End of the Beginning 2012

End of the Beginning 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page



In this issue:
End of the Beginning
•Celebrate the 'Time of No-Time' with the Music of Ancient Future!
East of the Sun Spied A.F.A.R.
•First Studio Track Added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings!
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert
•Live Concert Recording Session and Birthday Celebration at the Freight, Berkeley, 1/20/2013
Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort
•Fun Learning for All Styles/Ages/Levels with One of the World's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

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End of the Beginning of the Ancient Future

World Without Walls by Ancient Future. (Capitol/Sona Gaia 163). Signed Reconditioned CD - $24.98: Buy Link. audio.

End of the Beginning (Matthew Montfort. 5:15). audio. "In 1990, I wrote this piece to capture a feeling of something ending to create hope for a new beginning in which the environment would be thought of as the giver of all life that must be protected rather than something simply to be exploited. It suddenly seems very appropriate for this moment in time." - Matthew Montfort

Celebrate the 'Time of No-Time' with the Music of 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. Legend has it that the first of seven Mayan prophecies refers to the last 20 years of this cycle (1992-2012) as the 'The Time of No-Time.' What more appropriate way to celebrate and shape the new era to follow than with the music of Ancient Future?

With that in mind, Ancient Future announces the 'End of the Beginning' Sale. From now through December 21, a complimentary promo copy of World Without Walls by Ancient Future featuring the song 'End of the Beginning' will be sent to anyone who spends $51.25 or more on music from the Ancient-Future.Com store. Read more.

Plus, the latest four Ancient-Future.Com releases are on sale. 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 each!

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East of the Sun Spied A.F.A.R.

First Studio Track Added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings!

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.


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 seven expertly mixed and mastered live tracks totaling 50 minutes and 42 seconds in the archive available to subscribers immediately! And we've just completed the very first studio track for the archive!

'East of the Sun' is a very poignant piece with an Afro 5/8 groove and a haunting melody. The basic tracks for this new composition by Matthew Montfort were recorded on April 1, 2011. The trio version featuring original Ancient Future tabla player Benjy Wertheimer, Mariah Parker on santur, and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar has just been painstakenly mixed and mastered for the archive!

An alternate version was also recorded, and is now ready for overdubs by Paul McCandless on oboe and Kash Killion on bolong (a West African three string instrument with a calabash base). The basic tracks for two other tunes have also been recorded, including one featuring Vietnamese dan bau (a one string instrument with an indigenous version of a whammy bar) master Bui Huu Nhut. These have now been edited and are ready for overdubs as soon as the funds have been raised. To date, we've raised $2630 towards our goal of $25,000 for the project, and we are now just a few thousand dollars away from adding two more brand new studio tracks to the archive! Please sign up for A.F.A.R. now and help support the creation of this music.

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Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert

Featuring Mariah Parker (piano, santur), Kash Killion (bass, cello, bolong), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Paul McCandless (winds), Brian Rice (Latin percussion), and Ian Dogole (global percussion)

Live Concert Recording Session and Birthday Celebration!

Sunday, January 20, 2013, 8:00 pm
Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Tix: $20.50 adv. at Freight Box Office and Ticketweb.com, $22.50 door (doors open at 7:00 pm)
Info: (510) 644-2020, info@freightandsalvage.org

Mariah Parker's multi-faceted approach to music blends the driving rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz, the uplifting spirit of Eastern music, and the soul of flamenco. On the evening of January 20, 2013, Mariah and her world-class Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble collaborate for a live CD recording session at the Freight & Salvage, Berkeley's premier music performance space. That evening, the band will present enchanting new pieces Mariah composed for a live album following up on Sangria, her critically acclaimed debut release on Ancient-Future.Com Records. Plus, January 20 is Mariah's birthday, so join us in the celebration of her special day and the joy of musical creation in the moment.

