Ancient Future Reunion So Near, So A.F.A.R.

September 2011 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:

First Video from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion Concert
•Recorded at Yoshi's, San Francisco, June 7

First Studio Recording So Near, So A.F.A.R.
•Basic Tracks for Two Songs Recorded

September $11 CD Sale
•Several CDs on Sale in September for $11

Think Global, Play Local
•Sleeping Lady Cafe, 23 Broadway, Fairfax, CA, September 14, 8 pm, Acoustic Vortex Larkspur House Concert Benefit, September 17, 7 pm, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble at 142 Throckmorton Mill Valley , October 6, 8 pm

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First Video from Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Lineup Reunion Concert

Live Version of '14 Steps' from Ancient Future's 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert at Yoshi's SF, 6/7/11

On June 7, 2011, the exact lineup of Ancient Future that performed on the band's influential World Without Walls and Asian Fusion recordings 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 has released the first ever digital version of Ancient Future's classic 1990 World Without Walls recording on iTunes and all major digital retailers.

Capitol did not reissue the record on CD, and as a result new CD copies of the original release are going for over $208 on amazon.com. But you can get a reconditioned original copy signed by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort for $24.95 at ancient-future.com, and the money will go to support the music rather than to make a record collector richer.

World Without Walls by Ancient Future (Capitol/Sona Gaia 163) $24.98 (Rare collectable reconditioned CD. Signed by Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort.): Buy Link . (>audio.)

As its name suggests, World Without Walls by Ancient Future depicts a musical world without borders. This classic 1990 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

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First Studio Recording So Near, So A.F.A.R.

Basic Tracks for Two Songs Recorded 4/1/2011: Ready for Mixing and Mastering

Your Financial Support Helps Add Tracks to the Archive!

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-R upon completion). Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative: $75 (all previous plus DVD-R upon completion). 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 already seven expertly mixed and mastered live tracks totaling 50 minutes and 42 seconds in the archive available to subscribers immediately!

On April 1, 2011, basic tracks for two songs were recorded featuring original Ancient Future tabla player Benjy Wertheimer, Mariah Parker on santur, and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar. We need to raise the funds to pay for mixing and mastering the tracks. To date, we've raised $2380 towards our goal of $25,000 for the project, and we are now just hundreds of dollars away from adding the first brand new studio track to the archive.

When the archive is complete, the best of the collection will be selected for release as the eighth Ancient Future release. Please sign up for A.F.A.R. now and join us on this creative cross-cultural journey! Your support can be what puts the first studio song in the archive.

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September $11 CD Sale

During the month of September, the three latest releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records are on sale for only $11 each with any other purchase at Ancient-Future.Com! 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!

Planet Passion by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2010) $17.98 list (Sale this September: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>audio.)

"If the members of the United Nations formed a world-fusion band, it might look and sound a little something like Ancient Future’s re-issue of their seventh recording. Planet Passion strives to preserve the world’s vast musical heritage via international collaboration: the idea that one protects the old by creating something new. This is at the heart of fusion music and the heart of Ancient Future’s global aesthetics, too: a diverse, unified world without borders, a multicultural community, a new, reconstituted sonic reality." — Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, Kentucky

Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). $17.98 (Sale this September: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>audio.)

"This unusual guitar album brings together world instruments to complement the scalloped fretboard guitar. Starting with ‘Gauri the Golden’, an improvisational piece drawing heavily on Indian raga, this is an intriguing collection of the resulting compositions. I must admit that sometimes ragas played by guitar players seem to wander on forever, changing a note here and there and weaving a kind of slow, hypnotic journey. However, this guitar work is stunning, intricate and wonderfully melodic. If you are looking for good listening and something different for your CD shelf, this is it." - J.W. McClure, VICTORY REVIEW ACOUSTIC MUSIC MAGAZINE

Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017). $17.98 (Sale this September: $11 with any other purchase): Buy Link. (>audio).

