2011 Issues: January • February • April • May • June • September • October • December
December 2011 Issue
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Email newsletter of the World Fusion Music Ensemble Ancient Future
Ancient Future Times: Injury Help Needed Plus New Reunion Concert Video
A Direct Appeal from Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort
•Recovering from Wrist and Shoulder Injury. Financial Help Needed for Medical Bills and Living Expenses.
Help from A.F.A.R. Aids Healing
•Your Financial Contribution Adds Tracks to the Archive and Supports the Music!
Holiday CD Sale
•Three Latest Releases on Sale. Money Goes to Pay for Recovery Expenses AND They Make Great Gifts!
New Youtube Video from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion
•Live Version of 'Turkish Taffy' Recorded at Yoshi's, San Francisco
Skype Lesson Sale and Free Introductory Private Lesson
•Help Support the Cause and Learn Something at the Same Time!
A Direct Appeal from Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort
Recovering from Wrist and Shoulder Injury: Financial Help Needed for Medical Bills and Living Expenses
It is hard for a normally self-sufficient person like me to write an appeal for help, but I'll do my best.
It all started when I increased my computer usage in order to try to find a way continue as a musician in an environment in which all of my income sources, very modest though they were, became severely impacted by the economy, the collapse of the music industry, and cutbacks in the arts.
I tried to make up for these problems by increasing my promotion efforts. This was a great success in terms of the amount of publicity I generated, but had only a small effect on my income, and worse, last spring my shoulder froze due to excessive computer use. In order to continue to play gigs, I had to change how I held the guitar in order to get my arm around it. This put an extra strain on my wrist, and due to that and the high action on my scalloped fretboard and flamenco guitars, on October 12 I woke up with a very severe case of wrist tendonitis. I had to cancel most of my concerts for three months.
Due to all of this, I found myself needing to raise money to pay living expenses, medical bills, upgrade my computer system so it can work with voice commands to save my hands, and repair my guitars. Fortunately, Mariah Parker was able to help me apply for a grant from Musicares (affiliated with the Grammy's) and the Actors Fund to cover my rent for the past two months, and also the Musicians Foundation awarded a grant for me to have my guitars repaired by San Francisco Luthier Alan Perlman. Alan did a wonderful job on my guitars, both of which are in excellent shape now due to much needed repairs. Fans of Ancient Future and fellow musicians came through with some online donations, violinist Dr. Patti Weiss gifted me a copy of Dragon Dictate, and my friend Dr. Behzad Mohit helped with a grant from the Health and Nature Foundation to purchase a refurbished Intel Mac.
Thanks to all of this support, I'm left with just needing to raise money for the next few months of living expenses and medical costs while I rehabilitate myself and concerts can be booked starting in the spring of 2012. I'm hoping to do this with a combination of sales at Ancient-Future.Com, teaching and coaching, record production work, and direct donations.
Check out the rest of this newsletter for ways to support my work through subscriptions, purchases, and engaging my services. Historically, Ancient-Future.Com generated $1000 monthly from record and book sales, but CD sales today are just a small fraction of what they used to be. I'm hoping that someday soon people will develop a nostalgia for the wonderful ritual of sitting down and listening to a physical record on the best stereo in the house and really enjoying all the work that goes into producing a great recording. Physical CDs make great gifts, and deep listening parties are a great way to share time with friends. This way of sharing music is so much more personal than clicking "like" on Facebook.
Thanks in advance for anything you can do to help! If you are in the position to make a much appreciated direct financial contribution, click here.
Sincerely,
Matthew Montfort
Help from A.F.A.R. Aids Healing
Your Financial Contribution Adds Tracks to the Archive and Supports the Music!
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-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative: $75 (all previous plus DVD-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $75.
The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings concept is to involve you, fans of world fusion music, in supporting the creation of a collection of new live and studio recordings that are available to subscribers as they are created. There are already seven expertly mixed and mastered live tracks totaling 50 minutes and 42 seconds in the archive available to subscribers immediately!
On April 1, 2011, basic tracks for two songs were recorded featuring original Ancient Future tabla player Benjy Wertheimer, Mariah Parker on santur, and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar. Then on October 9, 2011, basic tracks for a version of 'Purple Haze' featuring Vietnamese dan bau (a one string instrument with an indigenous version of a whammy bar) master Bui Huu Nhut were recorded. To date, we've raised $2530 towards our goal of $25,000 for the project, and we are now just hundreds of dollars away from adding the first brand new studio track to the archive!
When the archive is complete, the best of the collection will be selected for release as the eighth Ancient Future release. Please sign up for A.F.A.R. now and help support the creation of this music and give Matthew Montfort some record production work he can do while recovering!
