FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/22/2010
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
1-415-459-1892
info@ancient-future.com
Spread Your Wings & Fly with Us:
A Musical Journey Featuring Montana Skies, Matthew Montfort of Ancient Future, and North African Music by AZA
Friday, April 23, 8 pm
Steynberg Gallery
1531 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Tickets: $12 advance/$15 door
Information & Reservations: 805-547-0278
Venue Website: http://www.steynberggallery.com
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107227645972690
Poster (452 k): http://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/4_23_10_steynberg.pdf
Spread Your Wings & Fly with Us is a musical journey featuring the cello guitar fusion of Montana Skies, world music for guitar by Matthew Montfort of Ancient Future, and North African music by AZA. Montana Skies will perform new acoustic music for cello, six-string electric cello, Spanish/classical guitar, and steel string guitar. AZA lead singer Fattah Abbou from Morocco showcases unique highly percussive music blending the traditions of North Africa with a hint of the West. Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort will perform solo on scalloped fretboard guitar and glissentar (11 string fretless guitar) and sit in with the other musicians. A selection of international wine and cheeses will be available.
151 Word Radio Announcement
Spread Your Wings & Fly with Us is a musical journey featuring the cello guitar fusion of Montana Skies, world music for guitar by Matthew Montfort of Ancient Future, and North African music by AZA hosted by Steynberg Gallery at 1531 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California, on Friday, April 23rd, at 8 pm. Montana Skies will perform new acoustic music for cello, six-string electric cello, Spanish/classical guitar, and steel string guitar. AZA founders Fattah Abbou and Mohamed Aoualouare from Morocco showcase their unique highly percussive music blending the traditions of North Africa with a hint of the West. Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort will perform solo on scalloped fretboard guitar and glissentar (11 string fretless guitar) and sit in with the other musicians. A selection of international wine and cheeses will be available. For information and reservations, call 805-547-0278. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Montana Skies
Hi-Res Photo of Montana Skies:
http://montanaskiesmusic.com/montana-skies/Press_Kit_files/montana-skies-sit%20crop_1.jpg
Jennifer and Jonathan Adams create a new acoustic sound with their pairing of cello, six-string electric cello, Spanish/classical guitar, and steel string guitar. These award winning musicians delve into music from Pink Floyd to Bach, as well as their own originals that have been featured everywhere from NPR to the Travel Channel. Jonathan and Jennifer met while studying music at the University of Georgia. Recognizing a kindred spirit in each other's devotion to their music, the desire to share music together was ignited immediately. The two assumed they would be performing classical recitals and great works for the cello and guitar; then, in one trip to the library to select music, their whole world of classical intentions came crashing down. The discovery: music written for cello and guitar was as rare as the combination itself. What resulted from this new musical freedom of expression between the two was the formation of Montana Skies. Jonathan explains, “The fact that 'ready made' repertoire is not available for our combination of instruments is really what pushes us to be more creative with our music. We love composing and arranging, and appreciate the opportunity to present old favorites, along with newer music, to our audiences.” Montana Skies maintains an active touring schedule. Highlights from their touring has included: the Seoul Arts Center (2,500 seats) in S. Korea, Great Falls Civic Auditorium (1,800 seats) in Montana, and the new backstage series at the Morrison Center in Boise, Idaho. Jonathan's full length instructional book and CD, “Getting Into Fingerstyle Guitar” was published in 2002 by Mel-Bay Publications.
Video
Montana Skies - Interview and Concert Clips from Live DVD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7MHZq53MxE
Montana Skies showcase their “classical fusion” for cello and guitar in these interviews and concert clips from their DVD.
Press
“...rambling across a map of influences from American folk and Arabic music to jazz, flamenco and pop. And Montana Skies' unrelenting tour schedule is geared toward taking this harmonious hybrid to the masses.” – ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
“Their first piece elicited a standing ovation, one of many throughout the evening. Their virtuosity left the audience exhilarated and wanting more.” – Pat Crawford, Host, WUWF RADIO LIVE
“...irresistably infectious grooves and plentiful interplay and improv.” – FAME Magazine
“...hypnotic...imaginative...played with deep passion.” – ACOUSTIC GUITAR Magazine
Matthew Montfort
Matthew Montfort Hi-Res Photo by Julie Marten (2 MB):
http://www.ancient-future.com/images/matthewmontfort600.jpg
As leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort has devoted himself to the scalloped fretboard guitar since 1978. Featured in the December 2009 commemorative Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine, 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.
