News Releases

Ancient-Future.Com Records periodically issues news press releases, which are posted here along with articles written by Ancient Future members.

Press Releases

Press Release: Ancient Future's First Ever Cover Song to be Released in Tribute to Jimi Hendrix! 'Purple Nam & Purple Haze' by Ancient Future is their first ever release including a popular cover song. It features Matthew Montfort (Glissentar, fretless bass), Bui Huu Nhut (đàn bầu), Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion), and Mariah Parker (keys).

Press Release: New Ancient Future Endangered Species Day Release - L.E.T.S. Live. 'Lustful Elephants Trumpet Spring' is the first release from the Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future.

Press Release: Where's the Beat? From Ancient Rhythms to Future Grooves for Gizmos, Gadgets and Thingamajigs. Bring the ancient rhythms of Africa, Bali, and India into the grooves of the future with content from the book 'Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities' by Matthew Montfort for DAWs, computers, smartphones, and other gizmos!

News from an Alt-Left Universe: President-Elect Sanders Proposes United States Musical Ambassador to the United Nations. In an imaginary universe in which Bernie Sanders is the US President-elect, Bernie's slogan, "An Ancient Future to Believe In," leads to a proposal to employ Ancient Future to facilitate jam sessions between musicians from countries in international conflicts.

Press Release: New Fan Funded Tracks Added to The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. On 6/16/16, six new pieces and a video make their debut in the the fan funded 'Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.'

Press Release: First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History. Based on Rag Kalyan and set in the nine beat matta tal, 'Yearning for the Wind' is an audio/video duet featuring scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.

Press Release: The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. On Feb. 11, 2014, the 35th anniversary of Ancient Future's first concert, two new studio tracks and a video debut in the fan funded 'Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.'

Press Release: End of the Beginning of the Ancient Future. There's been much ado concerning the end of the current 5125 year cycle of the Mayan Long Count calendar on December 21, 2012. What more appropriate way to celebrate the new era to follow than with the music of Ancient Future?

Press Release: Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort Makes List of 100 Greatest Guitarists. On August 12, 2012, scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort was added to DigitalDreamDoor.com's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list, joining luminaries such as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex De Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino.

Press Release: Ancient Future Nominated for Bohemian's 2012 NorBay World Music Award. Ancient Future is a finalist in the Bohemian's 2012 North Bay Music Awards in the World/Reggae category.

Press Release: Matthew Montfort Releases New Solo Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Recording. Ancient-Future.Com Records has just released 'Sympathetic Serenade,' a mini EP by scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort.

Press Release: Ancient Future Nominated for Two World Music Awards in February 2012. About.com's Reader's Choice World Music Trailblazer Award, and ZoneMusicReporter's Best World Album of 2011.

Press Release: Ancient Future Nominated for ZMR Best World Album of 2011. 'World Without Walls' with special guest Zakir Hussain was nominated by broadcasters worldwide.

Press Release: Ancient Future Guitarist Matthew Montfort Offers Online Music Lessons. All styles and levels of guitar instruction as well as lessons on any of the subjects on the Ancient Future web site via private Skype lessons.

Press Release: New Live Video Recording from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert Released. A live version of McKeehan's 'Turkish Taffy' was recorded at the concert and released on Youtube.

Press Release: First Video from Reunion Tour Supporting 'World Without Walls' by Ancient Future on Capitol Records. The first video release from the reunion concert is a live version of Montfort's '14 Steps,' a jazzy romp with a funky fourteen beat Indian groove.

Press Release: Capitol Records Schedules Digital Release of 'World Without Walls' by Ancient Future for June 7, 2011. On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's classic 1990 'World Without Walls' recording will reunite for the first time in over 15 years at Yoshi's San Francisco. To celebrate, 'World Without Walls' is scheduled for release by Capitol Records for the first time at major digital retailers such as iTunes.

Press Release: Matthew Montfort of Ancient Future Featured on Rachel Maddow Show. Ancient Future leader and guitarist Matthew Montfort was interviewed and performed on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC on Friday, September 24th, 2010.

Press Release: Sangria by Mariah Parker on Ancient-Future.Com Records Selected for Baker & Taylor Spotlight on Jazz Brochure. Sangria is featured in a color flyer insert in the April 2010 issues of Baker & Taylor Spotlight on Jazz and Alert, a library mailer.

Press Release: Two songs from Mariah Parker’s CD, Sangria, make The Smooth Jazz Now Top 100 Songs of 2009. Two tracks from Mariah Parker's 2009 debut release, Sangria, "Pente" and "Waterwheel," made the SmoothJazzNow.com Top 100 Songs of 2009 list.

Press Release: Free Download of the Week at Borders.Com. From 1/18/2010 to 1/24/2010, 'Ocean of Love' from Planet Passion by Ancient Future is the weekly free download.

Press Release: Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.). During Ancient Future's 30th anniversary year, work began on the next project of the band: the 'Archive of Future Ancient Recordings' (A.F.A.R.), funded through a subscription model.

Press Release: Two Ancient-Future.Com Titles Selected for Two Baker & Taylor Gift Guides. 'Planet Passion' by Ancient Future and 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar' by Matthew Montfort were selected for the Baker & Taylor Valentine's Gift Guide, and 'Seven Serenades' was selected for the Baker & Taylor Health & Wellness Guide.

Press Release: Matthew Montfort Featured in Guitar Player Magazine. Full page feature with a photo of Matthew Montfort superimposed over psychedelic artwork portraying Jimi Hendrix and an interview with Montfort about the scalloped fretboard guitar, Indian raga, and his thoughts about the relationship of Indian raga to the music of Jimi Hendrix.

Articles

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Music. An article about the effects of artificial intelligence on music Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort wrote for Music Worker, the newsletter of the Artist Rights Alliance (formerly the Content Creators Coalition).

The Ancient Future: When Matt Met Mindy. An account of the origins of the pioneering world music band Ancient Future by flutist Mindia Devi Klein.

Dickens of an Ancient Future Present. This Spooky little spoof starring Eitherseizer Scrooogle endeavours to raise the Spirit of a solution to Silicon Skulduggery. By Ancient Future Past, Present, and Future leader Matthew Montfort with apologies to Charles Dickens.

Is Hilary Rosen an Uncomfortable Truth Vortex? More than a decade before Hilary Rosen stubbed her toe on the truth and ignited a Twitter firestorm by saying that Ann Romney had never worked a day in her life, she unwittingly helped Matthew Montfort put his foot in his mouth at his first meeting with Napster CEO Hank Barry.

Venezuelan Radio Quotas: A Great Idea for Localities Everywhere. The Venezuelan National Assembly passed a law requiring that no less than 50 percent of all music played on the nation's radio stations be Venezuelan. Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort argues in favor of the passage of similar, although more modest, versions of this law elsewhere.

Open Market Digital Distribution: An Open Letter to Congress. On April 29, 2001, this letter was sent to congress and Hank Barry, CEO of Napster.

An Open Letter to Congress Proposing a Compulsory License for File Sharing. On March 14, 2001, this letter was sent to congress and Hank Barry, CEO of Napster. On April 3, 2001, Hank Barry proposed just such a license in a speech to congress.

Independent Musician Reaction to Napster Decision. The Feb 12th, 2001, decision was a double edged sword for independent musicians.

Ancient Future Oracle: This story was written in 1999. Much of it has already come true.