTi instruments and GarageBand that remap the MIDI files to the included tabla samples.
The mridangam is a South Indian two-headed barrel drum made of jackwood with goatskin heads. South Indian drumming has a language all of its own known as solkattu. For the sounds produced by the mridangam, there are corresponding syllables known as konokol. The South Indian section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves features an explanation of the konokol syllables used in the solkattu compositions that are presented.

The Workshops and Skype Lessons

Matthew Montfort offers instruction based on Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities through online lessons via Skype and rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts.

The Quotes

"You can view this deceptively slim masterwork from a few different angles: as a friendly yet serious appetizer on three of the most sophisticated rhythm systems on earth; a chance to work on your rhythmic sight reading; a three-culture dip with matching mp3s for your ears; a gateway to exotic spices, complete with MIDI files, for your songwriting or drumming; or a fun way to organically digest complex time signatures. No matter how you slice it, this scholarly labor of love is packed with rich flavors for those patient enough to harvest them." – E.E. Bradman, Bass Player Magazine
"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms." – Richard Kadrey, San Francisco Chronicle
"A hands-on exploration of Balinese, African, and Indian rhythms that should appeal to all musicians. One needn't play percussion instruments, or any instruments at all, for that matter, to use and benefit from the book." – Drums and Drumming
"Very highly recommended for any instrumentalists hoping to expand their rhythmic horizons. If you've never investigated the beautiful clash of African polyrhythm, the incredible interlocking textures of Balinese music, or the complex metric structure of Indian classical music, check out Ancient Traditions – it will blow your mind and deepen your groove." – Guitar Player
"If you're tired of programming your drum machine with the same old 4/4 back-beat, or you want to sharpen your rhythmic chops, this book is highly recommended." – Electronic Musician

The Performers

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities has been used and admired by many teachers and musicians around the world.
Lou Harrison (1917-2003), prominent composer and founder of the American gamelan movement, called the work "a very useful contribution to musical scholarship."
Reinhard Flatischler, founder of the TaKeTiNa rhythm training process, was an early enthusiast of the method book.
John Bergamo (1940-2013), composer and coordinator of the percussion department at the California Institute of the Arts, found a copy of Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities when he cleaned out his desk at retirement. As he finally had the time available, he worked his way through it, after which he called the author to thank him for writing it, and encouraged him to write more world music training manuals. One is in the works.
Steve Smith, stellar jazz and rock drummer of Journey fame, went through the book in preparation for a percussion summit with tabla master Zakir Hussain.
Start your own journey to musical excellence with Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities!

Ancient Future Performs Free Library Concert Series

World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

One of the program variations of the trailblazing world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this improvisatory duet features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by either Arabic percussion virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Strains of flamenco, Arabic music, and Indian raga emanate from this duet performing renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking world music recordings as well as many new unreleased works!

These hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County libraries will introduce the audience to musical concepts from world music such as Indian and Arabic rhythms.

September Concerts

Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 6:30 to 7:30 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA 94952. Free. Info: 707-763-9801 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
Saturday, September 16, 2017, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Northwest Santa Rosa Library, 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Free. Info: 707-546-2265 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.

November Concerts

Wednesday November 8, 2017, 5 to 6 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Free. Info: 707-433-3772 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
Wednesday November 8, 2017, 7 to 8 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway Building 100, Windsor, CA 95492. Free. Info: 707-838-1020 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.

Winter Concerts

Saturday, December 2, 2017, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free. Info: 707-996-5217 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.

Saturday, January 6, 2018, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free. Info: 707-869-9004 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.

'El Zaffa' by Ancient Future

Video of Arabic fusion music by Ancient Future

'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Video of Indian fusion music by Ancient Future

Music Matters - Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance

2017-05-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Music Matters - Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance
June 2017 Issue:
Guest Castaway on Desert Island Jazz on KCSM
•Inspirations for the World Fusion Music of Ancient Future

Get a SFIAF Festival Pass!
•Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, June 1; Mariah Parker, June 3; Global Guitar Summit, June 4
'Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert' by Mariah Parker on JazzWeek/ZMR Charts!
•Six Weeks in the JazzWeek Top 50 and Debuting at Number #22 on ZMR World
Music Matters
•Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance
Listen and Learn
•Expand Your Experience of Music

Guest Castaway on Desert Island Jazz on KCSM

Inspirations for the World Fusion Music of Ancient Future

On Friday, May 26, at 9 AM, Matthew Montfort was Alisa Clancy's Guest Castaway on Desert Island Jazz on KCSM Jazz 91.1 FM, playing his music right along side the music that influenced it. He even brought out the original vinyl copies of the recordings that he listened to over and over in his youth!
This is a rare chance to hear timeless music from the past along with unreleased music from Ancient Future's Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. Also discussed are three concerts at the San Francisco International Arts Festival: Ancient Future on 6/1, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Chamber Jazz on 6/3, and the Global Guitar Summit on 6/4.
The radio show will be archived through June 8, 2017, at radiofreeamerica.com, so stream it now!

Desert Island Picks

Intro: Mariah Parker, Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert, Milo's Moment, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 1: Ancient Future, The Best of A.F.A.R. (So Far), Purple Nam/Purple Haze, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 2: Django Reinhardt, The Essential Django Reinhardt, Minor Swing, RCA
# 3: The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Birds of Fire, Hope, Columbia
# 4: Osamu Kitajima, Benzaiten, Benzaiten, Antilles
# 5: Paco de Lucia, Paco, Entre Dos Aguas, Island
# 6: Ancient Future, The Best of A.F.A.R. (So Far), Tres Tarantas Tres, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 7: Diga Rhythm Band, Diga, Sweet Sixteen, United Artists
# 8: Ravi Shankar, Music Festival from India,Vandana, A&M
# 9: Ancient Future, Planet Passion, Socha Socha, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 10: Oregon, Out of the Woods, Yellow Bell, Elektra
# 11: Ancient Future, The Best of A.F.A.R. (So Far), East of the Sun, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 12: Instruments for Elephants by Dave Soldier and Richard Lair, Thai Elephant Orchestra, Thun Kan Sunrise, Mulatta Records
# 13: Ancient Future, Natural Rhythms, Hummingbird, Ancient-Future.Com Records

Book: Classical Music of North India, the First Years of Study: The Music of the Baba Allauddin Gharana as Taught by Ali Akbar Khan at the Ali Akbar College of Music, George Ruckert, Ed.
Luxury Item: Chocolate

Get a SFIAF Festival Pass!

Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, June 1; Mariah Parker, June 3; Global Guitar Summit, June 4

Ancient-Future.Com Records artists will perform three different concerts as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival at Fort Mason. A festival pass let's you see five different SFIAF shows for only $70!

Ancient Future Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, June 1, Chapel, Fort Mason

Thursday, June 1, 2017, 8 PM, Ancient Future Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Pandit Habib Khan (sitar), and Ferhan Najeeb Qureshi (tabla), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Fort Mason Chapel, Upper Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109. Take Franklin Street from Bay Street. The Chapel is located near Park Head Quarters and the General's Residence. Admission: $25 general, $12.50 under 18. Full time students with ID and seniors, $4 off cover price. Festival Pass, 5 shows for $70 (also see Global Guitar Summit 6/4, Indo Latin Jazz 6/3, and 2 more!). Buy Tix. Concert Poster. Press Release.
Jugalbandi is a classical North Indian musical duet (meaning literally "tied together"). This jugalbandi works well because Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar with knowledge of sitar, and Pandit Habib Khan has been described as the “Jimi Hendrix of the sitar” by L'Orient le Jour, Beirut's French language newspaper. They will be accompanied by tabla master Ferhan Qureshi.