Holiday CD Sale
Three Latest Releases on Sale to Support Healing
This holiday season, the three latest releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records are on sale for only $11 each with any other purchase at Ancient-Future.Com. Just purchase any book, CD, or make a donation to support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, and you will have the option of purchasing any of the CDs below for only $11!
Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010) $17.98 list (Holiday Sale: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic.)
"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. Planet Passion strives to preserve the world’s vast musical heritage via international collaboration: the idea that one protects the old by creating something new. This is at the heart of fusion music and the heart of Ancient Future’s global aesthetics, too: a diverse, unified world without borders, a multicultural community, a new, reconstituted sonic reality." — Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, Kentucky
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). $17.98 (Holiday Sale: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic)
"This unusual guitar album brings together world instruments to complement the scalloped fretboard guitar. Starting with ‘Gauri the Golden’, an improvisational piece drawing heavily on Indian raga, this is an intriguing collection of the resulting compositions. I must admit that sometimes ragas played by guitar players seem to wander on forever, changing a note here and there and weaving a kind of slow, hypnotic journey. However, this guitar work is stunning, intricate and wonderfully melodic. If you are looking for good listening and something different for your CD shelf, this is it." - J.W. McClure, VICTORY REVIEW ACOUSTIC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017). $17.98 (Holiday Sale: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic).
"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. Intriguing melodies that draw musical inspirations from the tempos of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain make for an uplifting serene yet passionate musical journey into an ideal world." - LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE
New Youtube Video from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion
Live Version of 'Turkish Taffy' Recorded at Yoshi's, San Francisco
On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls recording reunited to perform for the first time in over 15 years at Yoshi's San Francisco, where this video of Doug McKeehan's 'Turkish Taffy' composition was recorded. Performing in the video, are Doug McKeehan (piano), Kash Killion (bass), Ian Dogole (percussion), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Jim Hurley (violin).'World Without Walls' by Ancient Future featuring Tabla Master Zakir Hussain on Capitol Records
To celebrate the reunion, Capitol/EMI Records has released the first ever digital version of Ancient Future's classic 1990 World Without Walls recording. As its name suggests, World Without Walls by Ancient Future depicts a musical world without borders. The recording features Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort (guitars), Jim Hurley (violin), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Ian Dogole (percussion), plus special guest performances by world music legend and tabla master Zakir Hussain. The inviting melodies and ingenious use of ethnic textures make World Without Walls one of Ancient Future's most accessible and broadly appealing releases ever.
While CD's are no longer available in stores, a limited number of rare collectible copies signed by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort are on sale exclusively at Ancient-Future.Com for $24.98. Proceeds go to support the cause.
Tabla master Zakir Hussain
'World Without Walls' by Ancient Future Debuts on CMJ New World and ZMR World/Ambient Charts
The World Without Walls digital reissue debuted at #34 on the CMJ New World Chart in the November 18 issue of CMJ, and at #39 on the October Zone Music Reporter World/Ambient Chart, which are very high entry positions for a digital-only release. The majority of college and public radio stations that report to these charts are still only equipped to program CD releases.
Skype Lesson Sale and Free Introductory Private Lesson
Help Support the Cause and Learn Something at the Same Time!
Prices have been temporarily reduced on skype lessons and consultations for the holidays. Online correspondence lessons make a great gift!
For those residing in Northern California, a free half hour introductory lesson is available to new students at Matthew Montfort's home studio in San Rafael for the rest of the year! Just email info@ancient-future.com or call 415-459-1892 and mention this offer.
October 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Indo Latin Jazz Oct Six, OctoSkypus and Teach or Treat
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert
•Oct. 6 at 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley
Successful Student Recital
•Skype Lesson Sale and Free Introductory Private Lesson in San Rafael
A.F.A.R. Passes 10% of Fundraising Goal
•Just $300 Away from Adding 1st Studio Recording to Archive!
Fall CD Sale
•Three Latest Releases on Sale
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert
Oct. 6 at 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley
Rave Reviews in Marin IJ
Thursday, October 6, 8 pm, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Paul McCandless, Matthew Montfort, Fred Randolph, Ian Dogole, and Brian Rice, 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Tix: $18 adv, $23 door. Doors Open: 7:30. Info: (415) 383-9600, or email boxoffice@142throckmortontheatre.org.
An evening of high-spirited world jazz music with original compositions inspired by the rhythms of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain Featuring Mariah Parker (composer, pianist, santurist), Paul McCandless (Grammy award-winning woodwind virtuoso with the groups Paul Winter Consort and Oregon), Matthew Montfort (pioneering guitarist with Ancient Future), Ian Dogole (global percussion), Brian Rice (Latin percussion), and Fred Randolph (bass).