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar
'Seven Serenades' Hi-Res CD Cover Art (912 k):
http://www.ancient-future.com/images/serenade300dpi.jpg
Seven Serenades Digital 1 Sheet (552 k, streaming audio):
http://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/serenades_1sheet_dig.pdf
Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. $17.98. Buy Link. (>YTmusic) 
This debut recording by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort showcases his pioneering work on the scalloped fretboard guitar, a special modified instrument able to produce ornaments more characteristic of the sitar. While previously known more for his compositions for the trendsetting world music group Ancient Future, this first solo effort features his improvisational music.
Video
Matthew Montfort Performing 'Soul Serenade' at Ancient Future's 30th Anniversary Concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLfKTbpgO1Q
Recorded at Ancient Future's 30th anniversary concert, 'Soul Serenade' is also on Matthew Montfort's debut recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. This live version is now available as an mp3 download exclusively to subscribers to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings at http://www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.
Press
5 Page Guitar Player Magazine/GuitarPlayer.com Media Report (1.4 MB):
http://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/MatthewMontfortGuitarPlayerMag.pdf
Seven Serenades Media Report (3.9 MB):
http://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/MediaMatthewMontfort.pdf
“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, March 2009
“The mind-bending playing abilities of guitar virtuoso, Matthew Montfort, stems from the note-bending capabilities of the scalloped fretboard guitar. This produces a different sound than the more familiar guitar, because the fretboard is carved out, so the fingers only touch the strings. Musically, the songs verge on a flamenco-Indian-jazz continuum. This is partly due to Matthew's playing technique and the sitar-like sounds of his guitar. For everyone interested in the sounds of guitar, especially fans of Bob Brozman or Ben Bowen King, then this is definitely for you.” – Matthew Forss, INSIDE WORLD MUSIC
“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
AZA
Photo of Fattah Abbou
Aza is a musical band that was founded in Santa Cruz, California, by Fattah Abbou and his brother, Mohamed Aoualou. Born and raised in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, they’ve played and studied music for over twenty years before moving to the USA. Fattah and Mohamed are Berbers; and the Berbers or Imazighen (preferred term) are the indigenous people of North Africa whose history records date back to 3300 years ago. The band’s activities are not limited to music but also promoting the Amazigh Culture. Fattah and Mohamed’s efforts have always been part of the Amazigh movement and struggle to revive a culture that has been marginalized for centuries. Through its artistic activities, AZA has been able to introduce the Amazigh culture to people of varying ages and arouse their curiosity to know more about it. They have performed throughout the USA, Europe, and North Africa.
Videos
Fattah Abbou Demonstrating the Ribab:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPr2LvHbKfM
Fattah Abbou is proficient on an array of percussive instruments and several string instruments, including banjo, lotar, oud, sintir, and Ribab, which he demonstrates on this video by Lynette Harris of Gilded Serpent. He began performing at the age of twelve, has recorded several CDs with his former band Imdiazen and several collaborative recordings with national and international artists. He is lead singer of AZA, and recipient of multiple grant awards for traditional arts and the preservation of indigenous culture. Considered a master musician in North African music, he has provided formal instruction privately and collectively.
Aza Recording with Photos by Dan Haller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAUFD2OM6Qc
This video combines the work of photographer Dan Haller, a specialist in the landscapes of the Sahara, with audio from a studio recording of AZA engineered by Myles Boisen.
Press
“The Aza music ensemble played Tamazight-language songs that fused indigenous Moroccan beats with modern sounds. They used the oud and qraqeb, but also the guitar, tabla, clarinet, and banjo. I don’t speak a word of Tamazight, but the music touched me and their rhythms made me want to get up and dance.” – lailalalami.com
“On their debut recording, Marikan, recorded in their new home of Santa Cruz, California, the band takes the listener on a journey through the music of Berber culture. Fattah and Mohamed provide the stirring vocals, while complex harmonies and traditional instruments of African music are married to a quartet of talented western musicians. While the band acknowledges influences from across the globe, the ultimate goal is to persevere in creating a new and unique style.” – WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO, HIGHER GROUND, Jonathan Overby
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