2026 Releases: Tres Tarantas Tres • Punjabi Jhinzaki • Purple Spirits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/12/2025
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
415-459-1892 (no texts)
info@ancient-future.com

Tres Tarantas Tres

Impressionistic Flamenco-Indian Fusion

by Matthew Montfort

Hi-Res Square Cover Art (1.2 MB): https://www.ancient-future.com/images/trestarantas1500sq.jpg

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

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

Guitar Trek

"Tres Tarantas Tres" is the first release from Matthew Montfort’s upcoming third solo project, Guitar Trek, a trip around the world via the guitar.

Tres Tarantas Tres

The Tres Tarantas Tres double single is Matthew Montfort's first solo release on flamenco guitar, inspired by flamenco, Indian raga, and impressionism.

Tarantas is toque libre, a free form expression that lacks compás (rhythmic cycle) and a regular beat, so it could be characterized as rubato. Tarantos is a related palo (form or style) in duple meter that is danceable. They share the F# Phrygian modality and the harmonic progression Bm-A7-G-F#. Both palos include dissonances that result from the use of the guitar's first three open strings in combination with harmonies and melodies in the F# Phrygian mode.

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.

Composed in 2012, "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 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 Andalucia. Indian and flamenco dance traditions both feature complex rhythms and footwork.

Tres Tarantas Tres Release Specifications

Tres Tarantas Tres Double Single Save Stream: https://orcd.co/3tarantas3 (Participating Digital Music Platforms). Action Page: https://orcd.co/tarantas (Follow on Spotify, Email Subscribe)

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20800. UPC: 825336208001. Compositions: "Tarantas Alap" and "Tres Tarantas Tres" by Matthew Montfort © 2025 Ancient Future Music (BMI). All rights reserved. Recording Copyright: ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Recording Dates: The initial tracks for "Tarantas Alap" and "Tres Tarantas Tres" were recorded in multiple versions between November 22 and December 12, 2015. The final edits, mixes, and mastering of this double single release was completed on October 13, 2025. Formats: EP, Audio Download with Digital Liner Notes, Streaming. Sales Date: Friday, February 13, 2026. Tarantas Alap Instant Grats Date (?):  Friday, December 12, 2025. Radio Add Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Genres: World Music, Flamenco. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20802. Double Single Links: Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal (Participating Public Libraries) • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia).

Track List:

1. Tarantas Alap by Matthew Montfort (Montfort. 6:40). Featuring Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar).

Hi-Res Square Cover Art (1.4 MB): https://www.ancient-future.com/images/tarantasalap1500sq.jpg

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

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20801. UPC: 825336208018. Composition: "Tarantas Alap" by Matthew Montfort © 2025 Ancient Future Music (BMI). Recording Copyright: ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Formats: Audio Download, Streaming. Sales Date: Friday, February 13, 2026. 'Tarantas Alap' Instant Grats Date (?):  Friday, December 12, 2025. Radio Add Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Genres: World Music, World Fusion, Flamenco, Indian, Impressionist. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20801. Track Links: Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple (Instant Grat) • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon (Instant Grat) • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal (Participating Public Libraries) • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia). Reels: Facebook Reel • YouTube Short (0:43)

2. Tres Tarantas Tres by Matthew Montfort (Montfort. 4:32). Featuring Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar)

Hi-Res Square Cover Art (1.4 MB): https://www.ancient-future.com/images/trestarantas1500sq.jpg

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

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20800. UPC: 825336208001.Composition: "Tres Tarantas Tres" and "Tarantas Alap" by Matthew Montfort © 2025 Ancient Future Music (BMI). Recording Copyright: ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Formats: Audio Download, Streaming. Digital Single Sales Date: Feb. 13, 2026. Genres: World Music, Flamenco. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20802. Double Single Links: Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal (Participating Public Libraries) • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia). Reels (Live Preview at Gryphon Strings): Facebook Reel (0:34) • Instagram Reel (0:34) • YouTube Short (0:34)

Tres Tarantas Tres Art Score by Matthew Montfort

Apple Video. YouTube Video (4:32).

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-90801. UPC: 825336908017. ISRC: US-N9P-25-90801. Copyright: © ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Producer, Editor, Composer: Matthew Montfort. Formats: Art Score. Video Release Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (National Guitar Day).
Description: 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

Ancient-Future.Com Video Download (Available National Guitar Day, February 11, 2026):
Tres Tarantas Tres Educational Guitar Score Video - $2.98 (Sale $2): https://www.ancient-future.com/guitartrek.html#scorevideo

YouTube Video (4:32. Premiers During International Guitar Month, April 10, 2026)

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-90802. UPC: 825336908024. ISRC: US-N9P-25-90802. Copyright: © ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Producer, Editor, Composer: Matthew Montfort. Formats: Guitar Score Video.
Description: This version of the video is intended for musicians and music students. It shows the sheet music without any additional visuals that make it accessible to music fans but could distract from practice concentration.

