2015 Issues: January March April May June August September

Ancient Future Times

Please enter your email address:

September 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Critic's Choice for Vegetarian Music Banquet,
New Tracks, & Sound Healing

Rave Reviews for Ancient Future Concerts
•Bohemian Critic's Choice and Curtain Call Interview

Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden
•World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30

Sonoma Library Music Series a Success!
•Standing Ovations Lead to New Funds A.F.A.R.

Globe Sound Healing Performance
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Ferhan Qureshi (tabla)

Rave Reviews for Ancient Future Concerts

Bohemian Critic's Choice and Curtain Call Interview

Yearning for the Wind on YouTube
YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Critic's Choice: Ancient Future Unveil New Fusion

"Since forming in 1978, guitarist Matthew Montfort's ongoing world-music fusion project Ancient Future has blended Western and Eastern styles for a wholly original sound steeped in old traditions. This month, Montfort brings his latest collaboration to Sonoma County for a dinner concert at Gaia's Garden on Aug. 30. Joining Montfort is percussion master Vishal Nagar. Nagar is a virtuoso of the tabla, an instrument similar to the bongo drum, and is a sensation in his native India. With Nagar by his side, Montfort's acoustic guitar has never sounded richer than it does on last year's Yearning for the Wind EP. As Nagar taps out a nine-beat rhythm, the raga scales of ascending notes makes for moody, enchanting music." — Charlie Swanson, NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN

Matthew Montfort on Curtain Call on KRCB

Host Charles Sepos chats first with Pacifica String Quartet violist, Masumi Per Rostadt. Next, world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort talks about his musical life and about his world fusion group, Ancient Future, and their appearance August 30th at Gaia's Garden in Santa Rosa. The interview ends with a preview excerpt of a soon to be released live concert featuring Vishal Nagar (tabla), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Jason Everett (bass). Listen to the archived show on iTunes or feeds.feedburner.com/KRCBCurtainCall.

Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden

World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Michael Braden

World fusion guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar finish their series of North Bay concerts with this vegetarian dinner concert at Gaia's Garden in Santa Rosa. This concert will also feature a special guest or two, definitely including composer and santurist Mariah Parker!

Voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Sonoma County by North Bay Bohemian readers from 2011 to 2015, Gaia's Garden also hosts music and literature events. This intimate performance is part of a new exclusive dinner concert series on Sunday evenings when the restaurant is normally closed.

Sunday, August 30, 2015, 6 to 9 PM
Gaia's Garden
1899 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Adm: $30 includes vegetarian dinner.
Doors open: 5:30 PM and gourmet vegetarian buffet served through 6:45 PM
Show time: 7 PM

Concert Poster
Concert Poster (149k pdf)

Gaia's Garden features an international plant based buffet with vegan and gluten-free options. Included in the ticket price are two entrees, as well as all-you-care-to-eat salad, two soups, Lundberg's eco-farmed brown rice, a mild curry, non-GMO polenta, marinara sauce, roasted vegetables, steamed rainbow vegetables, house-made loaf bread and corn bread, house brewed uncaffeinated chai or iced hibiscus tea, and two desserts. Beers and wine, as well as organic French press coffee and a variety of teas and soft drinks are available for purchase. Free parking is available in the lot behind the building.

Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Devki

Sonoma Library Music Series a Success!

Standing Ovations Lead to New Funds A.F.A.R.

30th Anniversary CD Mystery Cover

The heartfelt standing ovations for Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar at both recent Sonoma County library concerts led to new financial supporters for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, bringing the archive to 17% of its funding goal!

The archive has more than an hour of music in it so far, and more than twenty additional minutes has been recorded, mixed, and mastered! While we are arranging for licensing Ancient Future's very unique cover of a popular song as well as new live versions of Ancient Future compositions from the band's major label days with three different rights agencies, supporters of the archive can purchase a limited edition CD of all of the tracks already in the archive, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far. Because the archive soon will not fit on a CD, the next A.F.A.R. CD offering will be The Best of A.F.A.R. So Far and won't have all of the tracks that have been added to the archive, so this is the last chance to get one of these CDs, on sale at only $15!

Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Once you become a supporter at any level, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy the CD-R.

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 quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Sale $15. Buy CD-R Now.


Globe Sound Healing Performance

Sound Garden Main Stage at Kaiser Center Tower

The Globe Sound Healing Conference aims to provide a venue for sound practitioners, the public, and the medical community to meet and form connections and alliances.

Ancient Future will be performing on the bill at the festival's Sound Garden Main Stage Concerts on the spectacular garden roof of the Kaiser Center Tower. The concert features Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar and Ferhan Qureshi on tabla.

Saturday, September 12, 2:15 to 3:45 PM
Globe Institute Sound Healing Conference and Festival
Sound Garden Main Stage Concerts
Kaiser Center Tower
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
Adm: $25 adv. until September 9. $30 door. Includes all exhibits and Sound Garden access.


Ancient Future Times

August 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Vegetarian Music Banquet and
Library Listening Concerts in the North Bay

August 2015 Northern California Issue:

Ancient Future Duet Performs North Bay Concerts
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden
•World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30

Sonoma Library Music Series
•Free Educational Teaser Concerts August 22

Ancient Future Duet Performs North Bay Concerts

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Yearning for the Wind on YouTube
YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

One of the program variations of the trailblazing world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this improvisatory duet features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Strains of flamenco, Celtic music, and Indian raga emanate from this duet performing renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking world music recordings as well as many new unreleased works!

"Matthew Montfort subtly coaxes remarkably flowing lines from his scalloped fretboard guitar. And Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar intuitively places incredibly intricate rhythmic patterns into the piece. Ancient Future has been making wonderful world fusion music for three decades. The possibilities remain infinite." — Paul Freeman, PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS

Dinner Concert at Gaia's Garden

World Music Banquet with Gourmet Vegetarian Buffet August 30

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Michael Braden

Voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Sonoma County by North Bay Bohemian readers from 2011 to 2015, Gaia's Garden also hosts music and literature events. This intimate performance is part of a new exclusive dinner concert series on Sunday evenings when the restaurant is normally closed.

Sunday, August 30, 2015, 6 to 9 PM
Gaia's Garden
1899 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Adm: $30 includes vegetarian dinner.
Doors open: 5:30 PM and gourmet vegetarian buffet served through 6:45 PM
Show time: 7 PM
Tour Press Release

Concert Poster
Concert Poster (149k pdf)

Gaia's Garden features an international plant based buffet with vegan and gluten-free options. Included in the ticket price are two entrees, as well as all-you-care-to-eat salad, two soups, Lundberg's eco-farmed brown rice, a mild curry, non-GMO polenta, marinara sauce, roasted vegetables, steamed rainbow vegetables, house-made loaf bread and corn bread, house brewed uncaffeinated chai or iced hibiscus tea, and two desserts. Beers and wine, as well as organic French press coffee and a variety of teas and soft drinks are available for purchase. Free parking is available in the lot behind the building.

Sonoma Library Music Series

Free Educational Teaser Concerts August 22

Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar by Devki

Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar perform and introduce the audience to musical concepts from world music such as Indian raga and tala in these hour long educational concerts at Sonoma County libraries.

Saturday, August 22, 11:30 AM
Central Santa Rosa Library
211 E Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Free. Info: www.sonoma.lib.ca.us
Tour Press Release

Saturday, August 22, 2:30 PM
Petaluma Regional Library
100 Fairgrounds Dr.
Petaluma, CA 94952
Free. Info: www.sonoma.lib.ca.us
Tour Press Release


Ancient Future Times

June 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Castle Concert and Library Listening

Sonoma Library Free Concert Series
•Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla)

Castle Concert
•Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla) with Special Guest Georges Lammam (Violin)

Around A.F.A.R. So Far in 70 Minutes
•Last Chance to Get This Version of A.F.A.R. on Sale on CD!