"Worldwide Grooves: What happens when the irresistible syncopated rhythms of Latin jazz meet the trance-like asymmetrical meters of Indian music? In the hands of keyboardist Mariah Parker and friends, the result is a global sound as hypnotic as it is danceable. Parker and her Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, an all-star group including Grammy-winning woodwind player Paul McCandless of the band Oregon and Ancient Future guitar innovator Matthew Montfort, take the stage at 8pm Oct. 6 at 142 Throckmorton Theatre at 142 Throckmorton Ave. in Mill Valley. Tickets are $18 to $23. Call 383-9600 or go to www.142throckmortontheatre.org ." - Best Bets, MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
"This is the impressive solo CD debut of a pianist-composer known primarily for her performances with the longtime Marin world music group Ancient Future. Parker, who worked with Mickey Hart on his "Planet Drum" project when she was completing her music degree at UC Santa Cruz, describes her style on this eight-track instrumental album as Indo Latin jazz. And just as the Spanish drink sangria is a blend of wine and brandy and other flavors, "Sangria" is a fusion of Indian classical music with Latin sounds and Middle Eastern rhythms." - Paul Liberatore, MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
Successful Student Recital
Skype Lesson Sale and Free Introductory Private Lesson
On September 11, Matthew Montfort held a special backyard student recital. It was a lot of fun with very successful performances, wonderful weather, and homemade pad thai! To celebrate, prices have been temporarily reduced on skype lessons, and a free half hour introductory lesson is available to new students at Matthew Montfort's home studio in San Rafael during the month of October! Just email info@ancient-future.com or call 415-459-1892 and mention this offer.
A.F.A.R. Passes 10 Percent of Fundraising Goal
Just $300 Away from Adding 1st Studio Recording to Archive!
Your Financial Support Helps Add Tracks to the Archive!
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-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative: $75 (all previous plus DVD-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $75.
The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings concept is to involve you, fans of world fusion music, in supporting the creation of a collection of new live and studio recordings that are available to subscribers as they are created. There are already seven expertly mixed and mastered live tracks totaling 50 minutes and 42 seconds in the archive available to subscribers immediately!
On April 1, 2011, basic tracks for two songs were recorded featuring original Ancient Future tabla player Benjy Wertheimer, Mariah Parker on santur, and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar. To date, we've raised $2530 towards our goal of $25,000 for the project, and we are now just three hundred dollars away from adding the first brand new studio track to the archive!
When the archive is complete, the best of the collection will be selected for release as the eighth Ancient Future release. Please sign up for A.F.A.R. now and join us on this creative cross-cultural journey! Your support can be what puts the first studio song in the archive.
Fall CD Sale
Three Latest Releases on Sale
This fall, the three latest releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records are on sale for only $11 each with any other purchase at Ancient-Future.Com. Just purchase any book, CD, or make a donation to support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, and you will have the option of purchasing any of the CDs below for only $11!
Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010) $17.98 list (Fall Sale: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic.)
"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. Planet Passion strives to preserve the world’s vast musical heritage via international collaboration: the idea that one protects the old by creating something new. This is at the heart of fusion music and the heart of Ancient Future’s global aesthetics, too: a diverse, unified world without borders, a multicultural community, a new, reconstituted sonic reality." — Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, Kentucky
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). $17.98 (Fall Sale: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic)
"This unusual guitar album brings together world instruments to complement the scalloped fretboard guitar. Starting with ‘Gauri the Golden’, an improvisational piece drawing heavily on Indian raga, this is an intriguing collection of the resulting compositions. I must admit that sometimes ragas played by guitar players seem to wander on forever, changing a note here and there and weaving a kind of slow, hypnotic journey. However, this guitar work is stunning, intricate and wonderfully melodic. If you are looking for good listening and something different for your CD shelf, this is it." - J.W. McClure, VICTORY REVIEW ACOUSTIC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017). $17.98 (Fall Sale: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic).
"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. Intriguing melodies that draw musical inspirations from the tempos of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain make for an uplifting serene yet passionate musical journey into an ideal world." - LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE
September 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Ancient Future Reunion So Near, So A.F.A.R.
First Video from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion Concert
•Recorded at Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7
First Studio Recording So Near, So A.F.A.R.
•Basic Tracks for Two Songs Recorded
September $11 CD Sale
•Several CDs on Sale in September for $11
Think Global, Play Local
•Sleeping Lady Cafe, 23 Broadway, Fairfax, CA, September 14, 8 pm, Acoustic Vortex Larkspur House Concert Benefit, September 17, 7 pm, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble at 142 Throckmorton Mill Valley , October 6, 8 pm
First Video from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion Concert
Live Version of '14 Steps' from Ancient Future Reunion
Recorded at Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7
On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings reunited to perform for the first time in over 15 years at Yoshi's San Francisco and other venues.
To celebrate the reunion, Capitol/EMI Records has released the first ever digital version of Ancient Future's classic 1990 World Without Walls recording on iTunes and all major digital retailers.