Mariah Parker’s Indo Latin Chamber Jazz Quintet, June 3, Gallery 308, Fort Mason

Saturday, June 3, 2017, 6 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Chamber Jazz with Mariah Parker (piano, santur), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Ian Dogole (percussion), Kash Killion (upright bass), and Jim Hurley (violin), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Gallery 308, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109. Admission: $25 general, $12.50 under 18. Full time students with ID and seniors, $4 off cover price. Festival Pass, 5 shows for $70 (also see Ancient Future 6/1, Global Guitar Summit 6/4, and 2 more!). Buy Tix. Concert Poster. Press Release.
According to Latin Beat Magazine, "Parker and friends blend the rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz music with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East Indian rhythms resulting in first-class world music." This chamber variation of the ensemble with its emphasis on strings will explore new arrangements of existing work.

Global Guitar Summit, June 4, Chapel, Fort Mason

Sunday, June 4, 2017, 3 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Giacomo Fiore (classical guitar), and Teja Gerken (acoustic guitar), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Fort Mason Chapel, Upper Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109. Take Franklin Street from Bay Street. The Chapel is located near Park Head Quarters and the General's Residence. Admission: $25 general, $12.50 under 18. Full time students with ID and seniors, $4 off cover price. Festival Pass, 5 shows for $70 (also see Ancient Future 6/1, Indo Latin Jazz 6/3, and 2 more!). Buy Tix. Concert Poster. Press Release.
This Global Guitar Summit features American scalloped fretboard guitar and world fusion music pioneer Matthew Montfort, master Italian guitarist and musicologist Giacomo Fiore, and German fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire Teja Gerken.

'Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert' by Mariah Parker on JazzWeek/ZMR Charts!

Six Weeks in the JazzWeek Top 50 and Debuting at Number #22 on ZMR World

Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF-20142).
Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert captures the magic of the concert debut of Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in front of a full house at Yoshi’s in Oakland, as well as subsequent concerts at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage, the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, and Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael. The recording includes Ancient Future musicians along with top Indian musicians and jazz and Latin players who have performed with Sun Ra, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, and Oregon. For example, jazz wind virtuoso Paul McCandless is known for his groundbreaking work with the seminal chamber jazz group, Oregon. Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert spent six weeks on the very prestigious JazzWeek National Airplay Chart where it reached #32, and just debuted at #22 on the ZMR World Chart!

Music Matters

Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance

Much is being lost in this age of connected cars and smart phones. The convenience of the quick click to free lo-fi streaming has made music simply a taken-for-granted background soundtrack to life.
Yet the real power in music comes from absorbing it into one's being and letting it resonate there to do its magic. One must become the music, and that isn't possible while scrolling through a twitter feed. The digital distraction of constant connection is keeping people from experiencing the moment they are in. Indeed, it is common to see people at live concerts buried in their phones ignoring the music pouring from the master musicians on stage.
Clearly it is time to bring back quality to your music listening experience. Instead of streaming background playlists for daily activities, devote time to become the music you love. Just listen and absorb the glorious sound into your being. In this way, music can be an antidote to the negative effects of digital distraction.
To accomplish this, buy hi-fi music and play it on a nice stereo. It is best to set up a home listening station. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, but the old fashioned home stereo with a CD player and even a turntable is a fantastic option, and you can get one used cheap these days. Or, you can get a hi-resolution audio interface for your computer and buy a pair of powered monitors. Just make sure to play at least CD quality audio files. There is a big difference between CD quality and the standard compressed audio formats of the major download sites. You will hear and feel the difference when you are truly absorbing the music, and this difference is more pronounced on music with a lot of detail. Streaming music is even lower quality, and the major streaming sites don't even come close to making a sustainable financial contribution to an artist's ability to make new recordings, as payments are now measured in thousandth of a cent increments.
Mariah Parker's new CD is having an amazing run on the radio airplay charts. Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert is available at all of the major download and streaming sites. But a hi-resolution copy is needed to hear the record in its full glory. Yet, in a sign of the times, despite the great success of the record on radio, no one has purchased a CD copy at the Ancient Future website! Indeed, there have only been two CDs sold at Ancient-Future.Com this year. Before downloads and streaming, monthly sales ranged between $200 and $1000. Of course, this has a detrimental effect on the artist's ability to bring you new music.
You can be the very first to buy her CD at Ancient-Future.Com to hear it in its full glory. While you are at Ancient-Future.Com, take advantage of sale prices on a variety of CDs. There are even still a few very rare original copies of Ancient Future's first LP, Visions of a Peaceful Planet, available on vinyl for a truly analog listening experience!
In other news, work is being done right now to make it possible to download 24-bit hi-resolution audio at Ancient-Future.Com. Stay tuned!

Listen and Learn

Expand Your Experience of Music

Learning about music is another way to absorb more of its magic into your life. Those who understand the structures of various musical traditions get more out of listening to them. The World Music Education section of Ancient-Future.Com provides a good introduction to that magic.
Matthew Montfort's book, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India, can provide the next step on your path to getting more out of music. The book takes the student on a musical voyage through these great ancient rhythmic traditions with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Through hand clapping, foot tapping, and vocal recitation, the traditions move right into your body. While the book does use standard music notation to convey the exercises, for those who can't read music counting is provided and the book is typeset so that page space equals time, which provides an excellent visual cue to the rhythms.
The exercises are available as a complete 2 CD set of 115 audio guide tracks to supplement the book for those who don't read music. For those comfortable with music production file formats, the exercises are also available as Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves, a set of 128 MIDI percussion groove tracks for loading into a music sequencer or web browser. Work is being done to expand the educational offerings at Ancient-Future.Com through educational downloads, and Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves is the very first to be offered!
Matthew Montfort offers private lessons on the traditions on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype. Instruction is tailored to the individual needs of the student, so don't be shy if you are just looking for explanations that will help you enjoy the music more. Music lessons make an excellent gift, and introductory sale rates on individual Skype lessons are being offered for a limited time.

Ancient Future Times: In Loving Memory

2016-09-23T13:40:00.001-07:00

Ancient Future Times: In Loving Memory
Fall 2016 Issue:

In Loving Memory of Phil Fong
•Passing of Original Ancient Future Member
World Music at Open Secret October 14
•An Evening of World Music Improvisations Featuring Matthew Montfort, Pascale Caristo, Daniel Berkman, and Emam
Helping Hands
•Send Percussionist Jim Santi Owen Good Vibes
Phone Home A.F.A.R.
•Check Out the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings on Mobile Friendly Ancient-Future.Com!
Skype Lesson Sale
•Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort
Save the Dates
•Important Shows in Early 2017

In Loving Memory of Phil Fong

Hi-Res Photo of Ancient Future Circa 1979 (1.3 MB). Shown: Benjy Wertheimer, Phil Fong, Mindia Devi Klein, Matthew Montfort

Passing of Original Ancient Future Member

On July 18, 2016, Philip Fong passed away at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco after a battle with ALS. His family reported that he was courageous for the year and a half that he was hospitalized, and for most of that time he enjoyed a decent quality of life with the aid of a ventilator and speaking valve.
Phil Fong was an amazing musician and one of the most soulful sarod students of Ali Akbar Khan. The amount of emotion in his music was truly remarkable. But he became disenchanted with the music business only a few years after Ancient Future formed, and after leaving the band, earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology, becoming a therapist practicing in San Francisco. No one can blame him for taking this course, and no doubt his patients are very thankful for his help. But Phil's musical legacy is important as well. He was well liked by his Ali Akbar College of Music alumni, and in addition to his work with Ancient Future, he played in a variety of other ensembles, from classical Indian music to punk rock.