"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. Intriguing melodies that draw musical inspirations from the tempos of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain make for an uplifting serene yet passionate musical journey into an ideal world." - LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

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Think Global, Play Local

Being world fusion pioneers, Ancient Future has always thought (and performed) globally. But historically Ancient Future hasn't been very focused on the local San Francisco Bay Area music scene. So, in these times where touring is financially more difficult due to arts presenter budget cuts, we have booked a series of ultra local performances in Marin County, California! And every concert is a completely different program. But, rest assured, we are planning on returning to touring soon. So, if you know of a venue in your area that you would like to see Ancient Future perform at, please email their contact information to info@ancient-future.com. We'll send them a promo package!

Here's the lineup of ultra local performances:

Acoustic Guitar Showcase

Wednesday, September 14, 9:00 pm, Acoustic Guitar Showcase featuring Matthew Montfort, Jeff Titus, and Teja Gerken, The Sleeping Lady, 23 Broadway, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Info: 415-485-1182. Facebook Event

This Acoustic Guitar Showcase is a round-robin of guitar music with scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort, harp sympitar guitarist Jeff Titus, and acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Teja Gerken.

Ancient Future 9-11 Mitigation Benefit

Saturday, September 17, 8 pm, Ancient Future 9-11 Mitigation Benefit featuring Matthew Montfort, Mariah Parker, and Salaheddin Takesh, Acoustic Vortex, Larkspur, CA 94939. Doors/food/wine/shmooze: 7 pm. Suggested voluntary donation: $25. Email bruce@acousticvortex.com for an invitation.

"One of the unfortunate consequences of the 9-11 tragedy has perhaps been our somewhat greater proclivity to view those from other cultures as 'the other.' Please join the Acoustic Vortex and Ancient Future in our joint efforts of utilizing music to enhance our mutual understanding and connectedness. We will be donating a percentage of our revenue to Doctors Without Borders and the Families of Freedom Fund, a scholarship fund for children of slain 9-11 rescue workers." - Bruce Victor, Acoustic Vortex

The program features a trio lineup of Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort on scalloped fret guitar (inspired by the Indian vina), and the glissentar (an 11 string fretless guitar), Mariah Parker on santur, and Salaheddin Takesh on Arabic percussion.

Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble

Thursday, October 6, 8 pm, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Paul McCandless, Matthew Montfort, Fred Randolph, Ian Dogole, and Brian Rice, 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Tix: $18 adv, $23 door. Doors Open: 7:30. Info: (415) 383-9600, or email boxoffice@142throckmortontheatre.org. Facebook Event. Press Release.

An evening of high-spirited world jazz music with original compositions inspired by the rhythms of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain featuring Mariah Parker (composer, piano, santur), Paul McCandless (woodwinds and horns), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and flamenco guitars), Ian Dogole (global percussion), Brian Rice (Latin percussion), and Fred Randolph (double bass).

"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 and ROCK AND SOUL)

