Showing posts with label 100. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 100. Show all posts

Sunday, December 2, 2012

End of the Beginning 2012

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


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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




End of the Beginning of the Ancient Future

World Without Walls CD Cover Art
World Without Walls

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!

Sympathetic Serenade Cover ArtPlanet Passion CD CoverSeven Serenades CD CoverSangria CD Cover


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

Band PhotoBand PhotoBand Photo

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.


Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert

Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensmble
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

Video of Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert


Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Acoustic Guitar for Children RecitalUkulele for Children RecitalAcoustic Guitar RecitalClassical Guitar for Seniors RecitalBlues Guitar Recital

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.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Oct 2012: Indo Latin Jazz Party and Music Education Fun

Ancient Future Times
Oct 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan PageMatthew 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


Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in Concert

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

Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensmble
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
Concert Video
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)

Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Matthew Montfort on Youtube
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

Acoustic Guitar for Children RecitalUkulele for Children RecitalAcoustic Guitar RecitalClassical Guitar for Seniors RecitalBlues Guitar RecitalFlamenco Guitar RecitalClassical Guitar Recital
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 Cover Art
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.


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

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

Ancient Future Times

Sept 2012 Issue:
Welcome to the Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan PageMatthew 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


Ancient Future World Without Walls Lineup Reunion Concert

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

Ancient Future Photo Circa 1990 by Irene Young (Links to 864 x 570 Screen Version)

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

14 Steps youtube video

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 CD Cover Art

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

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)


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

Photo of Matthew Montfort

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

Matthew Montfort on Youtube

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 Cover Art

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.


Randy Mead Memorial Concert

A Benefit for the Mead Family

Ancient Future Circa 1982

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.