November 2009 Issue: Northern California Edition
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Email newsletter of the World Fusion Music Ensemble Ancient Future
In This Issue:
11/11/2009 Acoustic Guitar Showcase at the Sleeping Lady Cafe, Fairfax
•Featured Video: Matthew Montfort Performs 'Soul Serenade'
11/15/2009 Cornucopia: An Evening of East West Music at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
•Featured Video: Khan/Montfort/Brooks Perform Indian Raga
01/01/2010 Welcome the New Year with a World Music Workshop at Esalen, Big Sur
•Featured Video: Matthew Montfort Demonstrates Hendrix Raga for GuitarPlayer.Com (Just Published!)
Acoustic Guitar Showcase at the Sleeping Lady Cafe, Fairfax
Play YouTube Video
Live version of 'Soul Serenade' from Matthew Montfort's debut recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.
Featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard & fretless guitars), Teja Gerken, (fingerstyle guitar) and Az Samad (fingerstyle guitar)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 9:00 p.m.
Sleeping Lady Cafe
23 Broadway
Fairfax, CA 94930
Info: 415-485-1182.
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Time for another guitar showcase at the new Sleeping Lady Cafe! Interesting aside: The first Ancient Future concert was February 11, 1979, at the original Sleeping Lady Cafe. This is a round-robin of (mostly) acoustic guitar with Matthew Montfort playing music from Seven Serenades on scalloped fretboard guitar and fretless guitars, Malaysian fingerstyle guitar virtuoso Az Samad, and fingerstylist Teja Gerken.
Ancient-Future.Com AF 2008. Buy 1 Now. (>audio). Ancient-Future.Com Records new releases are now on sale at special 30th anniversary prices at Ancient-Future.Com! Save money and support the arts at the same time.
Bay Area Performances Presents:
Cornucopia: An Evening of East West Music and Dance
Featuring Pandit Habib Khan (sitar), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), George Brooks (saxophone), Salar Nader (tabla), Ramesh Srinivasan (mridangam), John Waller (drums), and Richa Shukla (Kathak dance)
Sunday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.
Hofmann Theatre, Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Dr.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Adm: reserved seating $35 and $25. Seniors and students $5 off. This includes music students!
Available at the Hofmann Theatre Box Office 925-943-SHOW (7469)
Info: Call Phabha Gopal at 925-947-1908.
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Welcome the New Year with a World Music Workshop at Esalen, Big Sur
Weekend of January 1-3, 2010
8:30 p.m. 1/1/2010 through 11:30 am 1/3/2010
Esalen Institute
Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
Cost: Workshop alone: Regular Rate- $385. Friends of Esalen Rate- $335.
With Bunk Bed Room: Regular Rate- $530. Friends of Esalen Rate- $480.
With standard accommodations: Regular Rate-$670. Friends of Esalen Rate- $620.
Reservations: 831-667-3005. Registration Form: www.esalen.org/assetts/RezForm.pdf.
Fax: 831-667-2724. Email: info@esalen.org.
Download event poster: 01/01/10 Esalen Workshop.pdf (628 k)
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This workshop beginning on the first day of 2010 is a great way to start the new year with improved timing skills. Matthew Montfort is the author of Ancient Traditions -- Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. The book, which is the basis for this world music workshop, received rave reviews in publications such as GUITAR PLAYER, ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN, DRUMS AND DRUMMING, and the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. Material from the book has been used by many teachers and musicians around the world, including Reinhard Flatischler, founder of the TaKeTiNa rhythm training process, and Steve Smith, famed jazz and rock drummer.
The workshop is presented in an easy to follow, entertaining yet educational format for all music lovers. African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan and Indian classical music were chosen as the source material for the training because these three traditions in combination cover the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. Not just for musicians and percussionists, this training can help anyone with a desire to improve their rhythmic skills. Melodic aspects of the traditions will also be explored through vocal chanting and ensemble performance in a supportive setting. The workshop is open to all levels, and no musical background is required. Very simple to play percussion instruments will be provided, and participants are free to bring any percussive or melodic instruments they enjoy playing.
