What in the World is World Fusion Wednesday?

Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page
December 2014 Issue:
World Fusion Wednesday
•#WorldFusionWednesday: One Day A Week to Share World Fusion
Two Concerts
•Asian Art Museum, SF; Concerts at the Farm, Petaluma
A.F.A.R. So Far
•The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings So Far on Limited Edition CD
Holiday Sale: Five for Fifty
• Five Acclaimed Releases Just $10 Each

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World Fusion Wednesday

#WorldFusionWednesday: One Day A Week to Share World Fusion

by Matthew Montfort

World fusion is the process by which new traditions are created from the seed material of the world's great traditions. It is a path to genre-bending cross-cultural collaboration that shows how ideas from different cultures can work together. It's way cool and an important activity for the future of humanity.

However, with the collapse of the music industry due to tech industry greed, declining arts funding, and the dumbing down of the populace due to decades of cuts in arts education in the midst of a mass media race to the bottom, there is very little support for world fusion music.

But I have a plan to use a new social media meme to support the world fusion movement by connecting the circles of the various world music traditions. Let's use the hashtag #WorldFusionWednesday to encourage supporters to do something every Wednesday to support the world fusion movement.

As a first step, please use the hashtag to share something about world fusion each Wednesday. Better yet, financially support the music through recording and concert ticket purchases, and share that. And while streaming does not currently financially support the creation of music, increasingly it is how people are interacting with music, and the world fusion movement doesn't yet get its due share of traffic on streaming sites. So, first we need to increase the share of streaming that world fusion receives, and then we need legislation to force sustainable arts supporting payments for streaming, which are now paid in thousandth of a cent increments.

These goals will take a lot of work to achieve, so I'm hoping that everyone involved in the world fusion music movement, from artists to fans, will get involved. After all, world fusion is way cool! Here are a few posts with hashtags to get you started, but you can create your own to share playlists, favorite recordings, videos, and upcoming concerts:

What in the world is #WorldFusionWednesday? A day to share and support world fusion music: http://www.ancient-future.com/newsdec2014.html#worldfusionwednesday
For #WorldFusionWednesday, check out this Indian Fusion playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/ancientfuture/playlist/7aVviQR3napHYx5uuMXY9R

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Two Concerts

Asian Art Museum, SF; Concerts at the Farm, Petaluma

The Artists Sessions Presents: A Dream on a Train to Marrakesh

Part of Crossroads: Music of Pilgrimage and Transformation

Sunday, December 14, 2 to 3:30 PM
Asian Art Museum
Samsung Hall
200 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tix: $10 members, $25 general (includes admission to the museum). Buy Tickets.

This double bill of world fusion music of the Arabian Peninsula with a modern twist features performances by Ancient Future and the Musical Art Quintet. The program blends the rhythms and harmonies of the Arabian Peninsula with contemporary jazz and rock, producing an irresistible and exhilarating sound fusion that captures the essence of pilgrimage, cultural exchange, exploration and migration. These multifaceted artists create an innovative musical experience that guides listeners on a hypnotic voyage through time and place.

Ancient Future's performance features fretless and scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, Arabic violin virtuoso Georges Lammam, Arabic percussion master Antoine Lammam, and composer and multi-instrumentalist Mariah Parker on santur.

Ayni Projects Presents
Concerts at the Farm 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. Tickets are available online or at the door if you reserve in advance by calling 415-990-9042.
Doors open: 7:00 PM (for hors d'oeuvres, wine and something sweet before the concert).
Info: Email info@ayniprojects.com or 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. The melding of these three unique musical talents is sure to stir the imagination and transport you to new aural oases never heard before.

Fasten your seat belts and prepare to journey to distant lands!

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A.F.A.R. So Far

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings So Far on Limited Edition CD
Makes A Very Special Gift!

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.

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Holiday Sale: Five for Fifty

Five Releases Just $10 Each

Ancient Future Holiday Sale

• Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (audio.)
• Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (audio.)
• Sangria by Mariah Parker. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (audio).
• Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (audio).
• Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (audio).

Exciting News from A.F.A.R.

Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page

August-September 2014 Issue:

Raves Blow in for Yearning for the Wind
•Initial Coverage of the First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History
A.F.A.R. So Far
•The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings So Far on Limited Edition CD
A.F.A.R. Around the Corner
•Exciting New Projects for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings
Upcoming Concerts and Radio Appearances
•San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Mill Valley, and Oakland, California

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Raves Blow in for Yearning for the Wind

Initial Coverage of the First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History

Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R-$17.98: Buy E-CD Now. iTunes. E-CD @ Amazon.com.

Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange Review

"In Ancient Future we have creativity that breaks many boundaries. As such, it richly deserves non-ordinary attention. Ancient Future's a multi-member group but this latest issuance involves just Matt and Vishal Nagar, tabla virtuoso, in a balladic duet of the most refined sensibilities. Yearning for the Wind marks a new high-water mark in recording. It's released in E-CD (enhanced CD), one session dedicated for CD players, the other for computers. The latter includes extensive digital liner notes explaining the musical traditions of Indian raga and tala as well as HD video in 96/24 hi-res audio. Montfort intended the "disc" to hit all levels: musicians' top-end aesthetics, audiophile expectations and delectations, and then great response in a standard CD player." - by Mark S. Tucker, Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange (read full review)

Diamond Sound Reviews on Amazon and iTunes

"Ancient Future founder, guitarist Matthew Montfort and tabla master Vishal Nagar bring East and West together in a stunning display of musical virtuosity. But beyond the technical proficiency of the players is a level of passion and spirit that takes the listener on a journey that is both serene and moving." - Michael Diamond, Diamond Sound Reviews (read full review)

Exposé - Exploring the Boundaries of Rock Review

"The piece starts slowly with an acoustic guitar solo that emphasizes the pitch-bending qualities of the scalloped fretboard, later joined by the tabla a couple minutes in, and slowly evolving through numerous sections where the tabla and guitar alternate lead roles. Adding the visual aspect of the video brings in a whole new dimension to the proceedings, and highlights the intense rhythmic complexity that Nagar brings to the table. For fans of world fusion music, it doesn't get much better than this." - Peter Thelen, Exposé (read full review)

India Currents Article and Interview

"An artistic temperament is conventionally associated with eccentricity and attitude. What is not commonly seen is the other, good side of the said temperament, the one that drives artists to stay true to their art and foster an environment that nurtures its growth. The Californian band Ancient Future led by Matthew Montfort, is an excellent example of this. The group's 'Yearning for the Wind' presents Montfort's composition on the scalloped fretboard guitar, harnessing raag Kalyan in a nine beat cycle, accompanied by Vishal Nagar, the upcoming tabla virtuoso. The piece is part of a larger repertoire, called, 'The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings,' which is a series of collaborative- music recordings entirely funded by music-lovers." - Priya Das, India Currents (read full article and interview)

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A.F.A.R. So Far

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

On February 11, 2014, the exact 35th anniversary of the first Ancient Future concert, two new studio tracks were added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which now has 10 tracks and 70 minutes of music in it! And for the first time online, supporters of the archive can now purchase a limited edition CD-R of all of these tracks, appropriately titled A.F.A.R. So Far.
Three of the tracks totalling 19 minutes and 18 seconds are studio tracks, and the rest are painstakingly mixed live concert recordings. Here are some track highlights already included in the archive:

1. Yearning for the Wind. An evocative piece based on Indian raga featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) with tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. This piece was just released on iTunes and E-CD to promote the archive.
2. East of the Sun. Reunites original Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort and Benjy Wertheimer with help from Paul McCandless of the band Oregon and Mariah Parker on santur.
3. Moonbath. A live version of the first track Ancient Future recorded back in late 1978 for their debut recording, Visions of a Peaceful Planet. Features Mariah Parker (santur) and Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar).
4. Dawn of Love. The live version of Ancient Future's most popular YouTube video (over 206,000 views), which is a Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi featuring Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Pandit Habib Khan (sitar), and Arshad Syed (tabla).

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 limited edition A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R. If you are already a supporter, you can buy a CD-R now.

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. $20 Additional. Buy CD-R Now.

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A.F.A.R. Around the Corner

Exciting New Projects for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

There are a lot of exciting new projects for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings awaiting funding. Ancient Future recently received two opportunities to do live video performances, both of which served as rehearsals for the next additions to the archive. Your support could be what makes them possible!

