Program Options

Trance Songs: Dance to 100% loop-free organic world trance grooves played live by master musicians and fronted by Irina Mikhailova (Eastern European vocals). This program is quite popular at dances and festivals as an organic alternative to techno. The program was a dance favorite at the Harmony Festival's Techno Tribal Dance, where they debuted new material with Irina singing in English in addition to her native Russian language. Video. >YTmusic (repertoire).

Asian Fusion: Ancient Future’s Asian fusion dance mix ensemble features Bui Huu Nhut (dan bau, a Vietnamese instrument with one string) and Zhao Hui (gu zheng, the Chinese ancestor of the Japanese koto) with a monster rhythm section playing 100% organic loop-free grooves. This program is well known to music lovers. The ensemble is featured on two Putumayo samplers: Asian Lounge (contemporary Asian-flavored dance music released in November, 2005) and the best selling Music from the Tea Lands, and has performed live on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Video. >YTmusic (repertoire).

España Trio: This program concentrates on Arabic, Indian, and Spanish musical themes. It debuted in Spain at the 2003 Festival Internacional de la Guitarra in Salau, to rave reviews of the guitar work of Matthew Montfort, a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar. Incorporating aspects of the South Indian vina, his guitar has a fretboard with the some of the wood carved away between the frets, forming a scalloped pattern. On the strength of their guitar festival performance, they were invited back to perform at the 2005 Festival Internacional de Guitarra in Sant Carles de la Ràpita. The program is available in Europe with reduced travel costs because some of the musicians reside there most of the year. The trio includes Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Tapan Bhattacharya (Spain's top tabla master), and Mariah Parker (piano, santur, hammered dulcimer). Video. >YTmusic (repertoire).

World Folk for Guitar & Dulcimer: This world folk duet showcasing picked and hammered instruments features Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars and Mariah Parker on hammered dulcimer. Equally at home on folk, new acoustic, Americana, and world music bills, this duet plays material with Celtic, Latin American, Indian, Arabic, Spanish, Eastern European and American folk themes. Video. >YTmusic (repertoire).

Himalayan Wind: Nepali flute master Manose is widely recognized as Nepal's premiere flautist. He is the recipient of national awards including Nepali Instrumentalist of the Year. This program featuring him includes Nepali folk music, Indian raga, and contemporary world fusion, and received rave reviews at the Trinity Tribal Stomp, Caspar World Music Festival, Himalayan Fair, and the Petaluma World Music Lecture Series. >YTmusic (repertoire).

Indo Arabic Roots: This program features scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort, santurist Mariah Parker, and a master Indian or Arabic percussionist. The trio concentrates on material based the music of the Middle East, India, and Spain, showcasing 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). Video. >YTmusic (repertoire).

Indian Jazz: Pandit Habib Khan (sitar) and Ancient Future perform Indian music with jazz influences from Habib Khan and Ancient Future CDs which have been released on major jazz labels in India. This program is popular internationally with shows in Lebanon (August, 2000) and throughout India (January, 2006; January 2008). >YTmusic (repertoire).

World Jazz (Matt & Patti 3): This trio featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Patti Weiss (violin), and Arshad Syed (tabla) focuses on trio versions of the full repertoire from Ancient Future's recordings. This program is a great choice for intimate concerts or outdoor events because of its wide range from raga rock to modal jazz. >YTmusic (repertoire).

Power Trio: Strains of passionate flamenco and ethereal Indian raga soar over powerful bass in this program featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, and seven-string fretless bassist Jason Everett. Video. >YTmusic (repertoire).

Educational Music Programs

Chinese Music Duet: This duet performs entertaining, yet educational, programs showing both the traditional music of China and the many possibilities for integrating this ancient knowledge into contemporary culture. Zhao Hui began her studies of the gu zheng (a Chinese zither that is the ancestor to the Japanese koto) at the age of six, and won first place in China's National Classical Instrumentalist Contest. She is joined by Matthew Montfort, who shows how the scalloped fretboard guitar is capable of performing traditional Chinese music due to its modifications allowing for advanced note ornamentation. Similar educational programs covering other world music traditions are available. >YTmusic (repertoire).

World Music Workshops

Masterclasses: All of the musicians performing with Ancient Future offer masterclasses on traditional music, musicianship, and technique. Learn music from India, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, Indonesia, South America, Australia, and North America. The areas of specialty are included in each musician's biography.

World Rhythm Training: Matthew Montfort takes students at all levels through his book, Ancient Traditions­Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India.

Dance Beat Workshop: This workshop teaches rhythm and dance as one system, bringing rhythm directly to the body through dance.

Frog Toy Orchestra: Using the toy frogs and simple percussion instruments, this program allows everyone in the family to have a great time and learn something about frog calls and Balinese gamelan music, which uses interlocking rhythms similar to the interplay among rice paddy frogs.