2026 Issues: February
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 Pre-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 Pre-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 Pre-Save Double Single: https://orcd.co/3tarantas3 (Participating Digital Music Platforms)
Sheet Music
Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score - $5.95 (Sale $4.95): 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
Official Video:
Tres Tarantas Tres Art Score (AF-90801) by Matthew Montfort (Montfort. 4:33). Featuring Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar, art score). YouTube Video • Apple Music Video
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.
Educational Score Video:
Tres Tarantas Tres Guitar Score (AF-90802) by Matthew Montfort (4:33). Featuring Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar, educational guitar score video).
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.
Tres Tarantas Tres Score Video - $2.98 (Sale $1): Add Video to Cart. Buy Video Now.
Punjabi Jhinzaki
Zakir Hussain Tribute
Punjabi Jhinzaki Pre-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, 2025, 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 Himalayayan Fair is facing steep cost increases and won't be able to hold the fair at all this year without extra support. You can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-to-keep-the-himalayan-fair-alive.
Tentative if Funds Raised: Sunday, May 16 or 17, 2026, Ancient Future, Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709.
Music Classes
Ancient Future bandleader Matthew Montfort holds beginning and intermediate guitar classes on Wednesday evenings at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance. One private lesson slot is available on Wednesday, and online lessons are available on weekdays. For more information, send an email to lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
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. The workshop schedule will be announced in March..
Free Guitar Workshops
TBA, Wednesday, April ?, 2026, 6 to 9 PM
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
Counting Rhythm with World Beats
Learn how to use Indian syllables to enhance your rhythm skills, practice the hypnotic music of Bali featuring interlocking rhythms with syncopated 16th notes, and play West African bell patterns. Not just for percussionists, this workshop can help any musician, singer, dancer, or music lover improve their rhythmic skills. Very simple to play percussion instruments will be provided.
World Music
An introduction to the introduction to the basics of several world music traditions including Indian raga and flamenco. Learn about the melodic gravity of raga and the palos of flamenco. Open to guitarists and other instrumentalists.
Beginning and Intermediate Guitar
Learn chords, songs, music theory, and reading music notation.