Lobby Lounge Video Performance

Featuring Shenshen Zhang and Matthew Montfort

The first was on the new Lobby Lounge series of the Marin Independent Journal. They were excited about doing a show focusing on the new collaboration between Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort and Chinese pipa master Shenshen Zhang. So the duo had their very first rehearsal, and then the next day taped this Lobby Lounge video!

"We recently hosted our most exotic Lobby Lounge show to date. You don't often get to hear music by Chinese pipa and 11-string fretless guitar. But that's what we have in the duo of Shenshen Zhang, a concert soloist on the Chinese pipa, and Matthew Montfort, leader of the Marin world music band Ancient Future, playing the seldom-seen fretless guitar and scalloped fretboard guitar. The pipa, sometimes called a Chinese lute, is a pear-shaped, four-stringed instrument that has been played in China for some 2,000 years. Shenshen first picked up the ancient instrument when she was 9, playing music with her mother in her native Wenzhou. Digitaldreamdoor.com listed Montfort among the 100 greatest acoustic guitarists. He and Shenshen first played together during a 2011 round-robin guitar night in Half Moon Bay. They met when he invited her on stage to jam with him. Magic ensued. Their on-the-spot improvisation was spellbinding, a spell they cast once again in their mesmerizing Lobby Lounge performance." - Paul Liberatore, Lobby Lounge, Marin Independent Journal (read full article)

Marin Artists Showcase Video Shoot

Featuring Vishal Nagar, Shenshen Zhang, Mariah Parker, and Matthew Montfort

The day after the Lobby Lounge video appeared, we received an offer to shoot a live video for the Marin Artists Showcase, who coincidentally had shot the very first video of Ancient Future back in 1979 before the release of our first record! So on August 9, 2104, we performed three quartet pieces, three trio pieces, and three solos for the cameras at the Community Media Center of Marin. The video shoot was a great success, and now all of the music is ready for the recording studio. Please help us raise the funds to pay for it by supporting the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings!

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Upcoming Concerts and Radio Appearances

San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Mill Valley, and Oakland, California

• Friday, August 22, 11 pm, Matthew Montfort interview and live performance on Audioscapes with Sal Espana, KCPR, 91.3 FM, San Luis Obispo. Streams live at kcpr.calpoly.edu/listen.
• Saturday, August 23, 4 pm, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), Stone Soup Music Festival, Ramona Garden Park, Corner of 9th and Ramona Streets, 993 Ramona Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433. Adm: Free. More info: Call 805-489-1488, email office@aggbchamber.com or visit the Facebook page. Press Release.
• Friday, September 12, 8 pm, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Mariah Parker (composer, piano, santur), Paul McCandless (Grammy award-winning woodwind virtuoso), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Ian Dogole (global percussion), Brian Rice (Latin percussion), and Kash Killion (bass, cello), Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941. $20 general, $25 day of show, $30 reserved. Advance tix at Throckmorton Theatre.
• Sunday, September 28, 12:45 to 2:15 pm, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Globe Institute Sound Healing Conference and Festival, Sound Garden Main Stage Concerts, Kaiser Center Tower, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA 94612. Adm: 2 day outdoor festival pass: $25 advance, $30 after 9/1/2014. Info: 415-777-2486.

World Rhythms News 14: North Indian Raga and Tala

Issue 14. Summer 2014:
Welcome to the World Rhythms News, an infrequent newsletter dedicated to world music education written by Matthew Montfort, leader of the band Ancient Future.

In this issue:

Section One: North Indian Raga and Tala

• Raga: Rag Kalyan
• Rhythmic Cycles: Tintal and Matta Tal
• Yearning for the Wind Video in Rag Kalyan and Matta Tal

Section Two: Further Study

• Rhythm Training Book Sale
• Music Lessons Via Skype

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Section One: North Indian Raga and Tala

Raga

A raga is a melodic recipe for a mood. Raga could be described as a "super scale" using a set of notes in ascending (arohi) and descending (avarohi) order, sometimes including prescribed alternate routes, a hierarchy of note importance, and a key phrase that shows the heart of the movement of the raga. This ancient system is both an art and a science of how musical notes create certain moods. The recipe for each raga holds the key to an unlimited number of potential melodies, each perpetuating the mood contained in the raga.