Archival Video of Ancient Future with Phil Fong

YouTube video of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer

This video is an amazing archaeological find: the very first video of Ancient Future, recorded in late 1978, months before Ancient Future's first concert! Thanks to Jonah and Mariposa at Marin Artists International who were able to rescue parts of Ancient Future's first video recording session from archival oblivion during the time that Phil was hospitalized. This short teaser from 'Eternal Embrace' by Phil Fong from Visions of a Peaceful Planet was the first release from this archeological expedition. Performances of two complete pieces featuring Phil and the rest of Ancient Future have been recovered, and are now available on the reunion E-CD edition of Visions of a Peaceful Planet. We were able to get the video to Phil's family before he passed.

World Music at Open Secret October 14

An Evening of World Music Improvisations Featuring Matthew Montfort, Pascale Caristo, Daniel Berkman, and Emam

Friday Nights World Music at Open Secret is a music series produced and presented by Emam, who performs with each artist on the series.
Friday October 14, 2016, 7:30 PM
Open Secret Bookstore
923 C St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Info: 415-457-4191
Tix: $20 donation at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!
For more information: 415-472-1008
Facebook Event.
Poster.

Helping Hands

Send Percussionist Jim Santi Owen Good Vibes

"Last week it was confirmed that the testicular cancer that I was treated for in 2011 has returned. The good news is that this is one form of cancer that Western medicine has learned how to treat. It is considered to be 90%-98% curable. The not so good news is that that cure necessitates my undergoing 3-4 cycles of chemotherapy over the next 9-12 weeks with at least a month of recovery time afterward. I am (thankfully!) fully insured and fully supported by my family and friends, especially my amazing partner, Reshma Vasanwala. That said, I am sure we will need some help over the next few months, though, at this moment, I don't know exactly what that will be. For now, your thoughts and prayers and positive energy are appreciated if you feel inspired to send them our way." – Jim Santi Owen
Jim Santi Owen and Reshma Vasanwala are using LotsaHelpingHands.com to organize support over the next four or more months while Jim undergoes chemotherapy treatment:

https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/jimsantiowen

Phone Home A.F.A.R.

Check Out the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings on Mobile Friendly Ancient-Future.Com!

For world music aficionados, Ancient-Future.Com has a lot of valuable information, educational exercises, and streaming music and video, and now it is accessible on mobile devices! This huge in-house project has taken many hours away from precious music production time, and there are still a few projects left, including an expensive upgrade to the shopping cart to make it truly mobile friendly.
But you can help to insure that music production gets the attention it deserves. The fan funded Archive of Future Ancient Recordings gives supporters access to Ancient Future recordings as they are created. This summer, six new pieces and a video were added to the archive, bringing a total of 86 minutes and 51 seconds of music available to supporters immediately, with more to come as more money is raised!
As many are aware, forces within the tech industry seeking to profit from free content have destroyed financial support for music by promoting the meme that free music is good for musicians, claiming that musicians would gain exposure and make money playing concerts. But now that even famous musicians no longer make money from their recordings, they have to be on the road most of the year to make a living. This has driven down performance fees and made it harder to book viable concert tours for unusual acts like Ancient Future.
Ancient Future is dedicated to the idea that cross-cultural collaboration can help to create a better world, and now more than ever needs your help to continue to create world fusion music. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.

Live Video of A.F.A.R. Track

Watch video on Ethnocloud
A live medley of Prelude and Bookenka (The Adventurer), which was originally recorded on Ancient Future's Asian Fusion release, has been added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. Fans can check it out on Ethnocloud at 720p now, and then get it in full resolution beautifully shot HD 1080p video and rich 96-kHz/24-bit audio as a thank-you for becoming a hi-res supporter of A.F.A.R.!

Skype Lesson Sale

Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Guitar Player Magazine Feature on Matthew Montfort Plus Online Lesson (1.4 MB pdf).
Matthew Montfort offers all styles and levels of guitar (and other plucked instruments) instruction as well as lessons on any of the subjects on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype. For further information, visit www.matthewmontfort.com or send an email to info@ancient-future.com.

Skype Sale

Recommended Training Manual

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort (Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2). Sale $52.95. Buy 1 Now. A must-have for all students of world music, plus there is an additional discount on a Skype lesson with your online purchase at Ancient-Future.Com!

Save the Dates

Important Shows in Early 2017

Save the dates of these important early 2017 shows!
Sunday, January 22, 2017, 7 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz CD Release Concert
Freight & Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Tix: $24 adv., $28 door. Purchase tickets.
Info: Call 510-644-2020 or email info@freightandsalvage.org

Sunday, January 29, 2017, 7 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz CD Release Concert
Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Info: 831-603-2294 or email tmm@cruzio.com

Saturday, February 4, 2017, 8 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz CD Release Concert
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.)
Occidental CA 95465
Info: 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Saturday, February 11, 2017, 8 PM
Ancient Future 38th Anniversary Concert
Trinity Chamber Concerts
Trinity Chapel
2320 Dana Street between Bancroft Way & Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Info and reservations: 510-778-1719 or email info@trinitychamberconcerts.com

Summer Shows Phone Home A.F.A.R.

2016-07-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Phone Home, Summer Shows, and Skype Studies Sale
July 2016 Issue:
Santa Clara House Concert July 28
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Global Guitar Summit Tour Dates
•Konarak Reddy (India), Matthew Montfort (USA), and Teja Gerken (Germany)
Phone Home A.F.A.R.
•Ancient-Future.Com Now Mobile Friendly!
Skype Lesson Sale
•Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Santa Clara House Concert July 28

World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Blending ancient world music traditions from fiery flamenco to resonant raga with the contemporary colors of jazz and rock, this variation of the world fusion music group Ancient Future features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.
Thursday, July 28, 7:30 PM
House Concert
Santa Clara, CA
Adm: $15 general, $8 student/low-income requested donation.
Reservations: Send your name, phone number, and number of seats requested to SantaClaraHouseConcerts at yahoo.com.
Facebook Event.
Meetup Event.

Concert Poster (244k .pdf)

Video

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Global Guitar Summit Tour Dates

Konarak Reddy (India), Matthew Montfort (USA), and Teja Gerken (Germany)

Sunday, July 31, 6:30 PM - 9 PM
Fenix
919 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. For advance tix and reservations, visit www.fenixlive.com/dining/reservations, call 415-813-5600 or email info@www.fenixlive.com. Streams live at original.livestream.com/fenixlive.
Venue website: www.fenixlive.com
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.

Thursday, August 4, 2016, 7:30 PM
Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. Info: Call 831-603-2294 or email tmm@cruzio.com
Venue website: www.donquixotesmusic.info
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.
Saturday, August 6th, 6:30 PM
Gryphon Stringed Instruments
211 Lambert Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Tix: $20 suggested donation. Info: Call 650-493-2131 or email michael@gryphonstrings.com
Venue website: www.gryphonstrings.com
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.
Friday, August 12th, 8 PM
Sebastopol Community Center Annex
425 Morris St.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Tix: $20 advance, $23 door. For advance tix and reservations, call Kevin at 707-824-1858 or email krussellmft@aol.com
Venue website: www.seb.org
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.

Concert Poster (100 k .pdf)
This Global Guitar Summit presents three international acoustic guitar virtuosos who will perform solo and ensemble pieces.
Hailing from Bangalore, India, Konarak Reddy is a legend among music aficionados in his home country. From the start, Konarak immersed himself in both Western classical theory on guitar and traditional Indian music on the sarod. Konarak later studied jazz improvisation at Boston's Berklee College of Music and the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, from which he graduated with honors. Today, his playing integrates Hindustani and Carnatic styles into contemporary solo guitar masterpieces. His two albums, Searching for the Goddess and Solar Avatar have received critical acclaim.
Matthew Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. He has released two solo CDs: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com .
German-born Teja Gerken is a contemporary steel-string fingerstyle guitarist whose playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges. Known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings, two-handed tapping, percussive effects, and other extended guitar techniques, Teja will also bring Celtic, jazz, and classical styles to the Global Guitars show.