"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)

“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.” - LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

"Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble packed Yoshi's in Jack London Square, and the incredible live performance had the audience screaming for more of the Indo-Latin jazz rhythms filling the celebrated jazz club." - BERKELEY DAILY PLANET


Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert

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Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Fun Learning for All Styles/Ages/Levels with One of the World's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

60 Minute Skype Lesson: Sale -$60. Buy Link. Gift Certificate for Four 30 Minute Private Lessons (San Rafael, California): Sale - $140. Buy Link.

Recently recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists, Matthew Montfort teaches all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, and mandolin) along with music theory and repertoire for all instruments. He helps students reach their own personal goals in music, whatever they may be, through a lesson plan customized to the student's needs.
He is now accepting a limited number of students at his studio in Marin County, California, and will travel to student's homes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gift certificates for private lessons in Marin are available, and for online lessons worldwide via Skype.

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. Private lessons and online Skype tutorials covering this material are available as well. And for a limited time, an additional discount is automatically offered on a Skype tutorial with a book purchase through Ancient-Future.Com!

To contact Matthew Montfort about lessons, e-mail him at info@ancient-future.com or call 415-459-1892.

Oct 2012: Indo Latin Jazz Party and Music Education Fun

Oct 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page

In this issue:
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert
•142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley, CA, October 28, 7 PM
Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort
•Fun Lessons for All Styles/Ages/Levels with One of the World's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

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Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert

142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley, CA, October 28, 7 PM

Featuring Mariah Parker (composer, piano, santur), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Paul McCandless (woodwinds, horns), Ian Dogole (global percussion), Brian Rice (Latin percussion), Kash Killion (bass, cello, bolong), and special guest Dana Rath (mandolin)
Sunday, October 28, 7 PM
142 Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA.
Tickets: $20 general advance, $25 general day of performance, $30 reserved seating.
Info: (415) 383-9600

Video of Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble
“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.”
— LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE
“Spicy tantalizing flamenco melodies cross pollinate with East Indian rhythms.” — MAXIMUM INK MUSIC MAGAZINE
“Your concert was wonderful last night! The whole band was impressive and unified, your beautiful music obviously inspiring the expressiveness of each contributor. Your work says a lot about your artistry, creative perspective, genuine personality, and soul.” — KARLTON HESTER (Director of Jazz Studies at UCSC)
“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)

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Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Video of Montfort's 'Purple Raga' lesson from Guitar Player Magazine

Fun Lessons for All Styles/Ages/Levels with One of the World's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

Recently recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists, Matthew Montfort teaches all styles of guitar along with music theory and repertoire for all instruments. He helps students reach their own personal goals in music, whatever they may be, through a lesson plan customized to the student's needs. He offers private guitar lessons, music tutorials, and classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and online via Skype.

• Free Introductory Half Hour Lesson (Limited Time Offer in San Rafael, Marin, California)
• Interactive Lessons Via Skype
• 37 Years Teaching
• Patient
• Theory for All Instruments
• Technique
• Improvisation for All Instruments
• Rhythm Classes for All Instruments
• Reading Music
• All Levels
• Children Age 5 Up
• Rock
• Jazz
• Folk
• Classical Guitar
• Flamenco Guitar
• Bass Guitar
• Ukulele
• World Music
• Student Recitals

Montfort was interviewed in the December 2009 Les Paul issue of GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE about his pioneering guitar work and his application of the rules of Indian raga to the music of Jimi Hendrix as exemplified by 'Purple Raga' from his debut solo recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. He is also known for his work on the Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, flamenco guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar, sitar, charango, mandolin, gamelan, and as leader of the popular world music group Ancient Future. He has performed worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai, and on national radio and TV shows such as the Echoes Living Room Concerts on Public Radio International and the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC.
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. Workshops, private lessons, and online Skype tutorials covering this material are available as well. For a limited time, a discount is offered on a Skype tutorial with a book purchase through Ancient-Future.Com!

