Ustad Habib Khan and Matthew Montfort in Atlantis, Beirut, Lebanon

Arriving at Atlantis

A Jugalbandi Concert by Ustad Habib Khan (sitar) and Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) with Ben Mawhorter (tabla).Tuesday, August 15 through Thursday, August 17, 2000

Sound check for the first night at the Atlantis club is a surreal experience. Does this place really exist? In Beirut, Lebanon? And they want an Indian music concert in a club? Is this really happening?

There are aquariums everywhere, and there is a piranha tank that raises up from the dance floor on a motor controlled from the DJ balcony above the stage...Ustad Habib Khan sits unafraid of the danger lurking below.

Guitarist Matthew Montfort contemplates the meaning of being male at the portal to the men's room...

and yes, even the washroom is filled with aquariums at Atlantis...

Guitarist Matthew Montfort offers some tuning notes for sitarist Ustad Habib Khan while soundman Christmas sweats over how to mic a sitar and the piranhas chow down. After the sound check, it's time for caffeine... when a Starbucks is spotted there must be a GREAT Lebanese coffeehouse close by...yes THERE it is!

After coffee, the concert is started with a Raag Yemen Jugalbandi with Ustad Habib Khan and Matthew Montfort in tintal, and after the concert, the audience gave a standing ovation. Many said "guitar and sitar go so well together in Indian classical music! We've never heard anything like this before." Ustad Habib Khan was so happy he said "Matthew Montfort is an American Ravi Shankar on guitar."


		Arriving at Atlantis A Jugalbandi Concert by Ustad Habib Khan (sitar) and Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) with Ben Mawhorter (tabla).Tuesday, August 15 through Thursday, August 17, 2000 Sound check for the first night at the Atlantis club is a surreal experience. Does this place really exist? In Beirut, Lebanon? And they want an Indian music concert in a club? Is this really happening?
	There are aquariums everywhere, and there is a piranha tank that raises up from the dance floor on a motor controlled from the DJ balcony above the stage...Ustad Habib Khan sits unafraid of the danger lurking below.

		Guitarist Matthew Montfort contemplates the meaning of being male at the portal to the men's room... and yes, even the washroom is filled with aquariums at Atlantis...
	Guitarist Matthew Montfort offers some tuning notes for sitarist Ustad Habib Khan while soundman Christmas sweats over how to mic a sitar and the piranhas chow down. After the sound check, it's time for caffeine... when a Starbucks is spotted there must be a GREAT Lebanese coffeehouse close by...yes THERE it is!

	After coffee, the concert is started with a Raag Yemen Jugalbandi with Ustad Habib Khan and Matthew Montfort in tintal, and after the concert, the audience gave a standing ovation. Many said "guitar and sitar go so well together in Indian classical music! We've never heard anything like this before." Ustad Habib Khan was so happy he said "Matthew Montfort is an American Ravi Shankar on guitar."