FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8/28/2017
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records. Tel:
1-415-459-1892. Email:
info@ancient-future.com
Ancient Future Performs Free Educational Library Concerts
Hi-Res Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar at Recording Session by Michael Braden (858k):
Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
One of the program variations of the trailblazing world fusion music
ensemble, Ancient Future, this improvisatory duet features world guitar
pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by either Arabic percussion
virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Strains
of flamenco, Arabic music, and Indian raga emanate from this duet
performing renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking
world music recordings as well as many new unreleased works!
These hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County
libraries will the audience to musical concepts from world music such as
Indian and Arabic rhythms.
September Concerts
Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 6:30 to 7:30 PM,
Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Petaluma Regional Library, 100
Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA 94952. Free. Info:
707-763-9801 or visit
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
Saturday, September 16, 2017,
2 to 3 PM,
Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Northwest Santa Rosa Library,
150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Free. Info:
707-546-2265 or visit
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
November Concerts
Wednesday November 8, 2017,
5 to 6 PM,
Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Healdsburg Regional Library, 139
Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Free. Info:
707-433-3772 or visit
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
Wednesday November 8, 2017,
7 to 8 PM,
Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Windsor Regional Library, 9291
Old Redwood Highway Building 100, Windsor, CA 95492. Free. Info:
707-838-1020 or visit
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
Winter Concerts
Saturday, December 2, 2017,
2 to 3 PM,
Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped
fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Sonoma Valley Regional
Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free. Info:
707- 996-5217 or visit
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
Saturday, January 6, 2018,
2 to 3 PM,
Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar)
and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Guerneville Regional Library,
14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free. Info:
707-869-9004 or visit
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
'El Zaffa' by Ancient Future
Video of Arabic fusion music by Ancient Future:
http://ethnocloud.com/Ancient_Future/?y_video=1148&b=942
'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future
Video of Indian fusion music by Ancient Future:
https://ethnocloud.com/Ancient_Future/?y_video=2381&b=942
Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard and fretless guitars)
Hi-Res Photo of Matthew Montfort by Julie Marten (2 MB):
http://www.ancient-future.com/images/matthewmontfort600.jpg
The leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort,
released his first solo recording, Seven Serenades for Scalloped
Fretboard Guitar, in 2009. He 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. He 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, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Merle
Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan,
Alex De Grassi, and Peppino D'Agostino. The December 2009 Les Paul issue
of Guitar Player Magazine includes a full page feature on Matthew
Montfort with a corresponding GuitarPlayer.Com video and lesson entitled
“The Music of Jimi Hendrix Applied to Indian Raga.” 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.
Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion)
Antoine Lammam was born in Beirut, Lebanon. His musical career started
early, where at the age of 8 he was given his first drum, an Egyptian
tabla. Antoine's passion and his huge talent was noted by his family,
many of whom were themselves involved in the arts. At the age of 14,
Antoine moved to United Arab Emirates with his family, running away from
the war in Lebanon, where he joined a local band at 16. He was
encouraged to master his craft and studied under very famous Khalidji
Conga master Jumah Ibrahim and famous Syrian bongos and tambourine
player Marwaan Sheriff. The move to United Arab Emirates and joining a
number one band consisting of 20 members gave the young Antoine a rich
insight into the cultural origins of Middle Eastern music mixed with the
flavors of Indian and African rhythms. In the mid of 1970's, Antoine
became the main drummer for famous Khalidji singer Abdullah bel-Kheir.
But as Antoine began looking for new dimensions of percussive sounds, he
found himself turning full circle into his first interest and his
sensual passion for the Arabic tambourine.
It wasn't till late 1970's, when Antoine met and studied with famous
tambourine player Michael Baklouk. After that, Antoine became the main
tambourine player at Dubai's major radio station, where he enjoyed
playing for famous artists, doing different contest shows, and recording
for various top singers of that time. Antoine had accompanied many
famous singers in the USA, played at major night clubs all over America,
and taught Arabic rhythms and percussion theories at UC Berkeley (World
Music from the Middle-East) from 1991-2009. Antoine is featured on many
record releases, including Ancient Future's Planet Passion and his own
poetry and music album, Echoes Of Silence, which features his brothers,
the famous violinist Georges Lammam and master accordion player Elias
Lammam.
Vishal Nagar (Indian tabla)
Hi-Res Photo of Vishal Nagar by Inni Singh (5 MB):
http://www.ancient-future.com/images/vishal_nagar300dpi.jpg
"He has magic in his hands" - Hindustan Times
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.