He is now accepting a limited number of students in Central Marin (Kentfield, Corte Madera, San Rafael, San Anselmo, etc.), and will travel to student's homes in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also teaches private online lessons worldwide via Skype and other conferencing services, or through audio and video file exchange.

To contact Matthew Montfort about lessons, e-mail him at info@ancient-future.com or call 415-459-1892.

Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort

Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com EP AF-2012. iTunes. >audio (Excerpt)
Matthew Montfort was added to the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists List partly in response to the release of his new EP. When Montfort was working on his 2009 debut solo recording for scalloped fretboard guitar, he recorded a number of spontaneously improvised serenades. Were it not for some serendipitous sequencing coupled with the allure of alliteration, it's likely that 'Sympathetic Serenade' would have been released as the eighth improvisation on what became Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. Instead, this evocative Spanish serenade/raga hybrid receives a mini EP treatment on Matthew Montfort's Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. The nearly 11 minute long track is now available as a download complete with nine pages of digital liner notes at digital retailers such as iTunes, and as a signed CD-R exclusively at Ancient-Future.Com.

This Friday at the Frick in Pittsburgh, PA; Montfort Makes World's 100 Greatest Guitarists; Mead Memorial Concert

Sept 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page

In this issue:

Ancient Future World Without Walls Lineup Reunion Concert
•The Frick Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, Sept 7, 7 PM

Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort Makes 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists List
•DigitalDreamDoor.com's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

Randy Mead Memorial Concert
•A Benefit for the Mead Family

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Ancient Future World Without Walls Lineup Reunion Concert

First Friday's at the Frick, Pittsburgh, PA, Sept 7

Ancient Future circa 1990. Photo by Irene Young.

Friday, Sept 7, 7 PM
Fridays at the Frick
Frick Art & Historical Center
The Great Lawn
7227 Reynolds Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Suggested donation: $5; children free
Info: email info@TheFrickPittsburgh.org or call 412-371-0600

Video of 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert

On Sept 7, 2012, the lineup of Ancient Future that composed the music on the band's influential World Without Walls recording will reunite to perform for the first time after the reissue of their classic 1990 record on Capital Records last year. The reunion show at the Frick features Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on violin, Doug McKeehan on keyboards, and Jim Santi Owen on percussion. This rare Northeast concert is Ancient Future's debut performance in Pittsburgh.

Ancient Future Receives Best World Music Album of the Year Nomination from ZoneMusicReporter

World Without Walls by Ancient Future (Capitol/Sona Gaia 163). iTunes. >audio.

World Without Walls by Ancient Future with special guest Zakir Hussain was nominated by broadcasters worldwide in February 2012 as ZoneMusicReporter's Best World Album of 2011. The record debuted at #39 on the October 2011 ZMR Airplay Chart, which covers many different radio genres, from Ambient to Folk, Jazz, and World, and at #34 on the CMJ New World Chart in November 2011. 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.

Tabla master Zakir Hussain

"Bloody hell, get me some Alzheimer's drugs, will you? Ancient Future was on Narada's Sona Gaia subsidiary with a world beat album that was ahead of it's time and they were hanging out with Zappa's world beat buddies and I don't remember any of it? Each track has a different taste and a different texture making this a world beat travelogue that gleefully genre bends whatever the crew felt like with a merger of hillbilly and Indian music, the sound of an African traffic jam and more stuff that tastes good without the over riding vibe of being good for you. And it's not empty calories either. No wonder the group labored so long and so hard to get Capitol to reissue this, it's time. More bloody hell, new copies of this are going for over $200 on Amazon! How did I miss this? This is the world beat/jazz/pop album for people that shy away from things called world beat and jazz. Fun stuff throughout that still sounds fresh and in the moment today." – Chris Spector, Midwest Record (July 2011)

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Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort Makes 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists List

DigitalDreamDoor's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

DigitalDreamDoor.com is a website featuring Greatest 100 Music, Movie, and Book lists. On August 12, 2012, scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort was added to their 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list. Inclusion on this list of the world's best acoustic guitarists is based on originality, innovation, technique, and influence on other musicians. The list is intended for musicians whose primary instrument is the acoustic guitar, but not including the pioneers of jazz, classical, or flamenco, as DigitalDreamDoor maintains separate lists for those genres. Matthew Montfort joins 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 in receiving this honor.