Rag Kalyan

Rag Kalyan is an evening raga that falls within a scale corresponding to the Western Lydian mode, which is a major scale with an augmented fourth. From C, the scale would be as shown below (a dote above a note indicates the octave above, a dot below indicates the octave below):

                             .
C   D   E   F#   G   A   B   C
                             
1   2   3   #4   5   6   7   8

But Rag Kalyan is more than just a scale. Ascending passages start on the major seventh below the root, and skip the tonic and often the fifth:

                         .
B   D   E   F#   A   B   C
.
7   2   3   #4   6   7   8

Descending passages employ the full scale:

.
C   B   A   G   F#   E   D   C

8   7   6   5   #4   3   2   1

The vadi, or dominant note of a raga, is the major 3rd. It can be a note that passages pause on. The samavadi, the second-most prominent note, is the major 7th, which is the note ascending passages start on.

Rhythmic Cycles

The concept of the ever-recurring cyclic rhythms of the universe is one of the basic tenets of Hindu philosophy. The perception of the cyclic nature of life is reflected in Indian classical music through the device of tala,  a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle.

In the same way that raga can be described as a “super scale,” tala is a “super time signature,” a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle with distinct sections. The beats have different degrees of emphasis within a tala, and are marked with a system of hand claps, hand waves and movements of the fingers. The most important point of rhythmic emphasis is the sam, the first beat of the tala and point to which all variations eventually return. It is represented by the symbol "+," and is marked by a hand clap. The khali,  literally the empty beat, is the unaccented beat of the tala. The lack of accent is emphasized, making the khali a very important beat. It is marked by a wave of the hand and is written with the symbol "o." Talas have other accented beats known as tali, also marked by hand claps. In written notation, the tali are numbered, starting with the number two. In this presentation, each beat is equally subdivided by the number of syllables it contains. For example, in beat one of matta tal, the syllable "dhin" is equal to one beat, and in beat two "terikita" is played as four sixteenth notes. To practice reciting theka, use this pronunciation guide to Indian drum syllables.

There are an estimated 350 talas in North Indian music, of which ten are in common use. Presented here is the most common tala, the 16 beat tintal, and one of the least, the nine beat matta tal. Each tala has a theka, which is a standard groove represented by onomatopoeic drum syllables and played as an accompaniment. Click on the tabla head below to hear audio of the thekas:

Tintal

16 beats, divided 4 + 4 + 4 + 4:

   +                   2                   

|: dha  dhin dhin dha  dha  dhin dhin dha

   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8   

   o                   3     
 
   na   tin  tin  ta   ta   dhin dhin dha :|

   9    10   11   12   13   14   15   16

Matta Tal

9 beats, divided 4 + 2 + 3. In this case, the final 3 beats are subdivided 1 1/2 + 1 1/2: 

   +                                       o

|: dhin      terikita  dhin      na        tin       na 

   1         2 e + a   3         4         5         6

   1         2         3         4         5         6            

 2
 
 dhin dhin na   dhin dhin na  :|

 7    +    8    +    9    +

 1    2    3    1    2    3
    

'Yearning for the Wind' Video in Rag Kalyan and Matta Tal

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' with Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Reached the #1 Position on the Ethnocloud World Music Chart

Recorded in hi-res audio and video in December 2013, Yearning for the Wind is the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history. This evocative piece was produced for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's ambitious ongoing fan-funded project. Yearning for the Wind is the first EP and video to be released to raise awareness of the archive.

Composed by scalloped fretboard guitar innovator Matthew Montfort, Yearning for the Wind is a poignant piece based on Rag Kalyan. The composition also incorporates harmony and other guitaristic elements, and in passages follows the muse of the moment over the rules of raga.



Yearning for the Wind starts with an alap, an introductory melodic improvisation that shows how the raga moves. This short alap truncates some of traditional forms that are used in longer expositions. It starts slow and unmetered, but instead of developing into a traditional jor, the section of the alap in which a steady pulse appears, it introduces harmonies as a way of increasing intensity.

Once the alap comes to a conclusion, the slow gat, or main theme, is introduced in the tala. The nine beat matta tal provides an intriguing setting for this duet with Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, who is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. The gat starts with the main melody in the lower register, or the asthai, followed by the antara, a second section of the melody in the higher register. Then there is a melodic guitar improvisation over the tala with a light harmonic rhythm guitar background instead of the traditional drone.

