2026 Issues: February • April

February 2026 Issue

New Releases
• Flamenco Guitar and Zakir Hussain Tribute

Concerts
•Pipa - Guitar Duet and Himalayan Fair Needs Support

Music Classes
• Celebrating International Guitar Month

New Releases

Ancient-Future.Com Records is releasing two new recordings: "Tres Tarantas Tres" by Matthew Montfort and "Punjabi Jhinzaki" by Ancient Future! Here are some things that you can do to help people find out about them:

Add world music releases to your playlists on streaming sites, and share your playlists on social media. These links make that easy: https://orcd.co/3tarantas3 (Tres Tarantas Tres by Matthew Montfort) and https://orcd.co/zakirtribute (Punjabi Jhinzaki by Ancient Future). Purchase hi-res downloads at sites like Qobuz and Tidal.
Follow Ancient Future on social media sites and share posts so that they have a chance of being seen. On most sites, there are extra steps needed to follow posts, as just liking a post won't mean you'll see the next one.
Make direct donations to artists and purchase their records.

This is important because tech companies now reap almost all the profits from independent artist releases and charge them to reach their fans. To the detriment of creative music, streaming algorithms favor music that sounds exactly like what fans are already listening to. Jazz and world music radio shows are being replaced with pop, rap, and Americana programs, and traditional media companies are laying off music reporters, making fan engagement essential.

Tres Tarantas Tres

Flamenco Guitar and Zakir Hussain Tribute

Matthew Montfort's First Solo Flamenco Guitar Release and Music Scores!

Tres Tarantas Tres Save Double Single: https://orcd.co/3tarantas3 (Participating Digital Music Platforms)

Tres Tarantas Tres by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20800)

Reels (Live Preview at Gryphon Strings, 0:34): Facebook Reel • Instagram Reel • YouTube Short

Tarantas Alap

Tarantas is a flamenco palo (form) that is toque libre (free tempo). A raga could be described as melodic recipe for a mood in Indian classical music. Tarantas has similarities to alap, the section of a raga where the mood is thoroughly explored without tempo before the tabla enters. "Tarantas Alap" is an improvised introduction to "Tres Tarantas Tres" that combines the flamenco tarantas palo with Indian alap.

Tarantas Alap Save Single: https://orcd.co/tarantasalap (Participating Digital Music Platforms)

Tres Tarantas Tres

"Tres Tarantas Tres" was inspired by tarantas and tarantos. It was also influenced by Indian classical music, and uses some slide techniques from South Indian vina music. As the name implies, the piece has its own unique compás (rhythmic cycle) of three series of three beat phrases, with both rubato and in tempo passages. It even makes a foray into impressionism à la "Gymnopédies" by Erik Satie.

There’s some similarity between flamenco palos and Indian ragas. Flamenco music is perhaps a product of the cross-cultural exchange that resulted from the Calé people migrating from India to Andalucía. Indian and flamenco dance traditions both feature complex rhythms and footwork.

Tres Tarantas Tres Save Double Single: https://orcd.co/3tarantas3 (Participating Digital Music Platforms)

Sheet Music

Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score - $5.95 (Sale $3): Add Score to Cart. Buy Score Now.

"Tres Tarantas Tres" is Matthew Montfort’s first composition to be transcribed as recorded including the improvised sections. The 17 sheet music includes performance notes and three score versions: one with just staff notation, one with staff notation and tablature, and a three page version condensed for live performances. Classical and flamenco guitarists are encouraged to record and release their own versions. Contact info@ancient-future.com to arrange for mechanical rights.

Score Videos

Tres Tarantas Tres Art Score Video by Matthew Montfort (Montfort). YouTube Video. Apple Video (4:32). Combining aspects of the flamenco forms tarantas and tarantos, Indian classical, and impressionism à la Erik Satie, “Tres Tarantas Tres” has its own unique compás (rhythmic cycle) of three series of three beat phrases. The guitar score flows across the screen with background visuals in sync with the rubato and in tempo passages as the music plays.

Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score Video by Matthew Montfort (Montfort). YouTube Video (4:32. Premiers During International Guitar Month, April 10, 2026). This version of the video is intended for musicians and music students. It follows the sheet music without any additional visuals that could distract from practice concentration.

Ancient-Future.Com Video Download (Available National Guitar Day, February 11, 2026):
Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score Video - $2.98 (Sale $1): Add Video to Cart. Buy Video Now.

Punjabi Jhinzaki

Zakir Hussain Tribute

Punjabi Jhinzaki Save: https://orcd.co/zakirtribute (Participating Digital Music Platforms)

Punjabi Jhinzaki by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20303)

Zakir Hussain (March 9, 1951 - December 15, 2024)

Ustad Zakir Hussain Qureshi passed away December 15, 2024, at age 73 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His passing was a huge loss to music and the world. A few days later, Matthew Montfort received a donation through InterMusic SF with a note saying it was for composing and recording a tribute to Zakir Hussain. That was a tall order, but he accepted the challenge.

This tribute exclusively features musicians who have performed and recorded with Zakir. After finishing the score, Montfort mocked up the whole piece with MIDI instruments, recorded the guitar tracks, and then sent mixes to the other musicians. Kai Eckhardt recorded his bass track, Aditya Kalyanpur laid down the tabla track in India, and then George Brooks overdubbed his tenor sax track. Montfort mixed and mastered it in time for "Punjabi Jhinzaki" to be released March 9, 2026, to honor Zakir Hussain's 75th birth anniversary.

Concerts

Pipa - Guitar Duet

Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Fusion of Times featuring Shenshen Zhang (Chinese pipa) and Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Cheeseboard Collective Parklet, 1512 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709.

Himalayan Fair Needs Support

The Himalayan Fair is facing steep cost increases and needs support to continue. Ancient Future is donating its honorarium less travel expenses this year to help keep the fair alive. You can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-to-keep-the-himalayan-fair-alive.

May 17, 2026, 2:45 PM (tentative), Ancient Future, Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Free.

April 2026 Issue

Purple Spirits by Ancient Future Album Release
• Tributes to Musical Giants

Music Classes
• Celebrating International Guitar Month

Himalayan Fair
• Support the Fair and See Ancient Future Perform

Purple Spirits

Tributes to Musical Giants

by Ancient Future and Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future's 8th Album Available for Download Now!

Purple Spirits Smart Link: https://orcd.co/purplespirits (Participating Digital Music Platforms)

Purple Spirits is a collection of tributes to artists Ancient Future has historical connections with. "Punjabi Jhinzaki" is a tribute to tabla master Ustad Zakir Hussain, who was very instrumental in the development of Ancient Future and appears on Ancient Future's World Without Walls release. "Spirit of Nirvana" acknowledges the surprising history between Ancient Future and Nirvana. "East of the Sun (Studio Version)" features wind virtuoso Paul McCandless of Oregon. Sadly, this is the last oboe recording featuring him to be released, as in 2017 he was diagnosed with a health condition that led him to retire from playing oboe, although he kept a busy performance schedule on his other wind instruments until 2025. "Tres Tarantas Tres" is a tribute to David Easley, Matthew Montfort's high school guitar student who became a master flamenco player. "Purple Nam and Purple Haze (Vietnamese Đàn Bầu Style)" is a tribute to Jimi Hendrix that incorporates Indian raga and Vietnamese music.

Help people find out about Ancient Future's 8th LP:

Follow Ancient Future on social media sites and share posts.
Use the Album Links and Track List Smart Links to add Purple Spirits to playlists on streaming sites and share your playlists on social media.