Capitol did not reissue the record on CD, and as a result new CD copies of the original release are going for over $208 on amazon.com. But you can get a reconditioned original copy signed by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort for $24.95 at ancient-future.com, and the money will go to support the music rather than to make a record collector richer.
World Without Walls by Ancient Future (Capitol/Sona Gaia 163) $24.98 (Rare collectable reconditioned CD. Signed by Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort.): Buy Link . (>YTmusic.)
As its name suggests, World Without Walls by Ancient Future depicts a musical world without borders. This classic 1990 recording features Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort (guitars), Jim Hurley (violin), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Ian Dogole (percussion), plus special guest performances by world music legend and tabla master Zakir Hussain.
Tabla master Zakir Hussain
First Studio Recording So Near, So A.F.A.R.
Basic Tracks for Two Songs Recorded 4/1/2011: Ready for Mixing and Mastering
Your Financial Support Helps Add Tracks to the Archive!
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-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative: $75 (all previous plus DVD-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $75.
The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings concept is to involve you, fans of world fusion music, in supporting the creation of a collection of new live and studio recordings that are available to subscribers as they are created. There are already seven expertly mixed and mastered live tracks totaling 50 minutes and 42 seconds in the archive available to subscribers immediately!
On April 1, 2011, basic tracks for two songs were recorded featuring original Ancient Future tabla player Benjy Wertheimer, Mariah Parker on santur, and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar. We need to raise the funds to pay for mixing and mastering the tracks. To date, we've raised $2380 towards our goal of $25,000 for the project, and we are now just hundreds of dollars away from adding the first brand new studio track to the archive.
When the archive is complete, the best of the collection will be selected for release as the eighth Ancient Future release. Please sign up for A.F.A.R. now and join us on this creative cross-cultural journey! Your support can be what puts the first studio song in the archive.
September $11 CD Sale
During the month of September, the three latest releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records are on sale for only $11 each with any other purchase at Ancient-Future.Com. Just purchase any book, CD, or make a donation to support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, and you will have the option of purchasing any of the CDs below for only $11!
Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010) $17.98 list (Sale this September: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic.)
"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. Planet Passion strives to preserve the world’s vast musical heritage via international collaboration: the idea that one protects the old by creating something new. This is at the heart of fusion music and the heart of Ancient Future’s global aesthetics, too: a diverse, unified world without borders, a multicultural community, a new, reconstituted sonic reality." — Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, Kentucky
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). $17.98 (Sale this September: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic)
"This unusual guitar album brings together world instruments to complement the scalloped fretboard guitar. Starting with ‘Gauri the Golden’, an improvisational piece drawing heavily on Indian raga, this is an intriguing collection of the resulting compositions. I must admit that sometimes ragas played by guitar players seem to wander on forever, changing a note here and there and weaving a kind of slow, hypnotic journey. However, this guitar work is stunning, intricate and wonderfully melodic. If you are looking for good listening and something different for your CD shelf, this is it." - J.W. McClure, VICTORY REVIEW ACOUSTIC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017). $17.98 (Sale this September: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>YTmusic).
"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. Intriguing melodies that draw musical inspirations from the tempos of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain make for an uplifting serene yet passionate musical journey into an ideal world." - LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE
Think Global, Play Local
Being world fusion pioneers, Ancient Future has always thought (and performed) globally. But historically Ancient Future hasn't been very focused on the local San Francisco Bay Area music scene. So, in these times where touring is financially more difficult due to arts presenter budget cuts, we have booked a series of ultra local performances in Marin County, California! And every concert is a completely different program. But, rest assured, we are planning on returning to touring soon. So, if you know of a venue in your area that you would like to see Ancient Future perform at, please email their contact information to info@ancient-future.com. We'll send them a promo package!
Here's the lineup of ultra local performances:
Acoustic Guitar Showcase
Wednesday, September 14, 9:00 pm, Acoustic Guitar Showcase featuring Matthew Montfort, Jeff Titus, and Teja Gerken, The Sleeping Lady, 23 Broadway, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Info: 415-485-1182. Facebook Event
This Acoustic Guitar Showcase is a round-robin of guitar music with scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort, harp sympitar guitarist Jeff Titus, and acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Teja Gerken.
Ancient Future 9-11 Mitigation Benefit
Saturday, September 17, 8 pm, Ancient Future 9-11 Mitigation Benefit featuring Matthew Montfort, Mariah Parker, and Salaheddin Takesh, Acoustic Vortex, Larkspur, CA 94939. Doors/food/wine/shmooze: 7 pm. Suggested voluntary donation: $25. Email bruce@acousticvortex.com for an invitation.