After the gat is reprised, a new theme is introduced that puts a phrase of four against the final three beats of the nine beat tala. It is used as a lahara, an ostinato employed to accompany a tabla solo. Vishal begins his solo by exploring the main tabla sounds which flow with the soft groove of the nine beat rhythm. He slowly builds up to a vibrant rela (a fast tabla composition characterized by rapid drum rolls) utilizing a tishra jati (triplet) bridge that draws from the end of the matta tal theka for a graceful transition that remains attuned to the mood of the composition.

The fast gat that follows also employs the phrasing of four against the final three beats of the tala. There is another improvised guitar solo, followed by a fixed ending that employs a guitaristic riff followed by a tihai: a rhythmic phrase repeated three times and timed to end on the sam, the first beat of the tala. In this case, the tihai has a high ostinato played against it by the rhythm guitar that helps further enhance the climax of the tihai. This is followed by the lahara, this time played in the high register, with a second (and faster paced) tabla solo, followed by another tihai, into a restatement of the antara of the fast gat, followed by the final tihai. The piece ends with the rhythm guitar fading on an accompaniment ostinato similar to what a swarmandal, or Indian harp, might play.


Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352. Signed Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R-$17.98: Buy E-CD Now. iTunes.

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Section Two: Further Study

Rhythm Training Book Sale

Ancient Traditions - Future Possibilities

Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles: $52.95 (SALE! Normally $69.95): Buy 1 Now.
"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. 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." – Richard Kadrey, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Music Lessons Via Skype

And Other Multimedia File Exchange Methods

Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Study any of the subjects on the education section of Ancient-Future.Com through private correspondence lessons (via Skype or any method of file exchange) with Ancient Future bandleader and guitarist, Matthew Montfort. Feel free to email info@ancient-future.com with any questions you may have about how correspondence lessons can help you in your musical development!

All compositions, recordings, video, and text in this article © 2014 Ancient Future Music. All rights reserved.

1st Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History, 2 New Tracks, 3 Concerts, 4 CDs on Sale, 5 #1 Videos

Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan Page • Matthew Montfort Fan Page
July 2014 Issue:
One New Release
•First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History
Two More A.F.A.R.
•Two New Tracks Added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings
Three Concerts
•Lick Observatory, Incline Village, Reno
Four for Forty
• Four Acclaimed Releases Just $10 Each
Five #1 Videos
•14 Number 1 Chart Positions on Ethnocloud, June 1, 2014

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One New Release

First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History

Composed by scalloped fretboard guitar innovator Matthew Montfort, Yearning for the Wind is a poignant piece based on Rag Kalyan, an evening raga that corresponds to the Lydian mode. The composition in three movements also incorporates harmony and other guitaristic elements. A duet with Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, who is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation, Yearning for the Wind is set in matta tal, a nine beat rhythmic cycle. As a bridge between the slow and fast sections of the piece, Vishal Nagar performs an elegant tabla solo over the soft nine beat groove that slowly builds up to a vibrant rela (a fast tabla composition characterized by rapid drum rolls).
Recorded in December 2013, Yearning for the Wind was produced for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's ambitious fan-funded recording project. The digital preview release of Yearning for the Wind is available now at iTunes and other digital retailers as an mp3 and video download. The enhanced CD version (an audio CD with a CD-ROM session for computers with liner notes and an HD video with 96/24 hi-res audio) will be released at fine stores such as Ancient-Future.Com and Amazon.com starting July 22, 2014. This is the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history, just in time for the band's 35th anniversary year!
Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352. Signed Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R-$17.98: Buy E-CD Now. (Ships by 7/22/14)

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Two More A.F.A.R.

