Ancient Future Times: In Loving Memory

Ancient Future Times: In Loving Memory
Fall 2016 Issue:

In Loving Memory of Phil Fong
•Passing of Original Ancient Future Member
World Music at Open Secret October 14
•An Evening of World Music Improvisations Featuring Matthew Montfort, Pascale Caristo, Daniel Berkman, and Emam
Helping Hands
•Send Percussionist Jim Santi Owen Good Vibes
Phone Home A.F.A.R.
•Check Out the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings on Mobile Friendly Ancient-Future.Com!
Skype Lesson Sale
•Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort
Save the Dates
•Important Shows in Early 2017

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In Loving Memory of Phil Fong

Hi-Res Photo of Ancient Future Circa 1979 (1.3 MB). Shown: Benjy Wertheimer, Phil Fong, Mindia Devi Klein, Matthew Montfort

Passing of Original Ancient Future Member

On July 18, 2016, Philip Fong passed away at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco after a battle with ALS. His family reported that he was courageous for the year and a half that he was hospitalized, and for most of that time he enjoyed a decent quality of life with the aid of a ventilator and speaking valve.
Phil Fong was an amazing musician and one of the most soulful sarod students of Ali Akbar Khan. The amount of emotion in his music was truly remarkable. But he became disenchanted with the music business only a few years after Ancient Future formed, and after leaving the band, earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology, becoming a therapist practicing in San Francisco. No one can blame him for taking this course, and no doubt his patients are very thankful for his help. But Phil's musical legacy is important as well. He was well liked by his Ali Akbar College of Music alumni, and in addition to his work with Ancient Future, he played in a variety of other ensembles, from classical Indian music to punk rock.

Archival Video of Ancient Future with Phil Fong

YouTube video of Ancient Future Circa 1978. Shown: Matthew Montfort, Yusef Ali, Mindia Devi Klein, Phil Fong, Benjy Wertheimer

This video is an amazing archaeological find: the very first video of Ancient Future, recorded in late 1978, months before Ancient Future's first concert! Thanks to Jonah and Mariposa at Marin Artists International who were able to rescue parts of Ancient Future's first video recording session from archival oblivion during the time that Phil was hospitalized. This short teaser from 'Eternal Embrace' by Phil Fong from Visions of a Peaceful Planet was the first release from this archeological expedition. Performances of two complete pieces featuring Phil and the rest of Ancient Future have been recovered, and are now available on the reunion E-CD edition of Visions of a Peaceful Planet. We were able to get the video to Phil's family before he passed.

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World Music at Open Secret October 14

An Evening of World Music Improvisations Featuring Matthew Montfort, Pascale Caristo, Daniel Berkman, and Emam

Friday Nights World Music at Open Secret is a music series produced and presented by Emam, who performs with each artist on the series.
Friday October 14, 2016, 7:30 PM
Open Secret Bookstore
923 C St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Info: 415-457-4191
Tix: $20 donation at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!
For more information: 415-472-1008
Facebook Event.
Poster.

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Helping Hands

Send Percussionist Jim Santi Owen Good Vibes

"Last week it was confirmed that the testicular cancer that I was treated for in 2011 has returned. The good news is that this is one form of cancer that Western medicine has learned how to treat. It is considered to be 90%-98% curable. The not so good news is that that cure necessitates my undergoing 3-4 cycles of chemotherapy over the next 9-12 weeks with at least a month of recovery time afterward. I am (thankfully!) fully insured and fully supported by my family and friends, especially my amazing partner, Reshma Vasanwala. That said, I am sure we will need some help over the next few months, though, at this moment, I don't know exactly what that will be. For now, your thoughts and prayers and positive energy are appreciated if you feel inspired to send them our way." – Jim Santi Owen
Jim Santi Owen and Reshma Vasanwala are using LotsaHelpingHands.com to organize support over the next four or more months while Jim undergoes chemotherapy treatment:

https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/jimsantiowen

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Phone Home A.F.A.R.

Check Out the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings on Mobile Friendly Ancient-Future.Com!

For world music aficionados, Ancient-Future.Com has a lot of valuable information, educational exercises, and streaming music and video, and now it is accessible on mobile devices! This huge in-house project has taken many hours away from precious music production time, and there are still a few projects left, including an expensive upgrade to the shopping cart to make it truly mobile friendly.
But you can help to insure that music production gets the attention it deserves. The fan funded Archive of Future Ancient Recordings gives supporters access to Ancient Future recordings as they are created. This summer, six new pieces and a video were added to the archive, bringing a total of 86 minutes and 51 seconds of music available to supporters immediately, with more to come as more money is raised!
As many are aware, forces within the tech industry seeking to profit from free content have destroyed financial support for music by promoting the meme that free music is good for musicians, claiming that musicians would gain exposure and make money playing concerts. But now that even famous musicians no longer make money from their recordings, they have to be on the road most of the year to make a living. This has driven down performance fees and made it harder to book viable concert tours for unusual acts like Ancient Future.
Ancient Future is dedicated to the idea that cross-cultural collaboration can help to create a better world, and now more than ever needs your help to continue to create world fusion music. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.