World Fusion Music is a Cause

To subscribe to Ancient Future's email newsletter, use the form below. Follow instructions thereafter, and make sure to ONLY check the geographic area where you live. We need this information so that we only send you information about concerts in your area. It doesn't refer to types of world music that you like. Please enter your email address: In This Issue: Listener Sponsored World Fusion Music New Fall Releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records Ancient Future Trio Concert in Santa Clara, California Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi Concert in Winnemucca, Nevada Ancient Future Nepali Benefit Concert in Auburn, California
Support Listener Sponsored World Fusion Music by Matthew Montfort Support Report For the first few decades of Ancient Future seasons, I brought together a diverse set of institutions to provide the support for world fusion music. We had a record deal that included major label distribution and financial support for record production. Even though we had to fight hard to maintain artistic integrity, our victory was that we were able blaze the trail for support for world fusion music from the record industry. Ancient Future was selected as a recommended ensemble for California Arts Council Touring Program support, which paid half of our fee for selected tour dates. While there was no circuit of venues for world fusion music, there were some open minded folk, jazz, and traditional ethnic music presenters who included Ancient Future in their offerings. All of this allowed me to keep Ancient Future afloat and stay true to my mission of bringing world fusion music into the world. Current Conditions Due to the downturn in the record industry and the decline of state funding for the arts, most of the institutions in the USA that were supporting Ancient Future either no longer exist, or have drastically cut back their programs and are focusing limited resources on their core missions rather than expanding into new territory. So, for our 30th Anniversary Season coming up, a new support structure for Ancient Future concerts and recordings is needed. Crucial Creative Cause This is important because Ancient Future is not just a band, it is a cause. It is a musical organization dedicated to the mission of creating world fusion music, a term I coined in 1978 to describe Ancient Future's unusual blend of musical traditions from around the world. My vision was a musical movement seeking to show how people from different cultures can grow by learning from each other. World fusion is a process by which new traditions are created, and has occurred throughout history. It would be difficult to find a form of traditional music that has not at some time been influenced by the music of another culture. Current times offer the opportunity for musicians to learn music from anywhere on earth. It is my passion and vision for Ancient Future to explore new sonic territory between different traditions, while illuminating the ancient musical knowledge of the world. It is critical that new innovations based on the knowledge of the world's great traditions are supported, because without new innovation, the art of music can lose its vital spark and relevance in contemporary life. In world fusion music, master musicians from different cultures work together and grow from the exchange. They learn techniques and forms that are new to them, and in a small way act as ambassadors between their peoples. Because it has both familiar and exotic elements, world fusion music has the potential to open people up to music and ideas from cultures other than their own. I believe that the cumulative effect of people appreciating diverse cultures can have very positive ramifications for international relations. Contribution Solution Recent cuts in arts programs and changes in the record industry make direct listener support of virtuoso level world fusion music more important than ever. The same Internet that gave listeners the tools to damage the record industry through file sharing also gives them the tools to band together to support the the cause of world fusion music directly. Although these tools make it easy to unite people who already share a single easily Googled common interest, building bridges between cultures takes a lot more effort. So for those music lovers who enjoy the music created through this vibrant musical process, with its potential to open hearts and minds and connect diverse cultures in positive ways, the time has come to get involved. Please support the cause through the World Fusion Music Support Page (ancient-future.com/donation.html). There you will find a variety of intriguing ways to get involved. For example, for as little as $25 you can become a download subscriber to world fusion music recordings and be a part of the process of creating the next Ancient Future record. For just $100 a month you or your business can be a sponsor of Ancient-Future.Com and will be thanked with a text link to your web site from Ancient Future's popular home page and the World Fusion Music Links Page. A tax deductible donation of $250 helps support touring to your region and you will be thanked with a pair of VIP tickets to the nearest Ancient Future concert or 5 CDs on the Ancient-Future.Com label. Your support can help insure the survival of Ancient Future and the virtuoso world fusion music movement. Plus with the variety of options explained on the the World Fusion Music Support Page, there is an engaging way for everyone to get involved! "The time has definitely come for world fusion music. Ancient Future is one step ahead of the game; on their side is the philosophical parallel between global consonance and world peace." - SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL
New Fall Releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records
	Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008). Pre-Release Signed CD- $24.98: Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now. (Ships starting August 1, 2008). The 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. (Read more).
	Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com 2017) Signed, pre-release CD- $24.98: Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now. (Ships starting August 1, 2008). This debut recording features Mariah's original compositions that draw musical inspiration from Brazil, Cuba, Spain, and India. Her Indo Latin Jazz Ensembleincludes musicians from the bands Ancient Future, Oregon, Sun Ra, and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters. (Read more).
Both are available exclusively through the Ancient Future catalog until the Internet release on October 14, 2008. Related Media: Sangria (Mariah Parker) (>audio.) Mariah Parker first composed this piece for "Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar" where it appears in a delicate trio arrangement. Mariah later created this large ensemble arrangement, which became the title track of her debut release, "Sangria."
Free Concert in the Park
Sunday, July 20, 2008 ~ 2:30 to 4 pm Santa Clara Central Park Pavilion Kiely Blvd. & Homestead Rd. Santa Clara, CA 95050 Adm: FREE Ancient Future Trio featuring Matthew Montfort ~ scalloped fretboard guitar, Glissentar Mariah Parker ~ santur Arshad Syed~ tabla
About this Program: This trio variation of Ancient Future performed at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona (see photo above). Matthew Montfort will perform on scalloped fretboard guitar and the Glissentar, an 11 string fretless guitar that sounds much like an oud. He will be joined by Mariah Parker on santur and Arshad Syed on tabla. In addition to material from the seven Ancient Future band recordings, this concert will feature music from two new recordings to be released this fall on the Ancient-Future.Com label: "Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar" by Matthew Montfort and "Sangria" by Mariah Parker. Related Media: Ancient Future Trio Repertoire (various composers) (>audio.) Studio and live recordings of sample repertoire that is played by this band variation of Ancient Future. El Zaffa (Montfort) (>audio.). Original composition based on the Egyptian wedding procession rhythm (elzaffa). From "Planet Passion." (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2001) CD, $17.98: Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.
Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi Show in Nevada Friday, August 15, 2008 ~ 8:00 pm Great Basin Arts and Entertainment Martin Hotel Railroad & Melarkey Streets Winnemucca, NV 89445 Adm: $10 at The Martin Hotel (775) 623-3197 and Nature's Corner (775) 625-4330. Email contact@gbae.org for more information. Ancient Future Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi featuring Pandit Habib Khan ~ sitar Matthew Montfort ~ scalloped fretboard guitar Arshad Syed ~ tabla
About this Program: "Jugalbandi" is a classical North Indian musical duet (literally "tied together"), in this case with the unusual configuration of sitar and guitar accompanied by tabla. This jugalbandi works so well because Matthew Montfort is a guitarist with knowledge of sitar and Pandit Habib Khan has been described as the "Jimi Hendrix of the sitar" by L'ORIENT LE JOUR, Beirut's French language newspaper. As anyone who has seen this dynamic ensemble before knows, this will not be a typical Indian music concert. The ground between jazz, blues, rock, and raga will be explored, and the contrast between guitar and sitar will be shown in both Eastern and Western settings. Related Media: Dawn of Love (Montfort). (>video.) This video of the Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi performing Montfort's song "Dawn of Love" has been watched over 40,000 times on YouTube and myspace! For an explanation of the raga this melody was composed in, check out the 10th edition of the World Rhythms News. Socha Socha (Khan/Montfort). (>audio.) North Indian ragafeaturing Pandit Habib Khan on sitar and Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar. From "Planet Passion." (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2001) CD, $17.98: Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.
Ama Foundation & Himalayan Designs Presents An Evening at Swarga-Dwari (the Gates of Heaven) Saturday, August 23, 2008 ~ 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Swarga Dwari, Himalayan Designs Garden 1660 Old Airport Road Auburn, CA 95602 Suggested donation: $30 per person to Ama Foundation. Free admission for children. RSVP by August 17, 2008 to 510.847.2889 or info@ama-foundation.org (If you make a last minute decision please come anyway). Ancient Future Trio featuring Matthew Montfort ~ scalloped fretboard guitar, glissentar Mariah Parker ~ santur Joe Fajen~ tabla, percussion
About this Program: This concert is a benefit performance for the Ama Foundation, which provides a home for 39 impoverished children in Nepal. There will be beautiful carved wood Sattals (gazebos) and a Shiva temple imported by Himalayan Designs from Nepal. A Nepali dinner and no host bar will be followed by live performances by Ancient Future and the Davis Nepali group. The program will include material from Ancient Future's repertoire, including Simsimay Panima (In the Falling Rain), a cyclical Nepali song with an almost infinite number of verses. Traditionally, boys and girls would take turns singing these verses, making them up as they went along, and using them to tease one another in a flirtatious manner, but in Ancient Future's version, the exchanges are instrumental improvisations. Related Media: Simsimay Panima (Traditional. New arrangement and composition by Matthew Montfort). (>audio.)From high in the Himalayas comes the call and response of love’s first meeting in this Nepali folk song about flirting from the "Planet Passion" recording. Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.