Radio

Streaming Now: Dean Suzuki's interview with Matthew Montfort about the Global Guitar Summit on Discreet Music on KPFA is archived online at www.kpfa.org until July 31.
Monday, August 1, 4:05 PM, Hala interviews Matthew Montfort about the Global Guitar Summit on KKUP, 91.5 FM, 1275 Franklin Mall, PMB 9150, Santa Clara, CA, 95050. Streams live at kkup.org.
Monday, August 1, 9 PM, DJ Sol Max Ion interviews Matthew Montfort about the Global Guitar Summit on KZSU, 90.1 FM, Stanford, CA 94309. Streams live at kzsu.stanford.edu.

Phone Home A.F.A.R.

Ancient-Future.Com Now Mobile Friendly!

A major upgrade to Ancient Future's massive world music education site has been initiated, and the beta version is now live!
How do you navigate the Ancient Future? To answer that age old question, each page has two navigation areas: one at the top for exploring where you are and another below for where you might want to go next.

For world music aficionados, Ancient-Future.Com has a lot of valuable information, educational exercises, and streaming music and video, and now it is even more accessible.
The mobile upgrade is a huge in-house project that has taken many hours away from precious music production time. There is still more to do: the shopping cart needs an expensive upgrade before work can be started to make it mobile friendly. In the meantime, the shopping cart does function on a mobile device in landscape mode with some scrolling. To insure that music production gets the support it deserves in this age of digital disruption, please support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings financially!

Skype Lesson Sale

Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Guitar Player Magazine Feature on Matthew Montfort Plus Online Lesson (1.4 MB pdf).
Matthew Montfort is now offering all styles and levels of guitar (and other plucked instruments) instruction as well as lessons on any of the subjects on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype and other web conferencing services. Instruction is tailored to the individual needs of the student.
Music lessons make an excellent gift, and introductory sale rates on individual Skype lessons are being offered for a limited time. For further information, visit www.matthewmontfort.com or send an email to info@ancient-future.com.

Summer Skype Sale

Recommended Training Manual

Ancient Future Times Summer 2016: Nearer A.F.A.R., Summer Shows, and Skype Studies Sale

2016-06-16T16:43:00.001-07:00

Ancient Future Times: Nearer A.F.A.R., Summer Shows, and Skype Studies Sale
Summer 2016 Issue:
Nearer A.F.A.R.
•New Tracks Added to the Fan Supported Recording Series by Ancient Future

Skype Lesson Sale
•Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort
Global Guitar Summit Tour Dates
•Konarak Reddy (India), Matthew Montfort (USA), and Teja Gerken (Germany)
Friday Nights at Open Secret July 8
•Emam Presents World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Multi-Instrumentalist Gari Hegedus

Nearer A.F.A.R.

New Tracks Added to the Fan Supported Recording Series by Ancient Future

Bui Huu Nhut and Abbos Kosimov Recording A.F.A.R.. Photos by Michael Braden

6/16/16 Update Adds Six New Pieces

On 6/16/16, six new pieces and a video make their debut in the fan funded Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which gives supporters access to Ancient Future recordings as they are created. There are four new tracks, two of which feature two compositions, the first serving as an introduction to the second. There are now 13 tracks totaling 86 minutes and 51 seconds of music in the archive. Two of the new tracks are live versions of pieces originally recorded during Ancient Future's major label days, and two are brand new studio tracks, including Ancient Future's first ever cover of a popular song, a world fusion version of Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze showcasing Bui Huu Nhut on Vietnamese dan bau, a one string instrument with a whammy bar! The piece also features Uzbeki percussion master Abbos Kosimov, who performs frequently with tabla phenom Zakir Hussain, and it is the very first studio recording featuring Matthew Montfort on his Godin Glissentar fretless guitar.
Tres Tarantas Tres (Montfort. 4:32). Based on the flamenco form Tarantas, but with a rhythmic structure of three groups of three, this piece also makes a foray into impressionism ala Eric Satie. Lineup: Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar).
Gamarock (Montfort. 12:10). Recorded live 4/29/15, this piece from Dreamchaser fuses Balinese gamelan with rock and roll. Lineup: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitars), Vishal Nagar (tabla), Jason Everett (7 string fretless bass).

Prelude/Bookenka (Montfort/Doug McKeehan 6:50). Recorded 10/16/13 at the World Without Walls Reunion Concert at the Freight & Salvage. Lineup: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (piano), Kash Killion (bass), Ian Dogole (percussion), Mariah Parker (santur), Jim Hurley (violin).

Purple Nam/Purple Haze (Montfort/Jimi Hendrix. 4:44). A Vietnamese version of Montfort's Purple Raga sets up an adventurous excursion into Hendrix's classic rock piece with Vietnamese dan bau instead of electric guitar. Lineup: Bui Huu Nhut (dan bau), Matthew Montfort (Godin Glissentar fretless 11 string guitar, fretless bass), Abbos Kosimov (Uzbeki percussion), Mariah Parker (keys).
The concept of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.) is to involve fans of world fusion music in supporting the production of an archive of live and studio recordings of cross cultural collaborations. The best of these recordings will be selected to be released commercially at a "future" date, at which point they will be on their way to becoming "ancient" recordings, hence the title.
Because forces within the tech industry seeking to profit from free content have destroyed financial support for music by promoting the meme that free music is good for musicians, recordings have gone from being a source of income to an expense. Their argument is that musicians gain exposure and will make money playing concerts. However, concert attendance has not increased just because music is available free, and because so many extremely famous musicians no longer make money from their recordings, they now have to be on the road most of the year to make a living. This has driven down performance fees and made it harder to book viable concert tours for unusual acts like Ancient Future.
Ancient Future is dedicated to the idea that cross-cultural collaboration can help to create a better world, and now more than ever needs your help to continue to create world fusion music. To finance A.F.A.R., Ancient-Future.Com Records has been providing financial supporters access to select files from Ancient Future's archives of alternate takes, live concerts and radio performances along with new studio recordings as they are created. To date, 18% of the fundraising goal has been raised at concerts, on Ancient-Future.Com, and through the Ancient Future Times. The full archive of recordings is available during the project exclusively to supporters, and when the archive is complete, a portion of the recordings will be selected for commercial release on Ancient-Future.Com Records.
There are four supporter thank-you packages available ranging from $15 to $75, and while donations to the A.F.A.R. project are not currently tax deductible, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! There are a range of benefits for the various packages, including the A.F.A.R. email newsletter, immediate access to downloads of the recordings placed in the archives, digital liner notes, limited edition CD-R's of the archives when complete, video and 24 bit audio files for hi-res playback on computers, and a 30% discount on the advance copies of the final commercial release. Please do what you can to support the music. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.

Live Video of New A.F.A.R. Track

Watch video on Ethnocloud
A live medley of Prelude and Bookenka (The Adventurer), which was originally recorded on Ancient Future's Asian Fusion release,has been added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. Fans can check it out on Ethnocloud at 720p now, and then get it in full resolution beautifully shot HD 1080p video and rich 96-kHz/24-bit audio as a thank-you for becoming a hi-res supporter of A.F.A.R.!