"One of the unfortunate consequences of the 9-11 tragedy has perhaps been our somewhat greater proclivity to view those from other cultures as 'the other.' Please join the Acoustic Vortex and Ancient Future in our joint efforts of utilizing music to enhance our mutual understanding and connectedness. We will be donating a percentage of our revenue to Doctors Without Borders and the Families of Freedom Fund, a scholarship fund for children of slain 9-11 rescue workers." - Bruce Victor, Acoustic Vortex
The program features a trio lineup of Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort on scalloped fret guitar (inspired by the Indian vina), and the glissentar (an 11 string fretless guitar), Mariah Parker on santur, and Salaheddin Takesh on Arabic percussion.
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble
Thursday, October 6, 8 pm, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Paul McCandless, Matthew Montfort, Fred Randolph, Ian Dogole, and Brian Rice, 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Tix: $18 adv, $23 door. Doors Open: 7:30. Info: (415) 383-9600, or email boxoffice@142throckmortontheatre.org. Press Release.
An evening of high-spirited world jazz music with original compositions inspired by the rhythms of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain featuring Mariah Parker (composer, piano, santur), Paul McCandless (woodwinds and horns), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and flamenco guitars), Ian Dogole (global percussion), Brian Rice (Latin percussion), and Fred Randolph (double bass).
"Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble creates voodoo... when I saw them live at Kuumbwa Jazz Cafe they were purely raw and fearless." - JOHN SHELTON IVANY, TOP 21 (former editor of HIT PARADER and ROCK AND SOUL)
June 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Capitol Records Releases 'World Without Walls'
In Celebration of June 7 Reunion Concerts
Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion Concert Around the Corner
•Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7, 8 pm: First Performance in Over 15 Years
Capitol Records Releases 'World Without Walls' to Celebrate Reunion
•First Digital Release of Classic 1990 Recording by Ancient Future featuring Tabla Master Zakir Hussain
Frets & Strings: An Evening of Acoustic Guitar
•Freight and Salvage, June 5, 8 pm
Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Lineup
Reunion Concert Around the Corner
Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7: First Performance in Over 15 Years
Tuesday, June 7, 8 pm
Yoshi's San Francisco
1330 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tix: $16 in advance, $20 at the door
Info: www.yoshis.com
Press Release
Poster (944 k pdf)
Ancient Future circa 1990. Photo by Irene Young.
On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings will reunite to perform for the first time in over 15 years. The reunion show at Yoshi's San Francisco features Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, Ian Dogole on percussion, plus Kash Killion on bass, Mariah Parker on santur, and world dancer Sapphira. There is a "teaser" concert featuring the core lineup at noon the same day at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord.
Examiner.Com: Historic Ancient Future Reunion Concert just ahead!
"This is a one-time-only chance to catch this special reunion performance by the lineup that played over a hundred concerts together between their first appearance on August 21, 1988 at the Concert in the Forest, a benefit for the Friends of the Cathedral Forest near Breitenbush Hot Springs, Oregon, and their August 26, 1995, show for the Calaveras Arts Council. The band hasn't played in its original configuration since the show in 1995 so this is going to be a rare treat!"
"Examiner.com has recently seen Matthew Montfort collaborating with Arabic musicians at city college and a tabla player at the Himalayan fair in Berkeley as well as fellow guitar pickers at the Freight and Salvage. He is in peak form and with the original band members that created groundbreaking recordings like 'Asian Fusion' and 'World Without Walls' joining him it is sure to be a stellar, dynamic concert that may sell out and is not to be missed!" – Johnathon Bakan, SF Asian Music Examiner
India Currents: Ancient Future, Ageless Fusion
"Ancient Future is one of the rare bands whose genesis is in world fusion. The upcoming concert will reunite Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, Ian Dogole on percussion, and master musician Habib Khan on sitar...with the sound reminiscent of the silk-smooth Shakti by Zakir Hussain and group, especially in Hurley’s 'Lakshmi Rocks Me.' Montfort’s 'Gamarock' has whiffs of India and flower-power. Dogole’s 'Mezgoof' is based on the qawwali style. McKeehan’s drama in 'Turkish Taffy' will appeal to the Bollywood soul." – Priya Das, INDIA CURRENTS, May 2011
Capitol Records Releases 'World Without Walls' to Celebrate Reunion
First Digital Release of Classic 1990 Ancient Future Recording Featuring Tabla Master Zakir Hussain
On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings will reunite to perform for the first time in over 15 years at Yoshi's San Francisco and other venues. To celebrate the reunion concerts, Ancient Future's classic 1990 World Without Walls recording is scheduled to be released by Capitol/EMI Records at major digital retailers such as iTunes and Amazon.com MP3 Store for the first time ever on June 7, 2011.
