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 Ewe 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 lineup 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.