Sonoma Library Free Concert Series

Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla)

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

Watch on Ethnocloud

Saturday, June 6, 2 PM
Rohnert Park-Cotati Library
6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park Expressway / State Farm Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Saturday, June 27, 2 PM
Sonoma Valley Regional Library
755 West Napa Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

Saturday, August 22, 11:30 AM
Central Santa Rosa Library
211 E Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Saturday, August 22, 2:30 PM
Petaluma Regional Library
100 Fairgrounds Dr
Petaluma, CA 94952

Learn about Indian raga and tala and hear how they mix with passionate flamenco, energetic Celtic music, and other world music traditions in these free library programs by Ancient Future featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. The program will feature music from the ground breaking world music recordings of Ancient Future, including the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history, 2014's Yearning for the Wind. All the concerts are free to the public. For more info, visit sonomalibrary.org/events.

"Matthew Montfort subtly coaxes remarkably flowing lines from his scalloped fretboard guitar. And Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar intuitively places incredibly intricate rhythmic patterns into the piece. Ancient Future has been making wonderful world fusion music for three decades. The possibilities remain infinite." — Paul Freeman, PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS

Castle Concert

Matthew Montfort (Guitars) and Vishal Nagar (Tabla) with
Special Guest Georges Lammam (Violin)

Georges Lammam

Watch on Ethnocloud

This intimate evening of music at the historic Mazza Castle in Pacifica, California, features Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar. Special guest Georges Lammam, the Arabic violin master on Planet Passion, will sit in with the duet on a number of pieces. This will be the first time that Georges Lammam and Vishal Nagar perform together, so make sure to reserve tickets early so that you can witness the very first meeting of these master musicians!

Sunday, June 21, 4 PM
The Mazza Castle
900 Mirador Terrace
Pacifica, CA 94044
$40 per guest, includes wine and refreshments.
Limited to 45 seats.
4 PM - Gather with refreshments. Music begins promptly at 5 PM.
Info: 650-355-0272

Around A.F.A.R. So Far in 70 Minutes

Last Chance to Get This Version of A.F.A.R. on Sale on CD!

30th Anniversary CD Mystery Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has 10 tracks and 70 minutes of music in it so far, and supporters of the archive can purchase a limited edition CD of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.

Another eleven and a half minutes of music have been recorded, mixed, and mastered for the archive! We just need to finalize the licensing fee for Ancient Future's first ever and very unique cover of a popular song.

In the meantime, we have just a few CDs left of the last version of the archive that will fit on one CD. This is your last chance to get one of these CDs, and it's on sale at a reduced price of only $15! Because the archive will soon not fit on a CD, the next A.F.A.R. CD offering will be The Best of A.F.A.R. So Far and won't have all of the tracks that have been added to the archive.

Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Once you become a supporter at any level, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy the CD-R. Only a very few copies of each edition of A.F.A.R. So Far are made, as new tracks are added as money is raised.

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 quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Sale $15. Buy CD-R Now.


Ancient Future Times

May 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: West Coast Tour and Rave Reunion Review

Ancient Future Pacific Northwest Tour
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar with Special Guest Seven-String Fretless Bassist Jason Everett

Acoustic Guitar Summit
•Featuring Teja Gerken, Tim Sparks, and Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future at Himalayan Fair May 17
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Vishal Nagar (tabla) and Mariah Parker (santur)

Ancient Future Reunion Concert Wows Audience
•Enthusiastic Full House for 1st Performance by the Original Lineup This Century!

Ancient Future Pacific Northwest Concert Tour

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
With Special Guest Seven-String Fretless Bassist Jason Everett

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

Share the Tour:

Tour Poster. Tour Video. Tour Press Release.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 7:30 PM
The Royal Room

5000 Rainier Ave S
Seattle WA 98118
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door
Info: theroyalroomseattle.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 8 PM
Vashon Theatre
17723 Vashon Highway SW
Vashon, WA 98070
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door

Thursday, April 30, 2015, 7:30 PM
The Conway Muse
18444 Spruce St.
Conway WA 98238
Sponsored by the Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door
Info: conwaymuse.com

Saturday, May 2, 2015, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Moscow Renaissance Fair
Main Stage
East City Park, Third and Monroe Streets
Moscow ID 83843
Tix: Free admission
Info: moscowrenfair.org

Tour Announcement Video

Video of Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future

Please share this video about Ancient Future's Pacific Northwest Tour. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, Jason Everett

Biographies

Matthew 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. Matthew Montfort is lauded as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com, a curated "best of" site, along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, and Doc Watson.