As its name suggests, World Without Walls by Ancient Future depicts a musical world without borders. This classic 1990 recording features Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar, steel string guitars, electric guitars, classical guitar, guitar synthesizers, mandolin), Jim Hurley (acoustic violins, Zeta electric violin, steel string guitar), Doug McKeehan (piano, synthesizers), and Ian Dogole (dumbek, talking drum, congas, bongos, udu, shaker, bass drums, cymbal, sleigh bells, kendang, kajar, ceng-ceng, bells, chimes).
The record also features guest performances by world music legend and tabla master Zakir Hussain (tabla, kanjira), Gary Brown (fretless electric bass), Jeff Narell (steel drums), Vince Delgado (tambourine), Jack Dorsey (drum set), Bill Douglass (acoustic bass, Chinese flutes), and Bruce Kaphan (recording engineer, shaker).
The inviting melodies and ingenious use of ethnic textures make World Without Walls one of Ancient Future's most accessible and broadly appealing releases ever.
Tabla master Zakir Hussain
Frets & Strings: An Evening of Acoustic Guitar
Freight and Salvage, June 5, 8 pm
Featuring Matthew Montfort, Teja Gerken, Steve Baughman, Pete Madsen, Patrick Landeza, and Jon Mendle
Sunday, June 5, 2011, 8 pm
Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison St.
Berkeley, CA 94702
Info: 510-644-2020 or freightandsalvage.org
Tix: $20.50 advance/$22.50 door
Poster (376 k pdf)
In what is certain to be a guitar concert highlight of the year, the Freight & Salvage presents six of the Bay Area's finest instrumentalists in a stunningly diverse range of styles. The evening includes fingerstyle guitarist Teja Gerken (who is also a senior editor at Acoustic Guitar magazine), world music pioneer and scalloped fretboard wiz Matthew Montfort (of Ancient Future), acclaimed Celtic player Steve Baughman, blues and slide expert Pete Madsen, Hawaiian slack-key specialist Patrick Landeza, and fresh from a tour with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, rising classical guitar star Jon Mendle.
The Hear & Now with Derk Richardson on KPFA: Acoustic Guitarapalooza
Fingerstyle guitarist Teja Gerken previews his big guitar night with fellow pickers Matthew Montfort, Pete Madsen, and Jon Mendle (and maybe Patrick Landeza, who, like Steve Baughman, is also on the Freight show).
Live on the Air, June 2, 2011 - 10:00 PM.
May 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Reunion Concert Streams Live from A.F.A.R. on Frets and Strings
Tix on Sale Now: 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion
•Hurry to Get Good Seats to Show at Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7, 8 pm: First Performance in Over 15 Years
Ancient Future Trio on West Coast Live Promoting Yoshi's Reunion Concert
• Streams Live at KALW.org, Saturday, May 21, 10 am
First Studio Recording from A.F.A.R. Now Near
•Basic Tracks for Two Songs Recorded 4/1/2011!
Frets & Strings: An Evening of Acoustic Guitar
•Freight and Salvage, June 5, 8 pm
Tix on Sale Now: 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion
Hurry to Get Good Seats to Show at Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7:
First Performance in Over 15 Years
World jazz reunion featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Jim Hurley (violin), Doug McKeehan (keyboards, piano), and Ian Dogole (percussion) plus special guests
Ancient Future World Jazz Program
Tuesday, June 7, 8 pm
Yoshi's San Francisco
1330 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tix: $16 in advance, $20 at the door
Info: www.yoshis.com
Press Release
Poster (944 k pdf)
Ancient Future circa 1990. Photo by Irene Young.
On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings will reunite to perform for the first time in over 15 years. The reunion show at Yoshi's San Francisco features Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, Ian Dogole on percussion, and surprise guests to be announced.
This is a one-time-only chance to catch this special reunion performance by the lineup that played over a hundred concerts together and was the subject of numerous features in publications such as JAZZIZ and MÚSICA GLOBAL. A selection of these articles has just been uploaded to the archives of Ancient Future history, providing an interesting perspective on a period of growth in the world music movement.
Ancient Future's uptempo virtuoso world fusion music is an exhilarating mix of jazz improvisation with the exciting rhythms, exotic sounds, and enchanting melodies of world music.
"Ancient Future is one of the rare bands whose genesis is in world fusion. The upcoming concert will reunite Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, Ian Dogole on percussion, and master musician Habib Khan on sitar...with the sound reminiscent of the silk-smooth Shakti by Zakir Hussain and group, especially in Hurley’s 'Lakshmi Rocks Me.' Montfort’s 'Gamarock' has whiffs of India and flower-power. Dogole’s 'Mezgoof' is based on the qawwali style. McKeehan’s drama in 'Turkish Taffy' will appeal to the Bollywood soul." – Priya Das, INDIA CURRENTS, May 2011
Ancient Future Trio on West Coast Live
Promoting Yoshi's Reunion Concert
Streams Live at KALW.org, Saturday, May 21, 10 am
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) Doug McKeehan (piano), and Jim Hurley (violin)
Saturday, May 21, 10 am
West Coast Live (Nationally Syndicated Radio Show)
Streams Live at KALW.org
Archived at wcl.org
Port Commission Hearing Room
2nd Floor,
San Francisco Ferry Building
1 Ferry Building at Ferry Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94111
Info: 415-664-9500
First Studio Recording from A.F.A.R. Now Near
Basic Tracks for Two Songs Recorded 4/1/2011!