Album Links: Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YouTube • Soundcloud • Pandora • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia)

Track List (33:20, 33 1/3)

Punjabi Jhinzaki (Zakir Hussain Tribute) (Montfort) 6:20. Smart Link: orcd.co/zakirtribute. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), George Brooks (sax), and Kai Eckhardt (bass), who have performed and recorded with Zakir Hussain.
Spirit of Nirvana (Extended Intro) (Cobain, Grohl, and Novoselic) 5:55. Smart Link: orcd.co/spiritnirvana. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Mariah Parker (santur), and Benjy Wertheimer (tabla).
East of the Sun (Studio Version with Paul McCandless, Oboe) (Montfort) 5:10. Smart Link: orcd.co/eastsun. Paul McCandless (oboe), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitars, fretless bass), Benjy Wertheimer (tabla), and Mariah Parker (santur). The last oboe recording featuring Paul McCandless released since he retired from performing on oboe due to health reasons.
Tarantas Alap (Montfort) 6:40. Smart Link: orcd.co/tarantasalap. Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar). This improvisatory introduction to "Tres Tarantas Tres" combines the flamenco tarantas form with Indian alap. Dedicated to David Easley, a student of Matthew Montfort in high school who went to Spain to study flamenco and upon his return showed Montfort what he had learned, including tarantas. David went on to become a flamenco master, but sadly passed away at the age of 39.
Tres Tarantas Tres (Montfort) 4:32. Smart Link: orcd.co/3tarantas3. Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar). Based on the flamenco tarantos form, but instead of groups of two, it's based on three groups of three. It combines aspects of Indian music, tarantos and tarantas, and impressionism.
Purple Nam (Glissentar and Đàn Bầu Duet) (Montfort) 1:18. Smart Link: orcd.co/purplenam. Matthew Montfort (Godin glissentar, fretless bass) and Bui Huu Nhut (đàn bầu) with Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion) and Mariah Parker (keys).
Purple Haze (Vietnamese Đàn Bầu Style) (Jimi Hendrix) 3:25. Smart Link: orcd.co/purplehazeaf. Matthew Montfort (Godin glissentar, fretless bass), Bui Huu Nhut (đàn bầu), and Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion) with Mariah Parker (keys). Dedicated to Jimi Hendrix.

Purple Spirits Videos

Purple Nam Video

Apple Video (1:24). YouTube Video (1:40).

Purple Nam (Glissentar & Đàn Bầu Duet) Official Music Video by Ancient Future (Montfort). "Purple Nam" is a Vietnamese version of Matthew Montfort’s "Purple Raga," a set of improvisation rules he developed based on Indian classical and Woodstock era music. Each performance is unique, but evokes a similar mood. This video was captured at the "Purple Nam" recording sessions. It features live basic tracks by Matthew Montfort (glissentar), Bui Huu Nhut (đàn bầu), and Mariah Parker (keyboard), and an overdub by Abbos Kosimov (doyra, shakers).

Tres Tarantas Tres Score Videos

Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score Video by Matthew Montfort (Montfort). YouTube Video (4:32). This version of the video is intended for musicians and music students. It follows the sheet music without any additional visuals that could distract from practice concentration.

Ancient-Future.Com Video Download:
Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score Video - $2.98 (Sale $1): Add Video to Cart. Buy Video Now.

Sheet Music

Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score - $5.95 (Sale $3): Add Score to Cart. Buy Score Now.

Music Classes

Ancient Future bandleader Matthew Montfort holds beginning and intermediate guitar classes on Wednesday evenings at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance. Potential students are welcome to audit a class as a free introduction. One in-person private lesson slot is available on Wednesdays, and online lessons are available on weekdays. Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.

April is International Guitar Month

Due to years of reductions in school music programs, many of today's music fans have not been exposed to music basics. This needs to change. In response, Matthew Montfort is offering FREE workshops celebrating International Guitar Month online and at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance in downtown Cloverdale, California. Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.

Free Guitar Workshops

Guitar Workshop Poster (67k .pdf)

Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 6:30 to 8:45 PM
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425

Beginning Guitar
6:30 PM to 7:15 PM
How to play basic chords used in easy songs. Learn the basics of music notation.

Intermediate Guitar
7:15 PM to 8:00 PM
Learn chords, songs, music theory, and reading music notation.

International Rhythms
8 to 8:45 PM
Play and count rhythms of international music. Learn Indian rhythmic symbols, Balinese interlocking rhythms with syncopated 16th notes, and West African bell patterns. Not just for guitarists, reciting syllables can help any musician, singer, dancer, or music lover improve their rhythmic skills.

Himalayan Fair

May 17, 2026, 2:45 PM (tentative), Ancient Future, Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Free.