Since childhood, he has been fascinated by tabla and began to play at an
early age. 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 of the same Gharana (school). Along with the
dense and rare tabla repertoire taleem which was he received from his
Ustad, he also has had intense rhythmic (layakari) training from his
mother, the renowned and highly respected Kathak dancer and vocalist,
Urmila Nagar. Vishal has been praised in the Indian press for his unique
combination of melodic tabla sound production with masterful command of
rhythm.
Vishal has had the privilege of performing with such renowned artists as
Ustad Shujaat Khan, Guru Urmila Nagar, Vidhwan Trichur Ramachandran,
Pandit Ramesh Misra and Miss. Kala Ramnath. Vishal has also had the
honor of sharing the stage with some great world music masters such as
African drum legend Babatunde Olatunji, Michel Shrieve, Evyind Kang,
Carmona Flamenco, and Michael Wimberley. Vishal has also expanded his
cultural boundaries and collaborated with musicians from around the
world. Some of his memorable works have been with the Ghanaian Guitarist
Koo Nimo with whom he also appeared in WOMAD USA (a leading world dance
and music festival started by Peter Gabriel). Starting his performance
career at the age of eight in Patna, Vishal has performed around the
globe including performances in many cities in India, Sweden, Germany,
Denmark, Thailand and the United States. Vishal has also been awarded
with the Ministry of Culture Scholarship from the Department of Culture.
Recent Recordings on Ancient-Future.Com Records
'The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings' by Ancient Future:
http://www.ancient-future.com/afar.html
During Ancient Future's 30th anniversary year, work started on the next
project of the band: the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings
(A.F.A.R.). To finance the project, a subscription system model is being
employed to fund the recording through fans of world fusion music.
There are already eight tracks in the archive available right now to
subscribers, with more coming as money is raised for production.
'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future:
http://www.ancient-future.com/yearning.html
"Matthew Montfort has been sending us wonderful music for many years
now… this newest EP is (without question) the best music I've ever heard
him play! The
9:37
'Yearning For The Wind' is 'the' piece… Matthew is joined by Vishal
Nagar on tabla, and they clearly show (sonically) the joy than can be
achieved by well-placed and strictly focused music. The tabla percussion
makes it far more than 'just another raga'… I'm very strongly impressed
and moved by this single piece of music…. you'll find yourself spinning
it over and over again." — Dick Metcalf, ZZAJ PRODUCTIONS
'Planet Passion' by Ancient Future:
http://www.ancient-future.com/planetpassion.html
"If the members of the United Nations formed a world-fusion band, it
might look and sound a little something like Ancient Future's re-issue
of their seventh recording. Featuring instrumentation from Africa, Asia,
South America and the Middle East, Planet Passion is a mythical story
of love, flirtation, seduction, courtship, marriage and longing. Manose
Singh's bansuri flute and Matthew Montfort's scalloped fretboard work
stand out in this eclectic, visionary global village, where each track
features its own unique set of players. At its best, Planet Passion
strives to preserve the world's vast musical heritage via international
collaboration: the idea that one protects the old by creating something
new. This is at the heart of fusion music and the heart of Ancient
Future's global aesthetics, too: a diverse, unified world without
borders, a multicultural community, a new, reconstituted sonic reality."
— Ryan Allen, LEO WEEKLY, Louisville, Kentucky
'Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar' by Matthew Montfort:
http://www.ancient-future.com/serenade.html
"Because Montfort's guitar has a scalloped fretboard, his fingers touch
only the strings, enabling him to produce ornaments more characteristic
of the sitar. This album reveals a thorough knowledge of Hindustani
microtonal ornaments, transferred in ways that create one of the most
distinctive guitar sounds in contemporary music. However, it also
reveals a lifetime of exploration in world music, which can be
immediately summoned in a flash of inspiration. When this level of
mastery is reached, there is no need to rewrite. The first improvisation
has the depth of a reworked composition." — Teed Rockwell, INDIA
CURRENTS, March 2009
'Sympathetic Serenade' by Matthew Montfort:
http://www.ancient-future.com/sympathetic.html
"Both Matt Montfort and his band Ancient Future have been reviewed in
FAME before, and the work is always superlative, but this one, a CD
11-minute single, is an expression of solo virtuosity on a variant axe
which isn't employed by very many. Primarily a Spanish composition,
there's nonetheless always a generous infusion of raga structures and
riffs in Montfort's work as well as more Westerly rhythmatics.