On February 11, 2014, the exact 35th anniversary of the first Ancient Future concert, two new studio tracks were added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which now has 70 minutes of music in it!
The first track added was Yearning for the Wind. More than five months before its E-CD release, it was made available to supporters of the archive in mp3, CD quality, 96-kHz/24-bit hi-res audio, and a full resolution HD video that is higher quality than is possible for E-CD or iTunes release.
The second track added, East of the Sun, reunites original Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort and Benjy Wertheimer with help from Paul McCandless of the band Oregon. The basic tracks for this poignant piece with an Afro 5/8 groove and a haunting melody were recorded live in the studio on 4/1/2011 by Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Benjy Wertheimer on tabla, and Mariah Parker on santur. Additional scalloped fretboard guitar and fretless bass parts by Matthew Montfort and oboe parts by Paul McCandless were recorded in Ancient Future's newly upgraded home studio in 2013, producing this lush new quintet version. It is available to supporters of the archive in mp3, CD quality, and 96-kHz/24-bit hi-res audio file formats.
Now that the music business has collapsed due to the tech industry's successful promotion of the meme that content should be virtually free, Ancient Future really truly needs YOUR support in order to continue to bring you music. Streaming companies are valued in billions of dollars, but streaming royalties are measured in thousandths of a cent, so is imperative for everyone who reads this newsletter to help in some way. Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Please let your friends know about this opportunity to support world fusion music. Share this newsletter, and share Ancient Future posts on social networks. And if you can afford it, please consider making a VIP donation to move the project along faster.
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.

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Three Concerts

Ancient Future Concerts in California and Nevada

Ancient Future Trio

Featuring Mariah Parker, Matthew Montfort, and Vishal Nagar
Saturday, July 19, 8:30 p.m.
Benefit Concert for UCO Lick Observatory
Main Building Hall
Mount Hamilton, CA 95140
Adm: $40 general seating, $100 preferred, $150 VIP. Tix: UCSC ticket office 831-459-2159 after May 1. Info: 408-274-5061, www.ucolick.org.
This trio version of Ancient Future will perform music from Ancient Future's many recordings, including their latest release, Yearning for the Wind. The program includes the concert, astronomy lecture, and (weather permitting) viewing through the historic 35-inch Great Lick Refractor and the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescopes!
Matthew Montfort is Ancient Future's leader and has released two solo guitar releases: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he was lauded as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor. 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.
Vishal Nagar is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. Born into a family of musicians, Vishal has been surrounded by music in an extremely musically creative and artistic environment. Vishal had his initial training with the late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of the Delhi Gharana. After his Ustad's untimely demise, Vishal continued his training under the guidance of Ustad Shamim Ahmed Khan. He also has had intense rhythmic training from his mother, the renowned and highly respected Kathak dancer and vocalist, Urmila Nagar.
Mariah Parker is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. She released her first solo recording of her compositions, Sangria (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017), in 2009. Her CD release party drew a full house at the famous Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland for her Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, which features a stellar lineup of musicians including the Grammy-winning Paul McCandless of the group Oregon.

Ancient Future Hammered and Picked Duet

Hammered & Picked: World Folk for Guitar & Dulcimer
Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Composer/Hammered Dulcimerist Mariah Parker
Friday, July 25, 7:00 p.m.
Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival
St. Patrick's Episcopal Church
341 Village Blvd.
Incline Village, NV 89451
Suggested donation: $20 for adults
Info: music@sierraguitar.org
Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Mariah Parker (hammered dulcimer) will perform material from the band's many recordings influenced by Celtic, Latin American, Indian, Arabic, Spanish, European and American music. They will be joined by special Tahoe area guests including world dancer/violinist Sapphira and guitarist/cellist Larry Aynesmith.

Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar plus Special Guest Mariah Parker

Shown: Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Sunday, July 27, 3:00 p.m.
Reno Artown Festival
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
Wells Fargo Auditorium, Room 124
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557
Info: 775-298-1893
Suggested donation: $5 children, $15-$20+ adults.

Strains of passionate flamenco and ethereal Indian raga emanate from this improvisatory duet featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.

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Four for Forty

Four Releases Just $10 Each

Ancient Future Summer Sale

• Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio.)
• Sangria by Mariah Parker. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio).
• Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio).
• Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio).

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Five #1 Videos

Ethnocloud 6-1-14.pdf (8 MB pdf)
14 Number 1 Chart Positions on Ethnocloud, June 1, 2014
As evidenced by the above 15 page media report, this spring, Ancient Future rose to the top of the Ethnocloud music charts, briefly garnering 14 number one spots in the following categories: Artist by Rating, Top 40 March 2014 Video, Top 40 April 2014 Track, Top 40 April 2014 Video, Video by Rating, Track by Rating, India Influence Video, Gypsy Influence Video, Asian Influence Video, Middle Eastern Influence Video, North American Influence Video, India Influence Track, Middle Eastern Influence Track, and East European Influence Track.
This issue of the Ancient Future Times features five videos that each earned number one spots on Ethnocloud!