Biography

Video of 'Soul Serenade' from Matthew Montfort's Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar

As leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort has devoted himself to the scalloped fretboard guitar since 1978. 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. His scalloped fretboard work was featured in 2003 and 2005 at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain, which showcases top guitarists from all over the world. He toured India in 2006 and 2008, performing at the prestigious Festival of India in Mumbai with sitar master Pandit Habib Khan and tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. He has performed live on national shows such as the Echoes Living Room Concerts on PRI, and the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. He holds a B.A. in World Music and Composition and an M.A. in Arts and Media Technology from Antioch University. For his M.A. thesis, 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 teaches all styles of guitar along with music theory and repertoire for all instruments. He offers private lessons, music tutorials, and group classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and online via Skype, and is available to teach master classes and workshops worldwide.

Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records EP AF-2012)

Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com EP AF-2012. iTunes. >audio (Excerpt)

Matthew Montfort was added to the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists List partly in response to the release of his new EP. When Montfort was working on his 2009 debut solo recording for scalloped fretboard guitar, he recorded a number of spontaneously improvised serenades. Were it not for some serendipitous sequencing coupled with the allure of alliteration, it's likely that 'Sympathetic Serenade' would have been released as the eighth improvisation on what became Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. Instead, this evocative Spanish serenade/raga hybrid receives a mini EP treatment on Matthew Montfort's Sympathetic Serenade for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar. The nearly 11 minute long track is now available as a download complete with nine pages of digital liner notes at digital retailers such as iTunes, and as a signed CD-R exclusively at Ancient-Future.Com.

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Randy Mead Memorial Concert

A Benefit for the Mead Family

Ancient Future Circa 1982. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Benjy Wertheimer, Randy Mead, and Rick Henderson

Sunday, Sept. 23, 2 PM
Randy Mead Memorial Concert
Open Secret
923 C St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Suggested Donation: $20
Info: 415-457-4191

On August 5, Randy Mead, who was a member of Ancient Future from 1982 until 1986, passed away unexpectedly at his home in rural Canada. Rick Henderson, who was also a member of Ancient Future in the early 80's, has put together a benefit memorial concert for the Mead family. Performing will by Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Pranesh Khan (tabla), Rick Henderson (sarod, vocal, harmonium), and Yehudit (violin).

Randy Mead played wind instruments on Ancient Future's Quiet Fire record. His song, 'Hillside View,' was a favorite from the release among radio programmers and fans. Besides performing with Ancient Future, Randy was known from his musical contributions on records by multi-instrumentalist Benjy Wertheimer and harpist David Michael. He was always a major part of the musical scene wherever he lived, and will be missed by many.

March 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page

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In this issue:

A Thank You from Matthew Montfort
•It's Been Quite a Ride

Ancient Future Nominated for Two World Music Awards
•Your Vote for Ancient Future Makes a Difference

Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds: A Benefit Concert for Matthew Montfort
•Featuring Alex de Grassi, Paul McCandless, Jon Mendle, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Teja Gerken, and Ronnie Ray Padilla

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A Thank You from Matthew Montfort

It's been quite a ride for me as of late. As you may have heard, I've had a wrist injury and haven't been able to perform for many months now. Playing music is the reason I'm here on earth, so this is a very difficult thing for me in addition to the fact that it is how I pay my bills and therefore a very scary situation. In the midst of it all I'm thankful and deeply honored that so many people are coming to my aid in unexpected and beautiful ways. Many of my early musical heroes and guitar buddies have put together an amazing benefit concert on my behalf. Mariah Parker has organized a whole community of people around the benefit, even setting up a silent auction where people have generously donated amazing goods and services. People have made donations towards my recovery through the ancient-future.com website and in person. For all this I'm very grateful.