Vishal Nagar is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. Born into a family of musicians, as a child he was fascinated by tabla and began to play at an early age. Vishal had his initial training for a very brief period with the late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of the Delhi Gharana. Along with the tabla repertoire which he received from his Ustad, he also has had intense rhythmic training from his mother, the renowned and highly respected Kathak dancer and vocalist, Urmila Nagar.

Jason Everett (aka Mister E) attended Northern Arizona University on a full scholarship for music and started playing professional gigs at sixteen years old. He was originally inspired to explore world music after hearing Quiet Fire, the title track to Ancient Future's third album, at age 16. This story in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber tells the tale of his journey from that inspiration to performing on seven-string fretless bass with Ancient Future: http://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/entertainment/300846231.html

Acoustic Guitar Summit

Featuring Teja Gerken, Tim Sparks, and Matthew Montfort

Acoustic Guitar Summit 5-7-2015 Poster

Thursday, May 7, 8 PM
Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley CA 94941
Tix: $18 advance/$22 door/$30 reserved seating.
Info: 415-383-9600

With styles ranging from world fusion to folk, jazz, and classical, Teja Gerken's Acoustic Guitar Summit is certain to be a joyous tour de force of solo and ensemble performances and a Bay Area guitar concert highlight of the year.

Ancient Future at Himalayan Fair May 17

Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar),
Vishal Nagar (tabla) and Mariah Parker (santur)

Photo of Mariah Parker, Matthew Montfort, and Vishal Nagar

Shown: Mariah Parker (santur), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Vishal Nagar (tabla)

Sunday, May 17, 2 PM
Himalayan Fair
Live Oak Park
1300 Shattuck Ave.
North Berkeley, CA 94709

Ancient Future Reunion Concert Wows Audience

Enthusiastic Full House for 1st Performance by the Original Lineup This Century!

Ancient Future Circa 1981 with Mindia Devi Klein, Benjy Wertheimer, and Matthew Montfort

"A theater for the mind that awakened the spirit and deeply reinvigorated the possibility of a world where rhythms and melodies entwine in serendipity...Its relieving force provided something more sultry, something so awakening, that the rhythm that invokes the soul and the chance to live beyond what we ever thought possible vibrated in every note in every heart. The theater burst in tune with the joy of life. Thank you Matthew, Mindia, Mariah and Benjy for an extraordinary experience!" - From Facebook post by Maria Halyna Lewytzkyj, Freelance Writer

Ancient Future Reunion Standing Ovation

Shown: Mariah Parker, Matthew Montfort, Benjy Wertheimer, Mindia Devi Klein

Ancient Future's reunion concert enjoyed a full house, and two standing ovations. Original lineup band members Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard, flamenco, and fretless guitars), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla, cajon, esraj), and Mindia Devi Klein (bamboo and silver flutes) were joined by Mariah Parker (santur), who played parts that Phil Fong had played on the original recordings.

2015 Reunion Concert Edition of 'Visions of a Peaceful Planet' with Long-Lost 1978 Video

Visions of a Peaceful Planet LP Cover Art

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2004) Audio/Video E-CD-R: $19.98 list. Stream. Buy E-CD Now.