Your Financial Support Makes a Difference!
Recording Newsletter:$10 (receive 128 kbps downloads). Subscribe @ $10. Download Supporter:$25 (320 kbps downloads). Subscribe @ $25. Limited Edition CD Sponsor: $50 (all previous plus CD-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative: $75 (all previous plus DVD-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $75.
The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings concept is to involve you, fans of world fusion music, in supporting the creation of a collection of new live and studio recordings that are available to subscribers as they are created. When the archive is complete, the best of the collection will be selected for release as the eighth Ancient Future release.
On April 1, 2011, basic tracks for two songs were recorded featuring original Ancient Future tabla player Benjy Wertheimer, Mariah Parker on santur, and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar. We need to raise the funds to pay for mixing and mastering the songs, and we also hope to involve several guest musicians (stay tuned for announcements!) for some alternate versions.
To date, we've raised $2330 towards our goal of $25,000 for the project, and we are now just hundreds of dollars away from having the funds to add the first brand new studio track to the archive.Your support can be what puts the first studio song in the archive If you've been waiting to participate due to financial reasons, this is a great time to subscribe, as we are going to be raising the price of the 128 kbps download option next month due to rising costs of processing small credit card charges. Please sign up for A.F.A.R. now and join us on this creative cross-cultural journey!
Frets & Strings: An Evening of Acoustic Guitar
Freight and Salvage, June 5, 8 pm
Featuring Matthew Montfort, Teja Gerken, Steve Baughman, Pete Madsen, Patrick Landeza, and Jon Mendle
Sunday, June 5, 2011, 8 pm
Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison St.
Berkeley, CA 94702
Info: 510-644-2020 or freightandsalvage.org
Tix: $20.50 advance/$22.50 door
Poster (376 k pdf)
In what is certain to be a guitar concert highlight of the year, the Freight & Salvage presents six of the Bay Area's finest instrumentalists in a stunningly diverse range of styles.
The brainchild of guitarist Teja Gerken (who is also a senior editor at Acoustic Guitar magazine), the evening includes world music pioneer and scalloped fretboard wiz Matthew Montfort (of Ancient Future), acclaimed Celtic player Steve Baughman, blues and slide expert Pete Madsen, Hawaiian slack-key specialist Patrick Landeza, and fresh from a tour with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, rising classical guitar star Jon Mendle.
April 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Northern California News
Ancient Future Duet Dinner Concert
• Panama Hotel, San Rafael, April 20
Easiest Contest Ever: Win Free Tix for CCSF World Music Club Concert
•City College of San Francisco, May 13
Ancient Future Duet Dinner Concert
Panama Hotel, San Rafael, April 20
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars) and Mariah Parker (santur)
Ancient Future Duet Dinner Show
Wednesday, April 20, 7 to 10 pm
The Panama Hotel & Restaurant
4 Bayview St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Info: 415-457-3993 or visit www.panamahotel.com.
Scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort and santurist Mariah Parker will perform music from Ancient Future's repertoire as well as Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort, and Sangria by Mariah Parker.
Easiest Contest Ever:
Free Tix for CCSF World Music Club Concert
City College of San Francisco, May 13
Featuring Ancient Future with Georges Lammam (Arabic violin/vocals), Matthew Montfort (guitars), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Salah Takesh (Arabic percussion)
CCSF World Music Club Presents
Ancient Future Arabic Beats Program
Friday, May 13, 2011, 7:00 pm
City College of San Francisco
Diego Rivera Theater
50 Phelan Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94112
This is a contest anyone can win while tickets are still available! Simply visit http://professorlim.org and reserve your tickets. That's it!
February 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Winter/Spring California News
Ancient Future Duet in Concert
• Panama Hotel, San Rafael, April 20
Mark Your Calendar: Ancient Future "World Without Walls" Lineup Reunion!
•Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7: First Performance in Over 15 Years
Ancient Future Duet In Concert
Panama Hotel, San Rafael, April 20
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars) and Mariah Parker (santur)
Dinner Show
Wednesday, April 20, 7 to 10 pm
The Panama Hotel & Restaurant
4 Bayview St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Info: 415-457-3993 or visit www.panamahotel.com
Scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort and santurist Mariah Parker will perform music from Ancient Future's broad repertoire, including three current releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records celebrating 30 years of world fusion music: Planet Passion by Ancient Future (remastered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band), Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort, and Sangria by Mariah Parker.