Then on my birthday I received the unexpected news that Ancient Future's World Without Walls release was nominated as Best World Music Album of the Year by broadcasters worldwide. And then just yesterday, I received news that Ancient Future is in the finals for the World Music Trailblazer Award in the About.com Reader's Choice Awards. So while I haven't been able to express myself fully in the way in which I'm accustomed, which is to hide behind my guitar and speak through the music, I have been receiving wonderful support from communities I really didn't quite know were surrounding me.

Thanks so much to everyone, it is deeply appreciated.

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Ancient Future Nominated for Two World Music Awards

Ancient Future Makes Finals in About.com World Music Reader's Choice Awards
Your Vote for Ancient Future Makes a Difference

Finally there is an award that seems tailor-made for Ancient Future: the About.com World Music Trailblazer Award!

To quote About.com, "This award is the second of our two artist's awards, intended for a band or artist who is breaking new territory in the realm of world music. That could mean an artist combining ancient instruments with modern recording techniques, a band who fuses multiple genres of ethnic music into something completely new, a pair of artists who've made a cross-cultural CD together, or any number of other things."

Ancient Future has been doing all of these things for over three decades! The band made the finals, and now you can vote for Ancient Future at:

http://worldmusic.about.com/b/2012/02/21/2012-about-com-world-music-readers-choice-awards-vote-now.htm

You can vote once daily in each category, so vote early and vote often! Voting closes March 21.

'World Without Walls' by Ancient Future Receives Best World Music Album of the Year Nomination from ZoneMusicReporter

World Without Walls by Ancient Future with special guest Zakir Hussain was nominated by broadcasters worldwide as ZoneMusicReporter's Best World Album of 2011. The record debuted at #39 on the October 2011 ZMR Airplay Chart, which covers many different radio genres, from Ambient to Folk, Jazz, and World, and at #34 on the CMJ New World Chart in November 2011. Final award winners will be announced on March 11th, 2012.

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 and other venues. To celebrate the reunion, Capitol/EMI Records released the first ever digital version of Ancient Future's classic 1990 World Without Walls recording. Downloads are now available at all major digital retailers (iTunes, etc.). For those who prefer CDs, a limited number of rare collectible original 1990 edition copies signed by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort are on sale exclusively at Ancient-Future.Com.

'Turkish Taffy' Recorded at Yoshi's, San Francisco, 6/7/11

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Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds: A Benefit Concert for Matthew Montfort

Financially Supporting his Recovery from a Wrist Injury

Featuring Acoustic Guitar Icon Alex de Grassi, Reed Virtuoso Paul McCandless, Classical Guitar Virtuoso Jon Mendle, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, and an Acoustic Guitar Round-Robin with Teja Gerken and Ronnie Ray Padilla

Wednesday, February 29, 7:30 PM
142 Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Tix: $20 general, $30 reserved seating.
Info: 415-383-9600

Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds Benefit Concert Program

'Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds' is a multi-artist bill featuring sets by acoustic guitar icon Alex de Grassi; Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Grammy-winning reed player Paul McCandless, Ancient Future percussionist Ian Dogole, and bassist Fred Randolph; classical guitarist Jon Mendle, who has performed with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble; and an acoustic guitar round-robin with Teja Gerken and Ronnie Ray Padilla. There will be some collaborations between the performers as well. For example, Paul McCandless will be adding his resonant reeds in concert with the sympathetic strings of some of the other artists, such as Alex de Grassi, with whom he has a history of performing.