Sheet Music

"Tres Tarantas Tres" is the first composition by Matthew Montfort to be transcribed as recorded including the improvised sections. The charts are available on Ancient-Future.Com in regular staff notation with and without TAB:

https://www.ancient-future.com/guitartrek.html#score

The Concept

Matthew Montfort on the Process of Creating Tres Tarantas Tres

When I entered 7th grade at Baseline Jr. High in Boulder, CO, in 1970, I decided to study jazz and classical music with the goal of combining them with rock. Soon thereafter, progressive rock and jazz-rock fusion emerged on the scene. I was thrilled, and I thought why not include the music from the whole earth? Thus began my path in world fusion music.

By high school I was teaching guitar lessons. One day in 1974 a fellow student cornered me in the hall at Boulder High, introduced himself as David Easley, and requested lessons, starting with "Mood for a Day" by Steve Howe, which was influenced by flamenco. David couldn't play the first chord, which is a barre chord, so I tried to dissuade him. But he asked me to just show him that first chord. He soon mastered it, and came to me every day in the hall learn the next section. Within a month, he could play the entire piece!

Over time, David became an accomplished guitarist, and began to perform with me at local acoustic music venues. We were both interested in flamenco. There wasn’t much opportunity to study that in Colorado then, but we were able to go to the few flamenco events that came to town and to play along with recordings. In my last year of high school, David’s mother passed away from ALS and he used his inheritance to travel to Spain for six months to study flamenco. When he returned, he provided me with valuable insight into the flamenco tradition, and tarantas was one of the main flamenco forms that David and I worked on. I learned as much from him after he returned as he had learned from me before he left for Spain.

This was one of my first steps in my studies of world music traditions. But I was researching other traditions including Indian classical music. That accelerated after my friend since fourth grade, Benjy Wertheimer, took up tabla. After high school I was off to college to study jazz at the University of Colorado, Denver, Metro Campus, where I focused on flatpicking more than flamenco and classical guitar technique. In the summer of 1977, I took the opportunity to come to the San Francisco Bay Area with Benjy Wertheimer to study at the Ali Akbar College of Music. I learned more about music in that one summer than I had in my first three semesters at the University of Colorado, so in 1978 I moved into the house that Benjy had moved to in San Rafael, which happened to be where the Diga Rhythm Band rehearsed. Later that year we formed Ancient Future.

Through my work with Ancient Future and my studies at the Ali Akbar College and the Center for World Music, I ended up specializing in the scalloped fretboard guitar. But by Ancient Future’s third recording, Quiet Fire, I had revived my classical and flamenco guitar practice.

David Easley moved to the San Francisco Bay Area a few years after I did. We kept in touch and he offered some helpful feedback when I recorded pieces on flamenco guitar for Ancient Future’s Quiet Fire release. David Easley had a profound effect on the early development of Ancient Future. He kept growing as a musician ensconced in the flamenco tradition. He performed many concerts sponsored by the Flamenco Society of San Jose, and in the 1990s spent time performing in Santa Fe, NM, the flamenco hotspot of the Southwest. Sadly, David Easley passed away in September 1996 at the age of 39. He didn't release any recordings, but a video of him performing at the San Jose Flamenco Society Juerga on June 24, 1995, was posted on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GU-5p4JiY

Matthew Montfort Artist Pages:
Artist Action Page: https://orcd.co/matthewmontfort
Streaming Sites:
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/matthew-montfort/248379 (Qobuz Hi-Res, missing scalloped fretboard releases)
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/matthew-montfort/824094 (Apple)
https://tidal.com/artist/3590146 (Tidal)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ldfNhpZj22At5veiEeaA6 (Spotify)
https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/203218 (Deezer)
https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000QK8Z38/matthew-montfort (Amazon, missing early releases)
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC4Z4PvE2gNbUJTynHMsxnfQ (YouTube)
https://www.pandora.com/artist/matthew-montfort/AR9fdbZhg7J7K7V (Pandora)
https://soundcloud.com/matthew-montfort (Soundcloud Go)
https://www.freegalmusic.com/artist/TWF0dGhldyBNb250Zm9ydA (Freegal, Participating Public Libraries)
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.montfort.music (Facebook)
https://www.instagram.com/ancientfutureband (Instagram)
https://bsky.app/profile/ancientfuturemusic.bsky.social (Bluesky)
https://ethnocloud.com/Matthew_Montfort (Ethnocloud)
https://x.com/MatthewMontfort (X-Twitter Legacy Posts)