Skype Lesson Sale

Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Guitar Player Magazine Feature on Matthew Montfort Plus Online Lesson (1.4 MB pdf).
Matthew Montfort is now offering all styles and levels of guitar instruction as well as lessons on any of the subjects on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype and other web conferencing services. Instruction is tailored to the individual needs of the student.
Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills on their instrument of choice. For all instruments and voice, instruction and coaching is also available on improvisation, solo development, rhythm training, reading Western notation, reading Indian notation, composition, music theory, record production, and world music forms such as Balinese gamelan, West African polyrhythms, Indian raga and tala, Arabic maqam, and Latin rhythms.
Guitar lessons are available in any style ranging from folk, jazz, blues, rock, and classical, to world music forms including flamenco, Indian, Arabic, and African music. Instruction including instrumental technique is also available for bass, fretless bass, mandolin, ukulele, sitar, charango and other unusual plucked instruments.
Music lessons make an excellent gift, and introductory sale rates on individual Skype lessons are being offered for a limited time. For further information, visit www.matthewmontfort.com or send an email to info@ancient-future.com.

Summer Skype Sale

30 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $50. Sale $36. Buy 1 Now.
45 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $65. Sale $48. Buy 1 Now.
60 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $75. Sale $60. Buy 1 Now.
Custom private online lesson via Skype or other video conferencing service. If desired, the time can be split between an email or phone consultation, creation of a custom .pdf of the lesson plan with written music, and a private Skype session.

Recommended Training Manual

Global Guitar Summit Tour Dates

Konarak Reddy (India), Matthew Montfort (USA), and Teja Gerken (Germany)

Konarak Reddy, Matthew Montfort, and Teja Gerken Hi-Res Photo (1.9 MB):
www.ancient-future.com/images/konarak_matthew_teja300dpi5x7.jpg
Sunday, July 31, 6:30 PM - 9 PM
Fenix
919 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. For advance tix and reservations, visit www.fenixlive.com/dining/reservations, call 415-813-5600 or email info@www.fenixlive.com
Venue website: www.fenixlive.com

Thursday, August 4, 2016, 7:30 PM
Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. Info: Call 831-603-2294 or email tmm@cruzio.com
Venue website: www.donquixotesmusic.info
Saturday, August 6th, 6:30 PM
Gryphon Stringed Instruments
211 Lambert Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Tix: $20 suggested donation. Info: Call 650-493-2131 or email michael@gryphonstrings.com
Venue website: www.gryphonstrings.com
Friday, August 12th, 8 PM
Sebastopol Community Center Annex
425 Morris St.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Tix: $20 advance, $23 door. For advance tix and reservations, call Kevin at 707-824-1858 or email krussellmft@aol.com
Venue website: www.seb.org

Poster (100 k .pdf): www.ancient-future.com/pdf/pdf/global_guitar_summit2016poster.pdf
This Global Guitar Summit presents three international acoustic guitar virtuosos who will perform solo and ensemble pieces. The summit features Indian nylon string guitarist Konarak Reddy, American scalloped fretboard and fretless guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, and German fingerstyle guitarist Teja Gerken.
Hailing from Bangalore, India, Konarak Reddy is a legend among music aficionados in his home country. From the start, Konarak drew his inspiration from multiple sources, immersing himself in both Western classical theory on guitar and traditional Indian music on the sarod, which he studied with Debi Prasad Ghosh and Rajeev Taranath. Konarak later studied jazz improvisation at Boston's Berklee College of Music and the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, from which he graduated with honors. Today, his playing integrates Hindustani and Carnatic styles into contemporary solo guitar masterpieces. His two albums, Searching for the Goddess and Solar Avatar have received critical acclaim.
Matthew Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. He has released two solo CDs: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com .
German-born Teja Gerken is a contemporary steel-string fingerstyle guitarist whose playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges. Known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings, two-handed tapping, percussive effects, and other extended guitar techniques, Teja will also bring Celtic, jazz, and classical styles to the Global Guitars show.

Friday Nights at Open Secret July 8

Emam Presents World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Multi-Instrumentalist Gari Hegedus

Friday Nights World Music at Open Secret is a new music series produced and presented by Emam, who performs with each artist on the series.
Gari Hegedus (AKA Gary Haggerty) has been performing traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, France, Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa for the past twenty years. Gari performs on a wide range of traditional instruments including oud, violin, Turkish saz, and mandocello. Matthew Montfort is a world guitar pioneer and leader of Ancient Future. Emam has been trained in North Indian Classical drumming by the grand masters of tabla: Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain and also studied the Delhi Gharana of tabla with the late Ustad Inam Ali Khan. Emam will perform on tabla and dumbak.
Friday July 8, 2016, 8 PM
Open Secret Bookstore
923 C St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Info: 415-457-4191
Tix: $20 donation at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!
Venue website: opensecretbookstore.com

Spring Shows and Skype Studies Sale

2016-03-23T13:55:00.001-07:00

Spring 2016 Issue:
Ancient Future at Willits Community Theatre April 3
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
Ancient Future at Occidental Center for the Arts April 9
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort, Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar, and Pianist/Santurist Mariah Parker
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble at Throckmorton Theatre April 30
•Featuring Mariah Parker (Piano, Santur), Paul McCandless (Woodwinds), Matthew Montfort (Guitar), Ian Dogole (Global Percussion), Brian Rice (Latin Percussion), Kash Killion (Bass, Cello), and Special Guest Michaelle Goerlitz (Latin Percussion)

Online Private Music Lessons Via Skype
•Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future at Willits Community Theatre April 3

Debut Mendocino Performance with Montfort's New Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Michael Braden.
Watch Ethnocloud video. Stream Ethnocloud audio.

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Sunday April 3, 2016, 7 PM
Willits Community Theatre
37 West Van Lane
Willits, CA 95490
Tix: $15. Available in person at Mazahar at 38 S. Main St., online at brownpapertickets.com, by phone at 800-838-3006, and at the door the night of the show if seats are still available. Doors Open at 6:30 PM.
Info: Call 707-459-0895 or email wct@willitsonline.com.
Facebook Event.
Press Release.
Poster (138k pdf).

Matthew Montfort's New Custom Martin Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

Photos of scalloped fretboard guitar by Alan Perlman
Scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort's new custom guitar is the result of a collaboration between Montfort, the Artist Relations Department of C.F. Martin & Co., and San Francisco luthier Alan Perlman. It features an extra upper bout sound hole and a very large sound hole to add volume, a cutaway with extra frets for extended playing range, and a short scale yet wide neck for greater string bending capability.

Recommended Recording Featuring Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352). Sale $10. Buy 1 Now. "Matthew is joined by Vishal Nagar on tabla, and they clearly show (sonically) the joy than can be achieved by well-placed and strictly focused music. The tabla percussion makes it far more than 'just another raga'." — Dick Metcalf, ZZAJ PRODUCTIONS

Ancient Future at Occidental Center for the Arts April 9

Debut Sonoma Performance with Montfort's New Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

Photo of Mariah Parker, Matthew Montfort, and Vishal Nagar by Devki.

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Guitars), Vishal Nagar (Tabla), and Mariah Parker (Santur)

Saturday, April 9, 2016, 8 PM
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.)
Occidental CA 95465
Tix: $22 advance/$25 door. Reserve tickets early at brownpapertickets.com.
Info: Call 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Facebook Event.
Press Release.
Poster (138k pdf).

Recommended Recording Featuring Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, and Mariah Parker

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030). Fan funded. $15 up. Support Now. Ancient Future's fan funded recording project has 10 tracks and over an hour of music in it so far, with four more tracks to be added next month, and supporters of the archive can purchase a limited edition CD of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.

Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble at Throckmorton Theatre April 30

Pre-Release Concert for Live Recording Project

Featuring Mariah Parker (Piano, Santur), Paul McCandless (Woodwinds), Matthew Montfort (Guitar), Ian Dogole (Global Percussion), Brian Rice (Latin Percussion), Kash Killion (Bass, Cello), and Special Guest Michaelle Goerlitz (Latin Percussion)

Saturday, April 30, 2016, 8:00 PM
Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, California
Tix: $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $35 reserved seating at tickets.throckmortontheatre.org.
Info: 415-383-9600.
Facebook Event.
Press Release.

Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble performs 'Milo's Moment.'
Watch on YouTube.
Recommended Recording Featuring Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble

Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017). Sale $10. Buy 1 Now. "Parker and friends blend the rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz music with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East Indian rhythms resulting in first-class world music." — LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

Online Private Music Lessons Via Skype

Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Skype Lesson Sale

45 Minute Lesson. Sale $45. Buy 1 Now. 60 Minute Lesson. Sale $60. Buy 1 Now. Lesson prices include email or phone consultation prior to first Skype session, custom .pdf of lesson plan with written music if desired in Western notation, guitar tablature, drum tablature, Indian sargam, or other appropriate system, related audio or video files if needed, private Skype session, and follow up consultation if needed.

Recommended Training Manual

New Scalloped Fretboard Guitar, New Tracks A.F.A.R., New Concerts

2016-01-05T20:52:00.001-08:00

January 2016 Issue:
Matthew's Got a Brand New Axe!
•Custom Martin with Fretboard Scalloped by Alan Perlman
Ancient Future Bay Area Concerts
•Debut Performances with Matthew Montfort's New Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

Castle Concert in Pacifica
•Saturday, January 23, 6 PM
Dinner Concert at Fenix in San Rafael
•Sunday, January 24, 6:30 PM
Performers and Special Guests
•Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, Mariah Parker, Georges Lammam, Jason Everett, Mindia Devi Klein

Expanding A.F.A.R.
•2 More Live Tracks and 2 Studio Tracks Recorded, but Funds Needed for Licensing Costs
Ancient Future in Your Home Town
•Send Us the Names of Presenters in Your Area and Tune-in to Live Stream on Sunday, January 24, 6:30 PM PST

Matthew's Got a Brand New Axe!

Hi-Res Photo of Martin guitar by Alan Perlman (3.6 MB)

Custom Martin with Fretboard Scalloped by Alan Perlman

Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar, an instrument with a modified fretboard in which the wood between frets has been carved out in order to facilitate intricate note-bending ornaments. His new custom guitar is the result of a collaboration between Montfort, Dick Boak of the Artist Relations Department of C.F. Martin & Co., and San Francisco luthier Alan Perlman. Dick Boak has been involved in the conception of more than one hundred and forty signature guitar collaborations with the top musical talents of our time. Starting in 2014, he worked with Montfort to help design the instrument, which features a very large sound hole to add volume, an extra upper bout sound hole so that Montfort can hear the guitar better, a cutaway with extra frets protruding into the sound hole to accommodate his extended playing range, and a short scale yet wide neck to allow for greater string bending capability. Master luthier Alan Perlman scalloped the fretboard and added other finishing touches to complete this amazing instrument.
The new guitar will be featured on new tracks to be recorded for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings and at the upcoming San Francisco Bay Area concerts, one of which streams live so it is possible to tune in anywhere in the world.

Ancient Future Bay Area Concerts

Debut Performances with New Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

Blending ancient world music traditions from fiery flamenco to resonant raga with the contemporary colors of jazz and rock, this variation of the world fusion music group Ancient Future features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, and composer/santurist Mariah Parker plus special guests performing new music and favorites from the band's eight ground breaking recordings. These concerts will be Matthew Montfort's debut performances on his brand new custom Martin scalloped fretboard guitar.

Castle Concert in Pacifica

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Guitars), Vishal Nagar (Tabla), Mariah Parker (Santur), and Special Guest Georges Lammam (Violin)

This intimate evening of music at the beautiful and historic Mazza Castle in Pacifica includes a pre-concert gathering with wine and refreshments! Arabic violin master Georges Lammam is the resident artist for the concert series, and plans to sit in on a few of his favorite pieces from his many performances with the band.
Saturday, January 23, 6 PM
The Mazza Castle
900 Mirador Terrace
Pacifica, CA 94044
Adm: $40 per guest, includes wine and refreshments.
Limited to 45 seats. Reserve tickets early at brownpapertickets.com/event/1590813.
6 PM - Gather with refreshments. Music begins promptly at 7 PM.
Info: Call 650-355-0272.
Facebook Event.

Dinner Concert at Fenix in San Rafael

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Guitars), Vishal Nagar (Tabla), Mariah Parker (Santur), and Special Guests Jason Everett (Seven-String Fretless Bass) and Mindia Devi Klein (Bansuri Flute)

Seattle area bassist Jason Everett, who performed on Ancient Future's 2015 Pacific Northwest tour, is passing through and will round out the bottom. Original Ancient Future flutist Mindia Devi Klein will sit in on a few tunes, including a new piece to be recorded for the next Ancient Future album.
The Fenix is a sought-after stage crafted by world-renowned acoustic designer John Storyk (Jazz at Lincoln Center) for accomplished musicians from all over the world. The menu features Southern cuisine with a healthy twist from Executive Chef Glenn "Gator" Thompson.
Sunday, January 24, 6:30 to 9 PM
Fenix
919 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Adm: $20 adv./$25 door plus dinner.
Tix: Advance tickets highly recommended at www.fenixlive.com and in person at the Fenix.
Info: Call 415-813-5600.
Facebook Event.

Concert Poster (150k pdf)

Performers and Special Guests

Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars)

Matthew Montfort is the leader of Ancient Future. He has expanded boundaries of guitar playing through the study world music traditions and released two solo guitar recordings: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com. Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills. He teaches all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, charango, sitar, and mandolin as well as music theory for all instruments and rhythm classes based on his book at his studio in San Rafael, California, and online via Skype.
Solo Recordings by Matthew Montfort

Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). "When this level of mastery is reached, there is no need to rewrite. The first improvisation has the depth of a reworked composition." — Teed Rockwell, INDIA CURRENTS

Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2012). "An expression of solo virtuosity on a variant axe which isn't employed by very many. Brilliant modern semi-neoclassical work with very strong ties to the traditional residing within progressive annals." — Mark S. Tucker, FAME

Vishal Nagar (tabla)

"He has magic in his hands" - Hindustan Times
Vishal Nagar is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. Born into a family of musicians, Vishal had his initial training with the late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of the Delhi Gharana and continued under the guidance of Ustad Shamim Ahmed Khan. He also has had intense rhythmic training from his mother, the renowned Kathak dancer and vocalist, Urmila Nagar. Starting his performance career at the age of eight,Vishal has been praised in the Indian press for his unique combination of melodic tabla sound production with masterful command of rhythm and has also been awarded with the Ministry of Culture Scholarship from the Department of Culture.
Ancient Future Recording Featuring Vishal Nagar

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352). "Matthew is joined by Vishal Nagar on tabla, and they clearly show (sonically) the joy than can be achieved by well-placed and strictly focused music. The tabla percussion makes it far more than 'just another raga'." — Dick Metcalf, ZZAJ PRODUCTIONS

Mariah Parker (composer, santur)

Mariah Parker, while completing her degree in music at UC Santa Cruz, worked with ethnomusicologist Fred Lieberman and Mickey Hart on the “Planet Drum” project. The CD release party for her first solo recording as a composer, Sangria (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017), drew a full house at the famous Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland. The band she leads featuring such veteran performers as Paul McCandless of the group Oregon has performed to rave reviews at notable festivals and concert venues. Her live album will be released in 2016.
Indo Latin Jazz Recording by Mariah Parker

Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017). "Parker and friends blend the rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz music with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East Indian rhythms resulting in first-class world music." — LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

Georges Lammam (Arabic violin)

The second of three brothers who are professional musicians, Georges Lammam was born in Beirut, Lebanon. He lived for 14 years in the United Arab Emirates and is well-known in the Middle East as well as the U.S.A. as a master violinist excelling in improvisation and lyricism. Having performed with the most well-known singers of the Middle East, his reputation as an instrumental accompanist with a strong command of maqamat precedes him. He is on the faculty of the Near East Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino.
Ancient Future Recording Featuring Georges Lammam

Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010). "If the members of the United Nations formed a world-fusion band, it might look and sound a little something like Ancient Future’s re-issue of their seventh recording." — Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, Kentucky

Jason Everett (seven-string fretless bass)

Jason Everett performs on his custom Conklin seven-string fretless bass guitar. He attended Northern Arizona University on a full scholarship for music and started playing professional gigs at sixteen years old. He was originally inspired to explore world music after hearing Quiet Fire, Ancient Future's third album. This passion for world music evolved to avid listening to the works of Indian masters like Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, and Zakir Hussain. Jason started his own world fusion group in 1990 called Tal Maya and has since played with many well-known Indian, Arabic, flamenco, and fusion artists including Andre Feriante and John Wubbenhorst and Facing East.

Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri flute)

Ancient Future cofounder Mindia Devi Klein is an award winning musician, composer and educator. She sings and performs on bansuri (classical bamboo flute of India), silver flute, Balinese gamelan (bamboo, bronze, and wood tuned percussion). She is a disciple of Indian classical music legend Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. She began her training in Indian classical music at age 19 at the Ali Akbar College of music in San Rafael, California. While at the college she also studied under bansuri maestro Pandit G.S. Sachdev and world renown tabla master Ustad Zakir Hussain. Mindia was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in Balinese gamelan music and spent a year studying gamelan in Bali.
Original Ancient Future Recordings Featuring Mindia Devi Klein

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2004). "The first thing that makes this LP a delight is the magnificence of the instrumental blending...the Bansuri flute of Klein over a harmonic bed of sitar, tabla, sarod, zither, and tanpura; great stuff sounds like a dove whistling in a forest of stringed instruments." — Philip Elwood, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Natural Rhythms by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2005). "One of the most intriguing albums you're ever likely to hear. Exceptionally beautiful." — Colorblind James, S. F. MUSIC CALENDAR

Expanding A.F.A.R.

2 More Live Tracks and 2 Studio Tracks Recorded, but Funds Needed for Licensing Costs

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030)

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has 10 tracks and over an hour of music in it so far, and supporters of the archive can purchase a limited edition CD of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.
Another four tracks have been recorded, mixed, and mastered for the archive. To add the new tracks, we need to finalize the licensing fee for Ancient Future's first ever and very unique cover of a popular song, but that has proven to be a difficult project because the rights holders don't answer inquiries. This means we are going to have to issue a compulsory license, which means additional paperwork and legal expense. The time spent trying to reach them has caused a delay in our upgrade plans, and now we also need to raise some additional funds to pay for the licensing and filing fees.
The new tracks recorded will represent a 40% expansion of the project! 17% of the funding goal has been raised, which is substantial, but we need additional supporters to finish the project. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade until each supporter level is sold out. We also have just a few CDs left of the last version of the archive that will fit on one CD. This is the last chance to get one of these CDs, and it's on sale at a reduced price of only $15 once you are a supporter of the project! Because the archive will soon not fit on a CD, the next A.F.A.R. CD offering will be The Best of A.F.A.R. So Far and won't have all of the tracks that have been added to the archive.
Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy the CD-R. Only a very few copies of each edition of A.F.A.R. So Far are made, as new tracks are added as money is raised.
Recording Newsletter. $15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15. Download Supporter. $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25. Limited Edition CD Sponsor. $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Sale $15. Buy CD-R Now.

Ancient Future in Your Home Town

YouTube Video of Ancient Future World Without Walls Reunion Concert, October 16, 2013

Suggest Your Favorite Home Town Venue (Also Tune-in to the Live Stream January 24)

Do you live in an area where Ancient Future never seems to tour? Ancient Future is available to perform anywhere in the world. The catch is that we need a budget to pay for the travel costs and musician honorariums. If you know of a concert presenter or festival with a budget for travel, you can help by sending their contact information to info@ancient-future.com. It is important that you also reach out to the concert presenter and suggest that Ancient Future perform. Examples of concert presenters that may have travel budgets from time to time can include major festivals, university fine arts concert programs, publicly funded fine arts venues, and corporate events.
While it will take quite some time to arrange a concert tour to your area, you can tune into a live concert stream of Ancient Future's show from the Fenix at original.livestream.com/fenixlive on January 24 at 6:30 PM Pacific Time.

Critic's Choice for Vegetarian Music Banquet, New Tracks, & Sound Healing

2015-08-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

September 2015 Issue:
Rave Reviews for Ancient Future Concerts
•Bohemian Critic's Choice and Curtain Call Interview
Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden
•World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30
Sonoma Library Music Series a Success!
•Standing Ovations Lead to New Funds A.F.A.R.
Globe Sound Healing Performance
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Ferhan Qureshi (tabla)

Rave Reviews for Ancient Future Concerts

Bohemian Critic's Choice and Curtain Call Interview

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future (>audio.)

Critic's Choice: Ancient Future Unveil New Fusion

"Since forming in 1978, guitarist Matthew Montfort's ongoing world-music fusion project Ancient Future has blended Western and Eastern styles for a wholly original sound steeped in old traditions. This month, Montfort brings his latest collaboration to Sonoma County for a dinner concert at Gaia's Garden on Aug. 30. Joining Montfort is percussion master Vishal Nagar. Nagar is a virtuoso of the tabla, an instrument similar to the bongo drum, and is a sensation in his native India. With Nagar by his side, Montfort's acoustic guitar has never sounded richer than it does on last year's Yearning for the Wind EP. As Nagar taps out a nine-beat rhythm, the raga scales of ascending notes makes for moody, enchanting music." — Charlie Swanson, NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN

Matthew Montfort on Curtain Call on KRCB

Host Charles Sepos chats first with Pacifica String Quartet violist, Masumi Per Rostadt. Next, world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort talks about his musical life and about his world fusion group, Ancient Future, and their appearance August 30th at Gaia's Garden in Santa Rosa. The interview ends with a preview excerpt of a soon to be released live concert featuring Vishal Nagar (tabla), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Jason Everett (bass). Listen to the archived show on iTunes or feeds.feedburner.com/KRCBCurtainCall.

Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden

World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Michael Braden

World fusion guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar finish their series of North Bay concerts with this vegetarian dinner concert at Gaia's Garden in Santa Rosa. This concert will also feature a special guest or two, definitely including composer and santurist Mariah Parker!

Voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Sonoma County by North Bay Bohemian readers from 2011 to 2015, Gaia's Garden also hosts music and literature events. This intimate performance is part of a new exclusive dinner concert series on Sunday evenings when the restaurant is normally closed.
Sunday, August 30, 2015, 6 to 9 PM
Gaia's Garden
1899 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Adm: $30 includes vegetarian dinner.
Tix: Advance tickets highly recommended at brownpapertickets.com/event/2043967 and in person at Gaia's Garden
Doors open: 5:30 PM and gourmet vegetarian buffet served through 6:45 PM
Show time: 7 PM
Info: Call 707-544-2491, email djmama@sonic.net, or visit gaiasgardenonline.com
Facebook Event

Concert Poster (149k pdf)
Gaia's Garden features an international plant based buffet with vegan and gluten-free options. Included in the ticket price are two entrees, as well as all-you-care-to-eat salad, two soups, Lundberg's eco-farmed brown rice, a mild curry, non-GMO polenta, marinara sauce, roasted vegetables, steamed rainbow vegetables, house-made loaf bread and corn bread, house brewed uncaffeinated chai or iced hibiscus tea, and two desserts. Beers and wine, as well as organic French press coffee and a variety of teas and soft drinks are available for purchase. Free parking is available in the lot behind the building.