Yearning for the Wind

Yearning for the Wind rose to the top of the Ethnocloud World Music Charts, earning #1 spots in both the Video and Track categories for the April 2014 Top 40, and propelling Ancient Future to the #1 rated artist spot in early June, 2014. It is currently the #1 Video by Rating and #1 India Influence Video. The camera work and video editing was done by Michael Bradon at Seven Channel Sound.

Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang

This video captures the very first time that Chinese pipa master Shenshen Zhang and scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort played together. They met at an acoustic guitar concert set up by steel string guitarist Mike Kostowskyj in Half Moon Bay. Mike invited Shenshen Zhang to perform a number by herself. Matthew was impressed and invited her to jam with him, and this is exactly what happened from their first note together! The unedited video was recorded by Mariah Parker from the audience. It is currently the #1 Asian Influence Video on Ethnocloud, and was the #1 video on the Ethnocloud Top 40 for March 2014.

Prelude and Bookenka (The Adventurer)

Recorded at Ancient Future's concert at the Freight and Salvage October 16, 2013, this is a medley of Prelude by Matthew Montfort and Bookenka (The Adventurer) by Doug McKeehan from Ancient Future's Asian Fusion release. It features Doug McKeehan on piano, Kash Killion on bass, Ian Dogole on percussion, Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on electric violin, and Mariah Parker on hammered dulcimer. It is currently the #1 North American Influence Video on Ethnocloud. The camera work and video editing was done by Michael Bradon at Seven Channel Sound.

El Zaffa

Ancient Future performs "El Zaffa" from their Planet Passion recording. The composition is based on the Egyptian wedding march rhythm "elzaffa" and features Matthew Montfort (composer, scalloped fretboard guitar), Georges Lammam (Arabic violin), Salaheddin Takesh (Arabic percussion), Doug McKeehan (keyboards), and Sapphira (belly dance). It is currently the #1 Middle Eastern Influence Video on Ethnocloud. In memory of and thanks to Brilla and Gordy Hall at Gordyo Video.

World Fusion Documentary

The video documents the history of the world music movement and shows archival clips of many of the variations of Ancient Future. Includes information on the music scene surrounding the Grateful Dead and the Ali Akbar College of Music from which the band was formed. It is currently the #1 Gypsy Influence Video on Ethnocloud. In memory of and thanks to Brilla and Gordy Hall at Gordyo Video.

Tres Videos and Three Concerts Bringing the Ancient to the Future

Jan 2014 Issue:
Ancient Future Duet Northern California Tour
•Three Concerts Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
Tres Videos
•Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang, Ancient Future at Freight and Salvage, Flamenco Guitarist David Easley
Radio Interviews
•KRCB 91.1 FM, Santa Rosa, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2 P.M. and KPFA Streaming Archive Through January 12
Gift of an Ancient Future Present Sale Ends February 11, 2014
• Four Acclaimed Releases Just $10 Each

Ancient Future Duet Northern California Tour

Shown: Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

Three Concerts Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Friday, January 10, 2014, 8 pm
The Sunflower Center at Lydia's Organics
1435 N. McDowell Blvd.
Petaluma, California 94954
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. Advance tix at eventbrite.com.
Info: Call 707-792-5304 or email info@thesunflowercenter.org
Facebook Event. Press Release. Download Tour Poster.

Saturday, January 11, 2014, 8 pm
Trinity Chamber Concerts
Trinity Chapel
2320 Dana Street between Bancroft Way & Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Special Guest: Mariah Parker (Santur)
Tix: $15 general, $10 senior/disabled/student. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Info and reservations: 510-549-3864 or email info@trinitychamberconcerts.com.
Facebook Event. Press Release. Download Tour Poster.

Sunday, January 12, 2014, 7 pm
Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Special Guest: Shenshen Zhang (Pipa)
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. Info: Call 831-603-2294 or email tmm@cruzio.com
Facebook Event. Press Release. Download Tour Poster.


