Blog
Feb. 2025 Issue
Ancient Future Times: Arts Alive in 2025
Purple Nirvana
•Hendrix and Nirvana Covers Plus Originals
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2025.html#purplenirvana
Himalayan Fair Returns
•Ancient Future Performs
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2025.html#concert1
Free Music Workshops
•World Rhythms and All Styles of Guitar
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2025.html#workshop1
Keep the Arts Alive in 2025
•Make a Tax Deductible Donation
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2025.html#donation
Spirit of Nirvana
•Preview Ancient Future's Nirvana Cover Starting New Year's Eve
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2024.html#spiritofnirvana
Concerts and Classes
•Zoom, Bolinas, Santa Rosa, & Cloverdale
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2024.html#janconcerts
Tribute to Zakir Hussain
•March 9, 1941 - December 15, 2024
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2024.html#zakir
Make Tax Deductible Donation
Support World Fusion Music
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2024.html#donation
Ancient Future's First Ever Cover Song to be Released in Tribute to Jimi Hendrix!
Sep 18, 2024
313 views
Save Stream: https://orcd.co/purplehazeaf
Preview: https://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1763666579
Press Release: https://www.ancient-future.com/releases2025.html#purplehaze
June 12 & 19, 2024, 7 PM
Free Music Workshops
Study World Rhythms and All Styles of Guitar
A series of free introductory in-person music workshops at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance taught by guitarist and Ancient Future bandleader Matthew Montfort starts with two 45 minute guitar workshops on June 12, 2024, and finishes with a one hour world rhythms workshop on June 19, 2024. After the series is complete, ongoing classes will be offered tailored to the individual goals of workshop participants.
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
Matthew Montfort Bio
Hi-Res Photo (300 dpi, 5" x 3"): http://www.ancient-future.com/images/yearningmatt300dpi5x3.jpg
Matthew Montfort is known as a world guitar innovator and an inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire. He is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at DigitalDreamDoor.com along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino. He is the leader of the world music group Ancient Future and performs on many instruments, including scalloped fretboard guitar, Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, flamenco guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, sitar, charango, mandolin, and gamelan.
Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used at many music schools including the Berklee College of Music. Matthew Montfort was on the faculty of the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco for three decades where he taught rock, folk, jazz, blues, classical guitar, music theory, and world music. He teaches all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, charango, sitar, and mandolin as well as music theory for all instruments and rhythm classes based on his book.
Guitar Workshops
Poster (658k .pdf): https://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/gtrworkshop.pdf
Free In-Person Beginning and Intermediate Guitar Workshops
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com
Beginning Guitar
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 7 to 7:45 PM
This free 45 minute introductory beginning workshop can help aspiring guitarists get started on the right track with good practice habits.
Intermediate Guitar
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 7:45 to 8:30 PM
This free 45 minute workshop explores exercises, music notation, theory, and popular repertoire.
World Rhythms Workshop
Poster (565k .pdf)
https://www.ancient-future.com/pdf/gtrworkshop.pdf
Got Rhythm? Get the Beats of Africa, Bali, and India
Free 60 Minute In-Person Workshop
Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 7 to 8 PM
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com
Coming soon: West African rhythm workshop, Balinese gamelan workshop, Indian tala workshop (all 90 minutes)
This workshop is a wonderful way to improve timing skills. Matthew Montfort's book, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India, is the basis for this world music workshop and 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 rock and jazz drummer.
This free introductory 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 percussionists, this workshop can help any musician, singer, dancer, or music lover improve their rhythmic skills. No musical background is required. Very simple to play percussion instruments will be provided, and participants are free to bring an instrument.
Additional 90 minute workshops each focusing on a single musical tradition will be be offered in the coming months.
Rhythm Training Materials
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort. Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles: $52.95 (SALE! Normally $69.95): http://www.ancient-future.com/atfp.html
"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
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2024.html#may
Ancient Future Concert at Old St. Hilary's Landmark, Tiburon, CA April 14, 2024, 4 PM
Feb 11, 2024
374 views
Ancient Future Concert at Old St. Hilary's Landmark
Guitar and Pipa Duet Featuring Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhan
View Press Release Online with Photos and Video:
https://www.ancient-future.com/pr2024.html#april
Video of the First Notes Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang Ever Played Together!
http://ethnocloud.com/Ancient_Future/?y_video=2144&b=942
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 notes together! After its release on YouTube, the video rose to #1 on the Ethnocloud Top 40 Chart in March 2014.