Mark Your Calendar: Ancient Future "World Without Walls" Lineup Reunion!
Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7: First Performance in Over 15 Years
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Jim Hurley (violin), Doug McKeehan (keyboards, piano), and Ian Dogole (percussion)
Evening Concert
Tuesday, June 7, 8 pm
Yoshi's San Francisco
1330 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tix: $16 in advance, $20 at the door
Press Release
Lunch Hour Outdoor Preview Show
Tuesday, June 7, Noon
City of Concord Free Summer Concerts
Todos Santos Plaza
Concord, CA 94520
On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings will be reuniting to perform their first concerts together in over 15 years. Their uptempo virtuoso music is an exhilarating mix of jazz improvisation and the exciting rhythms and exotic sounds of world music. The evening show at Yoshi's will feature some special guests from the band's recordings.
January 2011 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Celtic Raga Meets Timna-Tal
Timna-Tal Music Presents Ancient Future In Concert
• Celtic Raga Program, Jan. 29 in Davis
Timna-Tal Music Presents Ancient Future In Concert
Celtic Raga Program, Jan. 29 in Davis
Saturday, January 29, 7 pm
Timna-Tal Music Presents Ancient Future
Village Homes Community Center
2661 Portage Bay East
Davis, CA 95616
Tix: $13 in advance, $15 at the door
Info: 530-867-1032
Email: info@timnatalmusic.com
Venue Website: www.timnatalmusic.com
Press Release
Poster.pdf
Celtic Raga Program
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars) and Joe Fajen (tabla, percussion)
Celtic (kel'tik), adj. of the Celts, their Indo-European languages, culture, etc.
raga (räg'a), n. [Hind.] a melodic recipe for a mood including ascending and descending note patterns and a hierarchy of note importance
Strains of ancient Celtic music and Indian raga emanate from this high energy improvisatory duet featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by Joe Fajen on tabla. One of the variations of the virtuoso world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this duet has performed in a variety of settings, from the huge audience (police estimate of 35,000 people) at the Summer of Love 30th Anniversary Celebration in San Francisco to the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona.
"It was heart-warming to see teenage girls in swirling dresses swaying and twirling to the Indian themes (almost like morning ragas) of Ancient Future, one of the morning performing groups." – Philip Elwood, SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER (review of Summer of Love performance, that according to the San Francisco Chronicle, was famed concert promoter Chet Helm's "crowning achievement")
Matthew Montfort
As leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort has devoted himself to the scalloped fretboard guitar since 1978. 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. Montfort immersed himself in an intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. 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. He has worked with many world music legends, including tabla phenomenon Zakir Hussain and Chinese zither master Zhao Hui. 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. Matthew Montfort's debut CD, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar earned rave reviews and a feature in the December 2009 commemorative Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008) $17.98. Buy Link. (>YTmusic)
"Because Montfort’s guitar has a scalloped fretboard, his fingers touch only the strings, enabling him to produce ornaments more characteristic of the sitar. This album reveals a thorough knowledge of Hindustani microtonal ornaments, transferred in ways that create one of the most distinctive guitar sounds in contemporary music. However, it also reveals a lifetime of exploration in world music, which can be immediately summoned in a flash of inspiration. 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
"This longtime world music/fusion guitarist offers a solo and lightly-backed recording for acoustic 'scalloped fretboard' guitar, and however that may differ from a regular guitar, he plays it just beautifully, at times hypnotically, and makes it sound like some sort of sitar hybrid on a 'modern raga,' a 'Celtic raga,' and even a 'purple' one based on Jimi Hendrix's music." – Steve Heilig, THE BEAT
"Matthew’s playing is always impeccable, filled with subtle emotion and even wanderlust. I don't know of anyone who plays quite like Matthew. His mastery of the scalloped fretboard guitar seems unequaled." – Steve Ryals, FRESH TRACKS
"It isn't every day that acoustic guitarists make their instrument sound a lot like an Indian sitar, but that is exactly what Matthew Montfort accomplishes on the instrumental 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.' Through it all, Montfort demonstrates that even though he has considerable chops and technical prowess, he is much more interested in feeling and expression than technique. This 56-minute CD is an adventurous, consistently engaging demonstration of what Montfort can accomplish on the scalloped fretboard guitar." – Alex Henderson, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
Joe Fajen
Joe Fajen has studied tabla with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Arshad Syed, Ty Burhoe, and Pandit Binay Pathak. He has had the honor of accompanying a range of musicians and vocalists including Pandit Devashish Dey, Pandit Binay Pathak, Bill Douglass, Angelika, Simrit Kaur, Suzanne Sterling, Swami Mangalananda, and Jaya Lakshmi.