"This reissue of Ancient Future's 1979 debut album, 'Visions of a Peaceful Planet,' contains a recently unearthed gem from Marin's musical history — a long-lost first video of the pioneering world fusion music band shot in late 1978 at College of Marin. Of surprising quality, it provides a fascinating look back at the early influence the late Ali Akbar Khan of San Rafael had on young musicians, teaching them the intricacies of North Indian classical music. In this video, shot months before Ancient Future's 1979 debut concert at the original Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, you can see how Khan's Marin County disciples took his training and exotic music and created something new and fresh of their own from it." - Paul Liberatore, Press Play, MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, 4/10/15

Short Clip from Recently Unearthed Gem

Original Ancient Future Video on Facebook

Short video teaser of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer

Ancient Future Times

April 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Ancient Future Now and Then, Ancient Future on Tour

The Ancient Future
•When Matt Met Mindy

Ancient Future Reunion Concert
•First Performance by the Original Lineup This Century!

Enhanced 'Visions of a Peaceful Planet'
•2015 Reunion Concert Edition With Long-Lost 1978 Video

Ancient Future Pacific Northwest Tour
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar with Special Guest Seven-String Fretless Bassist Jason Everett

Acoustic Guitar Summit
•Featuring Teja Gerken, Tim Sparks, and Matthew Montfort

THE ANCIENT FUTURE

When Matt Met Mindy

By Mindia Devi Klein

Picture of First Ancient Future Line Up

Ancient Future Circa 1979. Shown: Benjy Wertheimer, Phil Fong, Mindia Devi Klein, Matthew Montfort

When Matt, a serious guitarist, met Mindy, a jazz flutist, it was a very windy sunny day. Both had come to Muir Beach, a famous (back-in-the-day) Marin County nude beach, to meet up with a mutual friend (a friend whose father coincidentally happened to be Sam Keen, an icon of the very influential human potential movement of the times). Of course this was before the Ancient Future (and) before Mindy had become Mindia. Read the full story.

Mindia Devi Klein

Mindia Devi Klein is a musician-composer-educator and writer who, like Matthew Montfort, often prefers to refer to herself in the third person when writing about the music she creates.

Ancient Future Reunion Concert

First Performance by the Original Lineup This Century!

Ancient Future Circa 1981 with Mindia Devi Klein, Benjy Wertheimer, and Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future Circa 1981. Shown: Mindia Devi Klein, Benjy Wertheimer, Matthew Montfort

Sunday, April 19, 7:30 PM
Throckmorton Theatre

142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley CA 94941
Doors open at 7 PM
Tix: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating
Info: 415-383-9600
Press Release
. Poster.pdf.

Enhanced 'Visions of a Peaceful Planet'

2015 Reunion Concert Edition With Long-Lost 1978 Video

Visions of a Peaceful Planet LP Cover Art

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2004) Audio/Video E-CD-R: $19.98 list. Stream. Buy E-CD Now.

Marin IJ Press Play: Ancient Future's 'Peaceful Planet' reissue contains a long-lost video

"This reissue of Ancient Future's 1979 debut album, "Visions of a Peaceful Planet," contains a recently unearthed gem from Marin's musical history — a long-lost first video of the pioneering world fusion music band shot in late 1978 at College of Marin.

"The multi-camera shoot features then young Ali Akbar College students Matthew Montfort, guitar; Mindia Devi Klein, flutes; Benjy Wertheimer, tabla; Phil Fong, sarod; Yusef Ali, rebab, harp, percussion; and Kathak dancer Shoshona Frisch, a student of Chitresh Das, performing a couple of original compositions.

"Snippets of this buried treasure have been shown occasionally on Marin community television. But no one had been able to find the master. That is until Jonah Nickolds and Mariposa de Los Angeles of Marin Artists International heard that members of the original Ancient Future will be reuniting for a 7:30 p.m. concert on April 19 at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. That inspired them to dig deeper into the hard drives at the Community Media Center of Marin.

"Their archeological effort paid off with the discovery of this rare footage. Of surprising quality, it provides a fascinating look back at the early influence the late Ali Akbar Khan of San Rafael had on young musicians, teaching them the intricacies of North Indian classical music.