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Devki

Sonoma Library Music Series a Success!

Standing Ovations Lead to New Funds A.F.A.R.

The heartfelt standing ovations for Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar at both recent Sonoma County library concerts led to new financial supporters for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, bringing the archive to 17% of its funding goal!
The archive has more than an hour of music in it so far, and more than twenty additional minutes has been recorded, mixed, and mastered! While we are arranging for licensing Ancient Future's very unique cover of a popular song as well as new live versions of Ancient Future compositions from the band's major label days with three different rights agencies, supporters of the archive can purchase a limited edition CD of all of the tracks already in the archive, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far. Because the archive soon will not fit on a CD, the next A.F.A.R. CD offering will be The Best of A.F.A.R. So Far and won't have all of the tracks that have been added to the archive, so this is the last chance to get one of these CDs, on sale at only $15!
Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Once you become a supporter at any level, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy the CD-R.
Recording Newsletter. $15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15. Download Supporter. $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25. Limited Edition CD Sponsor. $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Sale $15. Buy CD-R Now.

Globe Sound Healing Performance

Sound Garden Main Stage at Kaiser Center Tower

The Globe Sound Healing Conference aims to provide a venue for sound practitioners, the public, and the medical community to meet and form connections and alliances.
Ancient Future will be performing on the bill at the festival's Sound Garden Main Stage Concerts on the spectacular garden roof of the Kaiser Center Tower. The concert features Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar and Ferhan Qureshi on tabla.
Saturday, September 12, 2:30 to 3:45 PM
Globe Institute Sound Healing Conference and Festival
Sound Garden Main Stage Concerts
Kaiser Center Tower
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
Adm: $25 adv. until September 9 at soundhealingcenter.com. $30 door. Includes all exhibits and Sound Garden access.
Info: 415-777-2486

Vegetarian Music Banquet and Library Listening Concerts in the North Bay

2015-08-10T11:19:00.003-07:00

August 2015 Northern California Issue:
Ancient Future Duet Performs North Bay Concerts
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden
•World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30
Sonoma Library Music Series
•Free Educational Teaser Concerts August 22

Ancient Future Duet Performs North Bay Concerts

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future (>audio.)

One of the program variations of the trailblazing world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this improvisatory duet features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Strains of flamenco, Celtic music, and Indian raga emanate from this duet performing renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking world music recordings as well as many new unreleased works!

"Matthew Montfort subtly coaxes remarkably flowing lines from his scalloped fretboard guitar. And Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar intuitively places incredibly intricate rhythmic patterns into the piece. Ancient Future has been making wonderful world fusion music for three decades. The possibilities remain infinite." — Paul Freeman, PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS

Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden

World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Michael Braden

Voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Sonoma County by North Bay Bohemian readers from 2011 to 2015, Gaia's Garden also hosts music and literature events. This intimate performance is part of a new exclusive dinner concert series on Sunday evenings when the restaurant is normally closed.

Sunday, August 30, 2015, 6 to 9 PM
Gaia's Garden
1899 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Adm: $30 includes vegetarian dinner.
Tix: Advance tickets highly recommended at brownpapertickets.com/event/2043967 and in person at Gaia's Garden
Doors open: 5:30 PM and gourmet vegetarian buffet served through 6:45 PM
Show time: 7 PM
Info: Call 707-544-2491, email djmama@sonic.net, or visit gaiasgardenonline.com
Facebook Event

Concert Poster (149k pdf)

Gaia's Garden features an international plant based buffet with vegan and gluten-free options. Included in the ticket price are two entrees, as well as all-you-care-to-eat salad, two soups, Lundberg's eco-farmed brown rice, a mild curry, non-GMO polenta, marinara sauce, roasted vegetables, steamed rainbow vegetables, house-made loaf bread and corn bread, house brewed uncaffeinated chai or iced hibiscus tea, and two desserts. Beers and wine, as well as organic French press coffee and a variety of teas and soft drinks are available for purchase. Free parking is available in the lot behind the building.

Sonoma Library Music Series

Free Educational Teaser Concerts August 22

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Devki

Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar perform and introduce the audience to musical concepts from world music such as Indian raga and tala in these hour long educational concerts at Sonoma County libraries.

Saturday, August 22, 11:30 AM
Central Santa Rosa Library
211 E Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Free. Info: www.sonoma.lib.ca.us
Facebook Event
Saturday, August 22, 2:30 PM
Petaluma Regional Library
100 Fairgrounds Dr.
Petaluma, CA 94952
Free. Info: www.sonoma.lib.ca.us
Facebook Event

Castle Concert and Library Listening

2015-06-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

June 2015 Issue:
Sonoma Library Free Concert Series
•Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla)
Castle Concert
•Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla) with Special Guest Georges Lammam (Violin)
Around A.F.A.R. So Far in 70 Minutes
•Last Chance to Get This Version of A.F.A.R. on Sale on CD!

Sonoma Library Free Concert Series

Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla)

Watch on Ethnocloud
Saturday, June 6, 2 PM
Rohnert Park-Cotati Library
6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park Expressway / State Farm Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Saturday, June 27, 2 PM
Sonoma Valley Regional Library
755 West Napa Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

Saturday, August 22, 11:30 AM
Central Santa Rosa Library
211 E Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Saturday, August 22, 2:30 PM
Petaluma Regional Library
100 Fairgrounds Dr
Petaluma, CA 94952

Learn about Indian raga and tala and hear how they mix with passionate flamenco, energetic Celtic music, and other world music traditions in these free library programs by Ancient Future featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. The program will feature music from the ground breaking world music recordings of Ancient Future, including the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history, 2014's Yearning for the Wind. All the concerts are free to the public. For more info, visit sonomalibrary.org/events.
"Matthew Montfort subtly coaxes remarkably flowing lines from his scalloped fretboard guitar. And Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar intuitively places incredibly intricate rhythmic patterns into the piece. Ancient Future has been making wonderful world fusion music for three decades. The possibilities remain infinite." — Paul Freeman, PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS

Castle Concert

Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla) with Special Guest Georges Lammam (Violin)

Watch on Ethnocloud
This intimate evening of music at the historic Mazza Castle in Pacifica, California, features Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar. Special guest Georges Lammam, the Arabic violin master on Planet Passion, will sit in with the duet on a number of pieces. This will be the first time that Georges Lammam and Vishal Nagar perform together, so make sure to reserve tickets early so that you can witness the very first meeting of these master musicians!
Sunday, June 21, 4 PM
The Mazza Castle
900 Mirador Terrace
Pacifica, CA 94044
$40 per guest, includes wine and refreshments.
Limited to 45 seats. Reserve tickets early at Brown Paper Tickets.
4 PM - Gather with refreshments. Music begins promptly at 5 PM.
Info: 650-355-0272

Around A.F.A.R. So Far in 70 Minutes

Last Chance to Get This Version of A.F.A.R. on Sale on CD!

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has 10 tracks and 70 minutes of music in it so far, and supporters of the archive can purchase a limited edition CD of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.
Another eleven and a half minutes of music have been recorded, mixed, and mastered for the archive! We just need to finalize the licensing fee for Ancient Future's first ever and very unique cover of a popular song.
In the meantime, we have just a few CDs left of the last version of the archive that will fit on one CD. This is your last chance to get one of these CDs, and it's on sale at a reduced price of only $15! Because the archive will soon not fit on a CD, the next A.F.A.R. CD offering will be The Best of A.F.A.R. So Far and won't have all of the tracks that have been added to the archive.
Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Once you become a supporter at any level, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy the CD-R. Only a very few copies of each edition of A.F.A.R. So Far are made, as new tracks are added as money is raised.
Recording Newsletter. $15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15. Download Supporter. $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25. Limited Edition CD Sponsor. $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Sale $15. Buy CD-R Now.