Ancient Future Guitar and Pipa Duet Concert
The world fusion music group Ancient Future features master musicians from many traditions who work together in different ensemble configurations. This improvisatory collaboration between Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang showcases the beautiful tone colors of the Chinese pipa and scalloped fretboard guitar in traditional and contemporary arrangements.
Sunday, April 14, 2024, 4 PM, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Shenshen Zhang (Chinese pipa), Old St. Hilary's Landmark, 201 Esperanza St., Tiburon, CA 94920. Tix: $25, $20 seniors and under 18, $5 more at door. Advanced sales at Tiburon Town Hall, Landmarks Office, and Ticketleap.com (coming soon). Info: 415-435-1853.
Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
The leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort, is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar and is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com, a curated "best of" site, along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges and Merle Travis. He has performed concerts worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai. He has performed live on national radio and TV shows such as the Echoes Living Room Concerts on Public Radio International, and the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. He has worked with many world music legends, including tabla phenomenon Zakir Hussain and Chinese zither master Zhao Hui. 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.
Shenshen Zhang (pipa)
A native of Wenzhou, China, Shenshen Zhang began playing the pipa at the age of nine. At thirteen, she auditioned and was accepted into the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where in 1992, she was awarded a Bachelor's Degree. In 2005, Ms. Zhang received Master's Degree in Musicology from Xiamen University. As an award-winning concert soloist, she performed and toured extensively throughout Asia and the U.S. Since making her home in SF Bay Area in 2006, Ms. Zhang has combined her lengthy performance career and her vast experience as an educator, preserving the musical heritage of China while also exploring other world cultures. From 2015–2017, Ms. Zhang taught in Stanford University as music instructor and conductor. In 2022, Ms. Zhang joined the Music Department at Santa Clara University as an applied instructor. She also has her own pipa studio in Silicon Valley where she teaches classical Chinese music. Her solo album, ‘Serenity,’ released in 2019, features a collection of traditional pipa masterpieces. Shenshen has been exploring new musical conversations with her ongoing live improvisations and collaborations with the pioneering world music ensemble Ancient Future, and world music artists group Common Sounds Ensemble. She also was selected to the Bay Area pilot program by American Composers Forum, and her original composition will be released early Spring in 2024 on the Innova recording label.
Quotes
"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
World Rhythms
Got Rhythm? Get the Beats of Africa, Bali, and India
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 7 to 7:45 PM
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425. Introductory workshops: FREE. Ongoing classes: $150 for six more weeks. Sign up: info@cloverdaleartsalliance.org. Online versions sign up: info@ancient-future.com.
This workshop is a wonderful way to improve timing skills. Matthew Montfort's book, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India, is the basis for this world music workshop and 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 rock and jazz 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 rhythm skills. 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 instrument they enjoy playing.
Rhythm Training Materials
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort. Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles: $52.95 (SALE! Normally $69.95): Buy Link: https://www.ancient-future.com/atfp.html
"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
Matthew Montfort Bio
Ancient Future bandleader Matthew Montfort is known as a world guitar innovator and an inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire. He is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at DigitalDreamDoor.com along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino. He is the leader of the world music group Ancient Future and performs on many instruments, including scalloped fretboard guitar, Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, flamenco guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, sitar, charango, mandolin, and gamelan.
Sept. 2022 Issue
Ancient Future Times: The Elephant in the YouTube
View Online With Video and Photos:
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2022.html
Elephant Appreciation Day Premier
•L.E.T.S. Watch on YouTube 9/22/22
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2022.html#premier
L.E.T.S Playlist
•Add World Fusion Music to Yours!