"In this video, shot months before Ancient Future's 1979 debut concert at the original Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, you can see how Khan's Marin County disciples took his training and exotic music and created something new and fresh of their own from it. Today, Ancient Future bills itself as the first and longest running band dedicated exclusively to world fusion." - Paul Liberatore, Press Play, MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, 4/10/15

Short Clip from Recently Unearthed Gem

Original Ancient Future Video on Facebook

Please share this short video teaser of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer

Ancient Future Pacific Northwest Concert Tour

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
With Special Guest Seven-String Fretless Bassist Jason Everett

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

Tour Press Release. Tour Poster.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 7:30 PM
The Royal Room

5000 Rainier Ave S
Seattle WA 98118
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door
Info: theroyalroomseattle.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 8 PM
Vashon Theatre
17723 Vashon Highway SW
Vashon, WA 98070
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door

Thursday, April 30, 2015, 7:30 PM
The Conway Muse
18444 Spruce St.
Conway WA 98238
Sponsored by the Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door
Info: conwaymuse.com

Saturday, May 2, 2015, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Moscow Renaissance Fair
Main Stage
East City Park, Third and Monroe Streets
Moscow ID 83843
Tix: Free admission
Info: moscowrenfair.org

Tour Announcement Video

Video of Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future

Please share this video about Ancient Future's Pacific Northwest Tour. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, Jason Everett

Acoustic Guitar Summit

Featuring Teja Gerken, Tim Sparks, and Matthew Montfort

Thursday, May 7, 8 PM
Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley CA 94941
Tix: $18 advance/$22 door/$30 reserved seating.
Info: 415-383-9600

With styles ranging from world fusion to folk, jazz, and classical, Teja Gerken's Acoustic Guitar Summit is certain to be a joyous tour de force of solo and ensemble performances and a Bay Area guitar concert highlight of the year.

 


Ancient Future Times

March 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Archeological Discovery of First Ancient Future Video, Reunion Concerts, and Tour

Archaeological Discovery
•First Video Recording of Ancient Future Rescued from Archival Oblivion

Original Ancient Future Reunion Concert
•Featuring Mindia Devi Klein (flutes), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla), and Matthew Montfort (guitars) plus Special Guests

Air Craft Reunion Concerts
•Featuring Doug McKeehan (keys) and Bruce Bowers (violin)

Ancient Future Pacific Northwest Tour
•Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar with Special Guest Seven-String Fretless Bassist Jason Everett

Acoustic Guitar Summit
•Featuring Teja Gerken, Tim Sparks, and Matthew Montfort

A.F.A.R. So Far
•Two New Tracks Ready for the The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Archaeological Discovery

First Video Recording of Ancient Future Rescued from Archival Oblivion

Original Ancient Future Video on Facebook

Please share this video of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer

This video is an amazing archaeological find: the very first video of Ancient Future, recorded in late 1978, months before Ancient Future's first concert! Thanks to Jonah and Mariposa at Marin Artists International who discovered and rescued parts of Ancient Future's first video recording session from archival oblivion. This short teaser from 'Eternal Embrace' by Phil Fong from Visions of a Peaceful Planet is the first release from this archaeological expedition. Performances of two complete pieces have been recovered, and will be released after some audio restoration work is completed.

Original Ancient Future Reunion Concert

Featuring Mindia Devi Klein (flutes), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla), and
Matthew Montfort (guitars) plus Special Guests

Ancient Future Circa 1981 with Mindia Devi Klein, Benjy Wertheimer, and Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future Circa 1981. Shown: Mindia Devi Klein, Benjy Wertheimer, Matthew Montfort

Sunday, April 19, 7:30 PM
Throckmorton Theatre

142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Doors open at 7 PM
Tix: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating.
Info: 415-383-9600
Press Release

Concert Poster
Poster (920k .pdf)

On Sunday, April 19, the original lineup of the pioneering world fusion music group Ancient Future will perform 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. Ancient Future's first concert took place to a packed house on February 11, 1979, at the original Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, California, then a vegetarian cafe and music club co-op that was the center of a vibrant local music scene. This lineup of Ancient Future made two recordings that are now considered world fusion classics: Visions of a Peaceful Planet and Natural Rhythms.