Strains of flamenco, ancient Celtic music, and Indian raga will emanate from this improvisatory duet featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.
The program will feature music from the ground breaking world music recordings of Ancient Future along with serenades from Matthew Montfort's solo guitar releases: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he was lauded as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor. Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. Montfort immersed himself in an intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar.
Vishal Nagar is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. Born into a family of musicians, Vishal has been surrounded by music in an extremely musically creative and artistic environment. Vishal had his initial training for a very brief period with the late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of the Delhi Gharana. After his Ustad's untimely demise, Vishal continued his training under the guidance of Ustad Shamim Ahmed Khan. He also has had intense rhythmic training from his mother, the renowned and highly respected Kathak dancer and vocalist, Urmila Nagar.
The Trinity Chamber Concerts show will feature special guest Mariah Parker on santur, and the Don Quixote's International Music Hall concert will feature special guest Shenshen Zhang on pipa. Both are featured in the new video releases below.

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Tres Videos

Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang

This video captures the very first time that Chinese pipa master Shenshen Zhang and scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort played together. They met on August 21, 2011, at an acoustic guitar concert set up by steel string guitarist Mike Kostowskyj with Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar and Richard Patterson on classical guitar at The Wine Bar in Half Moon Bay. Mike invited Shenshen Zhang to perform a number by herself. Matthew invited her to jam with him, and this is exactly what happened from their first note together! The unedited video was recorded by Mariah Parker from the audience. Shenshen Zhang will be sitting in with Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar at Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton on January 12.

Ancient Future at Freight and Salvage

Recorded on October 16, 2013, at the Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California. This is a medley of "Prelude" by Matthew Montfort and "Bookenka (The Adventurer) by Doug McKeehan from Ancient Future's "Asian Fusion" release. It features Doug McKeehan on piano, Kash Killion on bass, Ian Dogole on percussion, Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on electric violin, and Mariah Parker on hammered dulcimer, who will be sitting in with Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar at the Trinity Chapel in Berkeley on January 11.

Flamenco Guitarist David Easley

This video just surfaced of the late flamenco guitarist David Easley performing at the Flamenco Society Juerga on June 24, 1995. David Easley had a profound effect on the early development of Ancient Future. He cornered Matthew Montfort in the hall at Boulder High School to request lessons, starting with 'Mood for a Day' by Steve Howe. David couldn't play the first chord, which was a barre chord, so Matthew tried to dissuade him. But he persisted, asking Matthew to just show him how to play a barre chord. He soon mastered it, and cornered Matthew every day asking for the next section. Within a month, he could play the entire piece! As the lessons progressed, David became an amazing guitarist, and began to perform with Matthew in the local acoustic music venues. David took an extensive study trip to Spain, and when he returned, he repaid Matthew for his mentorship by teaching him authentic flamenco forms and techniques. This was one of Matthew's first steps in his studies of world music traditions. The circumstances of David Easley's passing are still a mystery, and before this video surfaced there were no known recordings of him. At least he left behind this masterful performance.

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Radio Interviews

KRCB 91.1 FM, Santa Rosa, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2 PM and KPFA Streaming Archive Through January 12

Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar were interviewed by Jane Heaven on Sunday Night Live on KPFA on December 29. The webcast archive is available for streaming through January 12. It features the radio debut of two new studio recordings of the Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet that will soon be added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings.
On Sunday, January 5, at 2 pm, Matthew Montfort will be interviewed by David Sharp on his Crossing Borders show on KRCB 91.1 FM, Santa Rosa. It will stream live at krcb.org/on-krcb-radio-91 and on Comcast channel 961.

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Gift of an Ancient Future Present Sale Ends February 11, 2014

Four Acclaimed Releases Just $10 Each

This sale is being extended until February 11, the exact 35th anniversary of the first Ancient Future concert. Act now as this is the very last chance to purchase these releases at these prices!
The Gift of an Ancient Future Present Sale

• Planet Passion by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio.)
• Sangria by Mariah Parker. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio).
• Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008. List $17.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio).
• Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort. Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012. Signed EP CD-R. List $12.98. Sale: $10. Buy 1 Now. (>audio).
• Ancient Traditions–Future Possibilities by Matthew Montfort. Book/Enhanced CD set with MIDI Soundfiles. List $69.95. Sale: $52.95. Add optional Skype lesson for $50 ($60 List). Buy 1 Now.