Biography

Matthew Montfort (flamenco guitar)

Guitar Player Magazine Feature

Matthew Montfort is the leader of the world fusion group Ancient Future. He is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar, an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and guitar, on which he has two solo releases: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade. He is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com, joining luminaries such as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, and Merle Travis. Many tracks featuring him on flamenco guitar have been released including "Frogorian Trance" and "Frog Orient Chance" on Natural Rhythms; "Mountain Song," "Hillside View," "Candlelight," "Charukeshi," and "Quiet Fire" on Quiet Fire; "April Air" and "Gopi Song" on World Without Walls; "The Trader" and "Sunda Straits" on Asian Fusion; and "Semara" on Planet Passion. He is also known for his work on electric guitar, sitar, ukulele, charango, mandolin, gamelan, and glissentar, an 11 string fretless guitar he acquired via a 2006 artist deal with Godin Guitars. The December 2009 commemorative Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine includes a feature with a photo of Matthew Montfort superimposed over psychedelic artwork portraying Jimi Hendrix and an interview with Montfort linked to a GuitarPlayer.com lesson entitled "The Music of Jimi Hendrix Applied to Indian Raga" with a video of Montfort playing glissentar.

Hi-Res Photo of Matthew Montfort (5" x 3", 300 dpi, 678k):
https://www.ancient-future.com/images/yearningmatt300dpi5x3.jpg

What's an Instant Grat?

An Instant Grat is a track that can be downloaded before an album's release on iTunes and Amazon, and have that download count on Internet music charts on the release date. Download "Tarantas Alap" from "Tres Tarantas Tres" to enjoy ownership and listen before the sales date and after! With Internet access often at risk due to hacking, outages, and global conflicts, music ownership through downloads allows people to enjoy music even when the Internet is down. Each download supports the music financially, whereas it takes millions of streams to bring in significant income to artists. For example, 1,708,584 streams of a track by Ancient Future on YouTube Music netted Ancient Future only $101.16. That's less than 6/1000 of a cent per stream! Yes, thousandths of a cent!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/29/2026
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
415-459-1892 (no texts)
info@ancient-future.com

Punjabi Jhinzaki

Tribute to Zakir Hussain

by Ancient Future

Hi-Res Square Cover Art (1.0 MB): https://www.ancient-future.com/images/punjabi-jhinzaki1500sq.jpg

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

Dropped March 9, 2026

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. He left an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and musical innovator. This tribute exclusively features musicians who have performed and recorded with Zakir: Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), George Brooks (sax), and Kai Eckhardt (bass). "Punjabi Jhinzaki" dropped on March 9, 2026, the 75th anniversary of his birth. 

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

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20303. UPC: 825336203037. Digital Single Sales Date: Monday, March 9, 2026. Preorder Date: Friday, February 20, 2026. Composition: "Punjabi Jhinzaki" by Matthew Montfort © 2026 Ancient Future Music (BMI). All rights reserved. Recording Copyright: ℗ 2026 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Formats: Audio Download, Streaming. Genres: World Music, Indian Fusion, Indian Jazz. ISRC: US-N9P-26-20303. Track Links: Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal (Participating Public Libraries) • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia)

Ancient Future - Zakir Hussain History

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

By Matthew Montfort

Ustad Zakir Hussain Qureshi, known for his extraordinary skill on the tabla and fusion of musical styles, passed away in December 2024 at age 73 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leaving an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and innovator. Beloved around the world, Zakir has left an indelible mark on countless musicians.

Ancient Future likely would not have formed if not for him. He was an important early influence through his work with Shakti and the Diga Rhythm Band, and was original Ancient Future member Benjy Wertheimer's tabla guru. In the summer of 1977, Benjy Wertheimer and I traveled from Boulder to San Rafael to study North Indian classical music at the Ali Akbar College of Music. There we met members of the Diga Rhythm Band, moved into a house where they rehearsed, and joined an offshoot of Diga called Greenhouse Intergalactic that included Tor Dietrichson, Arshad Syed, Jim Loveless, and Ray Spiegel. Greenhouse Intergalactic opened for Zakir Hussain at the San Rafael Improvement Club, but after messing up a rhythmic cadence in front of Zakir, the band was so embarrassed that it broke up. Two groups formed from the ashes: Ancient Future and Sun Orchestra, which was a large Latin jazz band that often performed the music of the renowned pianist and composer Carlos Federico. One night Carlos and Zakir sat in with Sun Orchestra at the Sleeping Lady Cafe, where Ancient Future played its first concert months later. Zakir told me to check my B string, and sure enough, it was out of tune. Zakir was performing on timbales, and when I played my first solo of the night, Zakir was right there with me anticipating every single note, which unexpectedly took off into the stratosphere, forever changing my playing.