Sympathetic Serenade is no exception. Brilliant modern semi-neoclassical
work with very strong ties to the traditional residing within
progressive annals." – Mark S. Tucker, FAME
79 Word Radio Announcement for September Sonoma County Library Concerts
The trailblazing world music group Ancient Future will perform two free
educational library concerts in September featuring scalloped fretboard
guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort with accompaniment by Arabic percussion
virtuoso Antoine Lammam. The first concert is
Wednesday, September 6, 2017, from
6:30 to 7:30 PM, at Petaluma Regional Library at 100 Fairgrounds Drive. The second concert is
Saturday, September 16, 2017, from
2 to 3 PM, at Northwest Santa Rosa Library at 150 Coddingtown Center. For more information, visit
www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
76 Word Radio Announcement for November Sonoma County Library Concerts
The trailblazing world music group Ancient Future will perform two free educational library concerts on
Wednesday, November 8, 2017,
featuring scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort with
accompaniment by Arabic percussion virtuoso Antoine Lammam. The first
concert is from
5 to 6 PM, at Healdsburg Regional Library at 139 Piper Street. The second concert is from
7 to 8 PM at Windsor Regional Library at 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 100. For more information, visit
www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
56 Word Radio Announcement for December Sonoma County Library Concert
The trailblazing world music group Ancient Future will perform a free
educational library concert featuring scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer
Matthew Montfort with accompaniment by Indian tabla master Vishal Nagar
on
Saturday, December 2, 2017, from
2 to 3 PM, at Sonoma Valley Regional Library at 755 West Napa Street in Sonoma. For more information, visit
www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
52 Word Radio Announcement for January Sonoma County Library Concert
The trailblazing world music group Ancient Future will perform a free
educational library concert featuring scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer
Matthew Montfort with accompaniment by Arabic percussion Antoine
Lammam, on
Saturday, January 6, 2018, from
2 to 3 PM, at Guerneville Regional Library at 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd. For more information, visit
www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
153 Word Radio Announcement for Six Concert Sonoma County Library Series
The trailblazing world music group Ancient Future will perform six free
educational library concerts featuring scalloped fretboard guitar
pioneer Matthew Montfort with accompaniment by either Arabic percussion
virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla master Vishal Nagar:
Wednesday, September 6, 2017, from
6:30 to 7:30 PM, at Petaluma Regional Library at 100 Fairgrounds Drive;
Saturday, September 16, 2017, from
2 to 3 PM, at Northwest Santa Rosa Library at 150 Coddingtown Center;
Wednesday, November 8, 2017, from
5 to 6 PM, at Healdsburg Regional Library at 139 Piper Street;
Wednesday, November 8, 2017, from
7 to 8 PM at Windsor Regional Library at 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 100;
Saturday, December 2, 2017, from
2 to 3 PM, at Sonoma Valley Regional Library at 755 West Napa Street in Sonoma; and
Saturday, January 6, 2018, from
2 to 3 PM, at Guerneville Regional Library at 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd. For more information, visit
www.sonoma.lib.ca.us.
At age 27, Isamu McGregor has established himself on a global scale as a
highly sought-after pianist, keyboardist, musical director and
arranger. Having toured the world over the last few years with an
amazingly diverse group of artists (Richard Bona, Colbie Caillat, Virgil
Donati, Sadao Watanabe), he has gradually been finding time between
tours to work on his new album, Resonance, which is available LA-based
Ghost Note Records. This will be his second album as a leader, following
his 2012 debut Live at The Baked Potato, which received strong reviews
from All About Jazz and other publications ('A bright talent, and a name
from whom we're sure to hear a lot more'). While McGregor's first album
was dominated by an electric/fusion sound that many characterized as a
unique mix of Weather Report, Headhunters and Wayne Krantz, Resonance
finds McGregor returning to a more acoustic setting. 'I've always loved
playing acoustic piano, but I found that people knew me mainly as a
keyboard player, due to the nature of my first album. And while I love
keyboards and electronics, it would not be difficult for me to admit
that acoustic piano is still my first passion.' Resonance offers a mix
of both acoustic and electric palettes that mutually inspire each other.
McGregor plays grand piano on all but one track, while various
keyboards and synthesizers make appearances throughout the record.
Electric bassist Evan Marien and drummer Gene Coye return to provide a
strong foundation that effortlessly accommodates the shifting styles
from song to song. Guitarist Deen Anbar (who played on McGregor's first
record in its entirety) makes a memorable appearance on 'Thor vs James
Brown', and two special guests lend inspiration and lyricism to the
acoustic side: Bennie Maupin on bass clarinet ('The Drifter'), and
Seamus Blake on tenor saxophone ('Relentless').
Comprised of six performers and composers, all with stellar resumes but based in far-reaching corners of the country, the members of the Unhinged Sextet were originally drawn together through long-standing mutual associations. After gathering in Arizona for their debut, 2015's 'Clarity,' they were compelled to further explore the writing, emotions, and aesthetic the grouping inspired. The resulting performance of eight original compositions displays the warm regard the players have for each other's talents and a collective group dynamic clearly moving forward.