Live Video of A.F.A.R. Track

Watch video on Ethnocloud
A live medley of Prelude and Bookenka (The Adventurer), which was originally recorded on Ancient Future's Asian Fusion release, has been added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. Fans can check it out on Ethnocloud at 720p now, and then get it in full resolution beautifully shot HD 1080p video and rich 96-kHz/24-bit audio as a thank-you for becoming a hi-res supporter of A.F.A.R.!

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Skype Lesson Sale

Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Guitar Player Magazine Feature on Matthew Montfort Plus Online Lesson (1.4 MB pdf).
Matthew Montfort offers all styles and levels of guitar (and other plucked instruments) instruction as well as lessons on any of the subjects on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype. For further information, visit www.matthewmontfort.com or send an email to info@ancient-future.com.

Skype Sale

30 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $50. Sale $36. Buy 1 Now.
45 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $65. Sale $48. Buy 1 Now.
60 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $75. Sale $60. Buy 1 Now.

Recommended Training Manual

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort (Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2). Sale $52.95. Buy 1 Now. A must-have for all students of world music, plus there is an additional discount on a Skype lesson with your online purchase at Ancient-Future.Com!

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Save the Dates

Important Shows in Early 2017

Save the dates of these important early 2017 shows!
Sunday, January 22, 2017, 7 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz CD Release Concert
Freight & Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Tix: $24 adv., $28 door. Purchase tickets.
Info: Call 510-644-2020 or email info@freightandsalvage.org

Sunday, January 29, 2017, 7 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz CD Release Concert
Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Info: 831-603-2294 or email tmm@cruzio.com

Saturday, February 4, 2017, 8 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz CD Release Concert
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.)
Occidental CA 95465
Info: 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Saturday, February 11, 2017, 8 PM
Ancient Future 38th Anniversary Concert
Trinity Chamber Concerts
Trinity Chapel
2320 Dana Street between Bancroft Way & Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Info and reservations: 510-778-1719 or email info@trinitychamberconcerts.com

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

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

In this issue:

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

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

Randy Mead Memorial Concert
•A Benefit for the Mead Family

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Ancient Future World Without Walls Lineup Reunion Concert

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

Ancient Future circa 1990. Photo by Irene Young.

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

Video of 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert

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

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

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

World Without Walls by Ancient Future with special guest Zakir Hussain was nominated by broadcasters worldwide in February 2012 as ZoneMusicReporter's Best World Album of 2011. The record debuted at #39 on the October 2011 ZMR Airplay Chart, which covers many different radio genres, from Ambient to Folk, Jazz, and World, and at #34 on the CMJ New World Chart in November 2011. The recording features Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort (guitars), Jim Hurley (violin), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Ian Dogole (percussion), plus special guest performances by world music legend and tabla master Zakir Hussain.

Tabla master Zakir Hussain

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

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

DigitalDreamDoor's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

DigitalDreamDoor.com is a website featuring Greatest 100 Music, Movie, and Book lists. On August 12, 2012, scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort was added to their 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list. Inclusion on this list of the world's best acoustic guitarists is based on originality, innovation, technique, and influence on other musicians. The list is intended for musicians whose primary instrument is the acoustic guitar, but not including the pioneers of jazz, classical, or flamenco, as DigitalDreamDoor maintains separate lists for those genres. Matthew Montfort joins luminaries such as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex De Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino in receiving this honor.

Biography

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

As leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort has devoted himself to the scalloped fretboard guitar since 1978. Montfort immersed himself in an intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. His scalloped fretboard work was featured in 2003 and 2005 at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain, which showcases top guitarists from all over the world. He toured India in 2006 and 2008, performing at the prestigious Festival of India in Mumbai with sitar master Pandit Habib Khan and tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. He has performed live on national shows such as the Echoes Living Room Concerts on PRI, and the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. He holds a B.A. in World Music and Composition and an M.A. in Arts and Media Technology from Antioch University. For his M.A. thesis, Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions — Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills. Matthew Montfort teaches all styles of guitar along with music theory and repertoire for all instruments. He offers private lessons, music tutorials, and group classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and online via Skype, and is available to teach master classes and workshops worldwide.

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

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

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

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Randy Mead Memorial Concert

A Benefit for the Mead Family

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

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

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

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