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2022.html#playlist
https://www.ancient-future.com/news2022.html
First Ancient Future Concert Since 2019!
https://www.ancient-future.com/pr_zoom_concert.html
Subscribers to the Ancient Future Times wrote to suggest that Ancient Future offer virtual concerts during the pandemic and beyond. A new series of Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future was created in response, and Matthew Montfort was the inaugural performer on his birthday, February 12, 2021.To sign up for upcoming shows, simply send your email address to info@ancient-future.com. Put "Alternate Reality Concert" in the subject. You will receive a link to participate before each performance. There's currently no charge, but donations are very much needed to support the music, especially in this time of uncertainty as to when concerts will again be safe and potentially economically viable.
Exactly four months later, Ancient Future will perform a live streaming concert on June 12 at 3:30 PM PST. It's the first Ancient Future performance since the end of their 40th anniversary season in late 2019, when the band performed at the Kentucky Mine Amphitheater in Sierra City, California. Tabla master Aditya Kalyanpur was on that date and handed his iPhone to audience members to take videos of the performance. He shared the results with Jhankar, an Indian arts organization in Cincinnati, and they came forth to sponsor this streaming concert. The concert features a trio program consisting of Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Aditya Kalyanpur on tabla, and Frank Martin on keyboards. The set list features compositions by Matthew Montfort and Frank Martin.
Saturday, June 12 , 3:30 PM PDT
Ancient Future Trio
Free Streaming Concert Sponsored by Jhankar:
https://www.jhankar.org/events/2021/AncientFuture.html
Facebook Live:
https://www.facebook.com/events/261356152436413
YouTube Live:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdP2ueIgM_JpvTSJ1iivHhg
Upcoming Show Notifications: Send your email address to info@ancient-future.com. Put "Alternate Reality Concert" in the subject.
Time Conversions:
Saturday, June 12 , 12:30 PM HST (Hawaii), 6:30 PM EDT (East Coast USA), 7:30 PM GMT-3 (Rio de Janeiro)
Sunday June 13, 12:30 AM CEST (Central Europe), 4:00 AM IST (India), 7:30 AM JST (Japan)
Biographies
Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla, percussion)
Photo of Aditya Kalyanpur
Hi-Res Photo of Aditya Kalyanpur (6.5" x 4.5" 300 dpi, 1.5 MB)
Aditya Kalyanpur began his training on the tabla at the age of five under the guidance of two of India's top tabla masters: the late Alla Rakha Khan and his son Zakir Hussain. Aditya was first seen performing with Ustad Zakir Hussain for the famous "Wah Taj!" television commercial at the age of 11. His style consists of bold and clear execution of syllables, pinpoint precision in rhythm coupled with a colossal repertoire of compositions and improvisational technique. He has performed with top Indian artists including Shivkumar Sharma, Shujaat Khan, and A.R. Rahman. He can be heard on Katy Perry's "Legendary Lovers" from her album "Prism," and also recorded with Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones.
Frank Martin (keys)
Photo of Frank Martin
Hi-Res Photo of Frank Martin (2" x 2", 300 dpi)
Master keyboardist Frank Martin has performed and/or recorded with a wide variety of artists that include Stevie Wonder, Sting, Larry Coryell, Flora Purim & Airto Moriera, Herbie Hancock, Tuck & Patti, Nguyen Le, Trilok Gurtu, John McLaughlin, Santana, Chris Isaak, B.B. King, Larry Carlton, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Patti Labelle, L. Subramaniam, Ramsey Lewis, Stanley Turrentine, Turtle Island String Quartet, Zakir Hussain, Wayne Shorter, Chico Pinheiro, Mel Torme, Dizzy Gellespie, Ronnie Laws, Charlie Musselwhite, Annie Lennox, John Mellencamp, Run DMC, MC Hammer, and many others.
Matthew Montfort (band leader, scalloped fretboard guitar)
Photo of Scalloped Fretboard Guitarist Matthew Montfort
Hi-Res Photo of Matthew Montfort (5" x 3", 300 dpi, 678k)
Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the steel string guitar). He is on DigitalDreamDoor.com's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list. Inclusion on the list is based on originality, innovation, technique, and influence on other acoustic guitarists over the years. He has performed worldwide, including the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona, the Mumbai Festival at the Gateway of India in Bombay, and the Music for People and Thingamajigs Festival in San Francisco, from which a segment of his performance was broadcast on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC along with an interview about his guitar work. 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.