Air Craft Reunion Concerts

Featuring Doug McKeehan (keys) and Bruce Bowers (violin)

Cover of So Near So Far by Air Craft

Friday, March 27, 8 PM
Piedmont Piano Company
1728 San Pablo Ave
Oakland CA 94612
Tix: $20 reserved/door.

Saturday, March 28, 8 PM
MACLA Black Box Theate
r
510 South First Street
San Jose CA 95113
Tix: $20 reserved/door.

When Matthew Montfort was looking for musicians to reform Ancient Future after the band signed with Narada Records, he tapped two principals of the band Air Craft, Doug McKeehan and Bruce Bowers. They performed together on Ancient Future's Quiet Fire and Dreamchaser releases. But with Ancient Future touring and recording, this effectively put their contemporary instrumental band on hold. But now, decades later, Air Craft celebrates the upcoming CD re-issue of their 1985 vinyl LP, So Near, So Far, on Ancient-Future.Com Records. These concerts bring together the original band performing both their classic and new material. Joining Doug and Bruce will be Santana alumnus Myron Dove on bass and veteran journeyman Jack Dorsey on drums.

Ancient Future Pacific Northwest Concert Tour

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
With Special Guest Seven-String Fretless Bassist Jason Everett

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 7:30 PM
The Royal Room

5000 Rainier Ave S
Seattle WA 98118
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door
Info: theroyalroomseattle.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 8 PM
Vashon Theatre
17723 Vashon Highway SW
Vashon WA 98070
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door

Thursday, April 30, 2015, 7:30 PM
The Conway Muse
18444 Spruce St.
Conway WA 98238
Sponsored by the Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts
Tix: $15 adv/$18 door
Info: conwaymuse.com

Saturday, May 2, 2015, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Moscow Renaissance Fair
Main Stage
East City Park, Third and Monroe Streets
Moscow ID 83843
Tix: Free admission
Info: Visit moscowrenfair.org

Concert Poster
Tour Poster (145k .pdf)

This is the first Ancient Future tour of the Pacific Northwest in a decade. Strains of passionate flamenco and ethereal Indian raga emanate from this program featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. For a portion of the show, special guest and Seattle area fav Jason Everett (aka Mister E) will accompany them on seven-string fretless bass. The program will feature music from the ground breaking world music recordings of Ancient Future, including the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history, 2014's Yearning for the Wind.

"Matthew Montfort subtly coaxes remarkably flowing lines from his scalloped fretboard guitar. And Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar intuitively places incredibly intricate rhythmic patterns into the piece. Ancient Future has been making wonderful world fusion music for three decades. The possibilities remain infinite." — Paul Freeman, PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS

Tour Announcement Video

Video of Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future

Please share this video about Ancient Future's Pacific Northwest Tour. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, Jason Everett

Acoustic Guitar Summit

Featuring Teja Gerken, Tim Sparks, and Matthew Montfort

Thursday, May 7, 8 PM
Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Tix: $18 advance/$22 door/$30 reserved seating.
Info: 415-383-9600

With styles ranging from world fusion to folk, jazz, and classical, Teja Gerken's Acoustic Guitar Summit is certain to be a joyous tour de force of solo and ensemble performances and a Bay Area guitar concert highlight of the year.

A.F.A.R. So Far

Two New Tracks Ready for the The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

30th Anniversary CD Mystery Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has 10 tracks and 70 minutes of music in it so far, and supporters of the archive can now purchase a limited edition CD of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.

We are proud to announce that another eleven and a half minutes of music have been recorded, mixed, and mastered for the archive! We just need to raise another few hundred to pay an initial licensing fee for Ancient Future's first ever and very unique cover of a popular song and to register this version of the archive with the US Copyright Office. So, sign up to become a supporter and help add these two new recordings to the archive. Plus, you'll get all 70 minutes of music that are in the archive right now immediately!

Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Once you become a supporter at any level, you you will be eligible to buy a CD-R. Only a very few copies of each edition of A.F.A.R. So Far are made, as new tracks are added as money is raised.

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 quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Buy CD-R Now.


Ancient Future Times

January 2015 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Auspicious New Year's News and Farm Concert

In Concert
•Concerts at the Farm, Petaluma

Auspicious New Year's News
•New Release Roars on Spotify, AcousticMusic.Com's Top 30 of 2014, Rave Review, Top 100 World Beat

A.F.A.R. So Far
•The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings So Far on Limited Edition CD

In Concert

Ayni Projects Presents Concerts at the Farm

Ian Dogole, Mariah Parker, and Matthew Montfort

With Ian Dogole, Mariah Parker, and Matthew Montfort

A Magic Carpet Ride Across the Great Musical Divide

Saturday, January 17, 2015, 8 PM
Concerts at the Farm
Private Location*
Petaluma, CA
*Concert location emailed upon completion of online purchase or phone reservation.
Tickets/Reservations: $25.
Doors open: 7:00 PM (for hors d'oeuvres, wine and something sweet before the concert).
Info: ian@iandogole.com

Since the late 70's, percussionist Ian Dogole and guitarist Matthew Montfort have been creating multicultural music that knows no boundaries. As the leader of a variety of ensembles, Dogole has integrated the music of many cultures into a highly adventurous, Jazz-based melting pot while Montfort, the architect behind the pioneering world fusion ensemble Ancient Future (including Ian Dogole on five
recordings), has assimilated elements of many indigenous music traditions, including those of Indonesia, India and the Middle East, into a captivating brew of cross-cultural delights. Pianist/santurist/composer Mariah Parker has crafted her own delicious blend of "world jazz" as leader of her Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, which just happens to include Dogole and Montfort. Her compositions are captivating,
uplifting and complex.

Auspicious New Year's News

Yearning for the Wind Cover

In an auspicious start to the new year, Yearning for the Wind, Ancient Future's latest release featuring Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar, roared past 1000 listens on Spotify into the number two track spot for Ancient Future on New Year's Day!

Ancient Future – Yearning for the Wind (Listen on Spotify)

And then there was more auspicious New Year's news from the AcousticMusic.Com Top 30 of 2014:

"Ancient Future: Yearning for the Wind - this is the only single I'll put on a Best Of ever; Matt Montfort & Co. have always been cream of the crop" — Mark S. Tucker, AcousticMusic.Com

And a rave review of Yearning for the Wind in the San Jose Mercury News!

"This is the first audio/video release for Ancient Future. You might have to experience the enhanced CD single multiple times before fully appreciating the visual, because the music itself will make you close your eyes, sigh and travel cosmically. Based on an Indian raga, the wistful composition wends its way along a peaceful path. Matthew Montfort subtly coaxes remarkably flowing lines from his scalloped fretboard guitar. And Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar intuitively places incredibly intricate rhythmic patterns into the piece. Ancient Future has been making wonderful world fusion music for three decades. The possibilities remain infinite." — By Paul Freeman, The Daily News

Finally, almost 25 years after its original 1990 release, Ancient Future's fifth release, World Without Walls, is still in the Top 100 World Beat Albums on iTunes. The release features Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain.

This is all wonderful news, but with the state of the music business these days, none of these developments will generate funds to pay for the next Ancient Future recording, so do check out the next article in this newsletter!

A.F.A.R. So Far

30th Anniversary CD Mystery Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings So Far on Limited Edition CD

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fan funded recording project, has 10 tracks and 70 minutes of music in it so far, and supporters of the archive can now purchase a limited edition CD of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.

Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15, and once you do, you will be eligible to purchase a very limited edition A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. Once you become a supporter at any level, you can buy a CD. A subscription and A. F. A. R. So Far CD-R makes a wonderful and rare holiday gift! Only a very few copies of each edition of A.F.A.R. So Far are made, as new tracks are added as money is raised.

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 quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation. A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. $20 Additional. Buy CD-R Now.