About Matthew Montfort
Matthew Montfort holds a B.A. in World Music and Composition and an M.A. in Arts and Media Technology from Antioch University. He is the leader of the world fusion music ensemble Ancient Future. A pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the steel string guitar), Montfort spent three months in intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. His debut solo CD, ‘Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar’ was released in 2009 to rave reviews on Ancient-Future.Com Records with national distribution through ADA/Ryko/WEA. He has performed concerts world wide, including at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona.
Rhythm Training Material
Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles:$52.95 (SALE! Normally $69.95): Buy 1 Now.
Quotes
"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. The first section of the book covers traditional music of West Africa, Bali and India with theories and exercises. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms.The last section of the book mixes patterns from different cultures, demonstrating the powerful music these simple exercises can generate." – Richard Kadrey, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE.
"A hands-on exploration of Balinese, African, and Indian rhythms that should appeal to all musicians. One needn't play percussion instruments, or any instruments at all, for that matter, to use and benefit from the book." – DRUMS AND DRUMMING
"Very highly recommended for any instrumentalists hoping to expand their rhythmic horizons. If you've never investigated the beautiful clash of African polyrhythm, the incredible interlocking textures of Balinese music, or the complex metric structure of Indian classical music, check out Ancient Traditions--it will blow your mind and deepen your groove." – GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE
"If you're tired of programming your drum machine with the same old 4/4 back-beat, or you want to sharpen your rhythmic chops, this book is highly recommended." – ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN
Melodic Training Material
Now on GuitarPlayer.Com: "The Music of Jimi Hendrix Applied to Indian Raga" by Matthew Montfort
Play Guitar Player.Com Video
Live version of 'Purple Raga' from Matthew Montfort's debut recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.
Free Educational Liner Notes
Digital Liner Notes (1.7 MB)
18 pages of educational liner notes including sheet music and in depth explanations of melodic concepts utilized in world music.
Quotes
Download the 65 page report of media placements for 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.' Complete reviews, photos, and links to online reviews. MediaMatthewMontfort.pdf (3.9 MB).
“A true guitar wizard.” – Jello Biafra, ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES RECORDS
“This album reveals a thorough knowledge of Hindustani microtonal ornaments, transferred in ways that create one of the most distinctive guitar sounds in contemporary music. However, it also reveals a lifetime of exploration in world music, which can be immediately summoned in a flash of inspiration. When this level of mastery is reached, there is no need to rewrite. The first improvisation has the depth of a reworked composition.” – Teed Rockwell, INDIA CURRENTS, March 2009
"Matthew’s playing is always impeccable, filled with subtle emotion and even wanderlust. I don't know of anyone who plays quite like Matthew. His mastery of the scalloped fretboard guitar seems unequaled. For a richly rewarding journey into the magic of acoustic world fusion music, look no farther than 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.'" – Steve Ryals, FRESH TRACKS
"Leader of the world-music band Ancient Future since 1978, Matthew Montfort has adapted many string instrument styles – from sitar to zither – to his guitar. His special scalloped fretboard allows him to tweak the strings in unique ways, but his virtuosity is a lot more than technical." – David Rubien, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"It isn't every day that acoustic guitarists make their instrument sound a lot like an Indian sitar, but that is exactly what Matthew Montfort accomplishes on the instrumental 'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.' Through it all, Montfort demonstrates that even though he has considerable chops and technical prowess, he is much more interested in feeling and expression than technique. This 56-minute CD is an adventurous, consistently engaging demonstration of what Montfort can accomplish on the scalloped fretboard guitar." – Alex Henderson, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
"Though he plays guitar, Montfort's music isn't merely guitar music; it's a sonic environment that features a guitar. Strong Indian and Balinese influences permeate these seven exotic soundscapes. Beautifully recorded, this sumptuous music creates a unique wall of sound that you won't soon forget." – Steven Stone, VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE
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