The concert is a benefit for guitarist Matthew Montfort of the world fusion music band Ancient Future. Funds go to support his recovery from a wrist injury that resulted in the cancellation of many months of performances. Wrist injury recovery donations are also accepted online at ancient-future.com where supporters can help by purchasing CDs and books, signing up for music lessons in person or via Skype, or becoming a subscriber to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which is a crowd funded project to produce the next Ancient Future release. There will be a silent auction at the event as well.

Ancient Future Times Feb 2012: Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds Benefit with Alex de Grassi, Paul McCandless, & Many More!

February 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page

In this issue:

RSI Injury Progress Report from Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort
•How You Can Help with the Recovery Process

Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds: A Benefit Concert for Matthew Montfort
•Featuring Acoustic Guitar Icon Alex de Grassi, Reed Virtuoso Paul McCandless, Classical Guitar Virtuoso Jon Mendle, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, and an Acoustic Guitar Round-Robin with Teja Gerken and Ronnie Ray Padilla

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RSI Injury Progress Report from Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort

Greetings to everyone at the beginning of this 34th year in Ancient Future's journey in world music!

I recently received quite a few e-mails from people asking how I'm doing. As you may have heard, I have repetitive strain injuries in my right shoulder and left wrist that have caused the cancellation of over six months of concerts.

First, I'm very grateful to the following people who have graciously donated to help cover some of my living expenses and medical costs: Inoshi Elmer, Az Samad (Malaysian guitarist), Marguerite Rigoglioso, Marcia Sloane (cellist on Quiet Fire by Ancient Future), Ralph Kaywin, Arnie Hobbs. Greg Mann, Alan Deikman, Dallas Smith (winds with Mazer and Smith and the Indian jazz band Mynta), Teed Rockwell (performer of Indian music on Chapman Stick), Mitchell Landy, Susan Gawarecki, Warren Kahn (recording engineer for Asian Fusion by Ancient Future and Sangria by Mariah Parker), Stephen Brown, Toby (Tova) Halpern, Mark Forman, Shenshen Zhang (Chinese pipa performer). To each of you, as well as those who expressed concern but were unable to donate, my deepest appreciation. It's heartwarming that such a large number of my fellow musicians have donated.

And thanks to the support of Dr. Behzad and Dr. Patty Weiss (who is also one of Ancient Future's violinists), I've been able to upgrade my computer so that it can run Dragon Dictate, a voice control software system. This means that I'm now able to start working on booking gigs, albeit at a much slower pace. I wasn't able to send out all of the fall booking e-mails, so this means that it will be this summer at the earliest before I'm able to book a normal concert schedule. On the positive side, by then I should be fully healed and able to perform without risking re-injury.

I'm pleased to report that my injuries are slowly healing, and although my progress is not a straight line by any means, I do expect to fully recover. The challenge now is to raise money for several months more living expenses while I'm continuing to heal.

I'm happy to announce there are several ways to help. On leap year day, Wednesday, February 29, a number of extremely talented musicians have volunteered to do a benefit concert (see Sympathetic Strings and Resonant Reeds below) on my behalf at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, California. The bill features acoustic guitar icon Alex de Grassi; Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with woodwind virtuoso Paul McCandless, percussionist Ian Dogole, and bassist Fred Randolph; classical guitarist extraordinaire Jon Mendle; and an acoustic guitar round-robin with Teja Gerken and Ronnie Ray Padilla.

Music lovers in the San Francisco Bay Area have a wonderful opportunity to hear all of these amazing musicians on one bill while helping provide support during this time of need. You can also help by donating goods or services to a silent auction that will be held at the event. For example, Muffin Mania has offered a gift certificate towards the cause, and Jane Bell has offered one of her flower essence kits. Please get in touch if you have any goods or services to donate for the silent auction.

If you can't make it, you can help with direct donations, by purchasing CDs and books through ancient-future.com, by signing up for music lessons with me in person or via Skype, or by becoming a subscriber to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which is a crowd funded project to produce the next Ancient Future release. The project already has almost an hour of meticulously mixed live recordings available exclusively to supporters, and basic tracks for three studio recordings are awaiting funding for mixing and mastering so that they too can be added to the archive.

I'm feeling optimistic and I thank everyone for their support and especially for your good wishes for my fast healing.

Sincerely,

Matthew Montfort
info@ancient-future.com

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Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds: A Benefit Concert for Matthew Montfort

Financially Supporting his Recovery from a Wrist Injury

Featuring Acoustic Guitar Icon Alex de Grassi, Reed Virtuoso Paul McCandless, Classical Guitar Virtuoso Jon Mendle, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, and an Acoustic Guitar Round-Robin with Teja Gerken and Ronnie Ray Padilla

Wednesday, February 29, 7:30 PM
142 Throckmorton Theatre
142 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Tix: $20 general, $30 reserved seating.
Info: 415-383-9600

Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds Benefit Concert Program

'Sympathetic Strings & Resonant Reeds' is a multi-artist bill featuring sets by acoustic guitar icon Alex de Grassi; Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Grammy-winning reed player Paul McCandless, Ancient Future percussionist Ian Dogole, and bassist Fred Randolph; classical guitarist Jon Mendle, who has performed with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble; and an acoustic guitar round-robin with Teja Gerken and Ronnie Ray Padilla. There will be some collaborations between the performers as well. For example, Paul McCandless will be adding his resonant reeds in concert with the sympathetic strings of some of the other artists, such as Alex de Grassi, with whom he has a history of performing.

The concert is a benefit for guitarist Matthew Montfort of the world fusion music band Ancient Future. Funds go to support his recovery from a wrist injury that resulted in the cancellation of many months of performances. Wrist injury recovery donations are also accepted online at ancient-future.com.

Performers

Alex de Grassi (Acoustic Guitar Icon)

Alex de Grassi grew up in San Francisco, California, where his grandfather played violin for the San Francisco Symphony and his father was a classical pianist. At age thirteen he learned to play the trumpet but soon taught himself the guitar, the instrument for which he is now famous. Alex is the subject of a PBS concert/interview television show, Alex de Grassi: The Artist's Profile, and is both a Grammy Award and Indie award nominee. He performed as a guest artist on Ancient Future's 1986 release, Quiet Fire, on Montfort's composition, 'Caged Lion (Escapes).'

Paul McCandless (Reed Virtuoso)

During a distinguished career spanning three decades, Paul McCandless has brought a soaring lyricism to his playing and composing that has been integral to the ensemble sound of two seminal world music bands, the original Paul Winter Consort and the relentlessly innovative quartet, Oregon.

Performing with Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Mariah Parker (piano), Ian Dogole (percussion), and Fred Randolph (bass)

"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." - LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

Jon Mendle (Classical Guitar Virtuoso)

Since making his Carnegie Hall debut at age 19, classical guitarist Jon Mendle is rapidly building a career as a performer, teacher, arranger, and composer, which has already included a tour with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.

Acoustic Guitar Round-Robin with Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar) and Ronnie Ray Padilla (Guitar, Vocals)

This format is well-known to Bay Area acoustic guitar fans. Teja Gerken, an editor of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, has hosted round-robins at venues such as San Francisco's Bazaar Cafe, the Sleeping Lady Cafe, and Freight and Salvage for over a decade now, performing over 100 shows with over 100 players! Born in Germany in 1970, Teja began his journey on the guitar at the age of six and became a serious student of the instrument after his family moved to California in the mid '80s. A San Francisco Bay Area musician, Ronnie Ray Padilla is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and vocalist whose style spans pop, funk, jazz, afro and several global styles. He has recorded with Billy Young (formerly of Earth, Wind and Fire), Kenneth Nash (formerly with Herbie Hancock, Weather Report and many more), Lion of Juda (Jamaican reggae band), Rocker-T (dance-hall recording artist), and many other artists.