The association between Ancient Future and Zakir Hussain continued over the years. He played on Ancient Future's fifth release, World Without Walls. Ancient Future at the time was signed to Narada Records. This was our second release on their Sona Gaia sub-label, which offered more artistic freedom. However, the price was much less promotion, and they still didn’t approve tracks they deemed too edgy. Arranging for Zakir Hussain’s participation in the project was made more difficult because he was not yet on the record label’s very limited radar. One of the A&R reps even mispronounced his name as “Zoocar”! They said they could only approve double scale for the recording hours, and no funds for rehearsal. But Zakir was very kind and said that if we sent him a cassette, he would listen to it on the way to the recording studio. We knew we could absolutely trust this approach with Zakir, but we weren’t prepared for just how ready he was. When he got to the studio, he asked me what sort of feel we wanted for certain sections of our pieces, and he had memorized the bar numbers of each section of each piece! As one of the composers, I didn’t even know the bar numbers and had to get out my chart and count them. I’m a very collaborative bandleader, so I put each composer in the producer’s chair for their pieces. When Zakir finished his first take of Jim Hurley’s tune inspired by Shakti violinist L. Shankar, “Lakshmi Rocks Me,” Jim was so blown away that he just stood there with his mouth agape!

I have performed on bills with Zakir on multiple occasions. One of the most notable was on June 8, 1997, at the Monterey World One Festival, where Ancient Future played after Los Lobos and before Zakir Hussain. To feel the reverberations of history, I performed in the spot where Jimi Hendrix had famously burned his guitar at the Monterey International Pop Festival three decades before. And now that reverberation continues with this tribute, which came about after fellow Boulder High alumni Steven Day, who as a boy received tabla instruction from Zakir, sent a donation to InterMusic SF two days after Zakir passed with a note asking me to compose and record a tribute. That was a tall order, but I accepted the assignment. All the musicians performing on this tribute mourn the loss of Zakir Hussain and feel blessed to have worked with him on recordings and concerts.

Ancient Future Artist Pages:
Artist Action Page: https://orcd.co/ancientfuture
Streaming Sites:
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/ancient-future/download-streaming-albums (Qobuz Hi-Res)
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ancient-future/1380172 (Apple)
https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3505703 (Tidal)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5oQLP9K23E63u9BHB1b4LT (Spotify)
https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/12660 (Deezer)
https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000QJW0DU/ancient-future (Amazon)
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC-u6LeUkpy5gd2hdnU0CJFQ (YouTube)
https://www.pandora.com/artist/all-albums/ancient-future/ARKXJPKKJzVZb3J (Pandora)
https://soundcloud.com/ancient-future-band (Soundcloud Go)
https://www.kkbox.com/tw/tc/artist/-nZ0RdSsLGYcGZqJrU (KKBox, Japan, Southeast Asia)
https://www.freegalmusic.com/artist/QW5jaWVudCBGdXR1cmU (Freegal, Participating Public Libraries)
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/ancientfuture (Facebook)
https://www.instagram.com/ancientfutureband (Instagram)
https://bsky.app/profile/ancientfuturemusic.bsky.social (Bluesky)
https://ethnocloud.com/Ancient_Future (Ethnocloud)
https://twitter.com/ancient_future (X-Twitter Legacy Posts)

Bio's

Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar, drone)

Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar, an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and guitar. He has three solo releases: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar, Sympathetic Serenade, and Tres Tarantas Tres. Based on his originality, innovation, technique, and influence on guitarists over the years, he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com, joining luminaries such as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, and John Renbourn. He has performed worldwide, including the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra in Spain, the Mumbai Festival at the Gateway of India, and the Music for People and Thingamajigs Festival in San Francisco, from which a segment of his performance and an interview about his guitar work was broadcast on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC.

Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla)

Aditya Kalyanpur is hailed by many as “the rightful heir to Punjab Gharana.” Aditya’s colossal repertoire, and his signature style of bold execution of syllables and pinpoint-precise rhythm, are founded in rigorous study and knowledge. For the child prodigy who could replicate intricate rhythmic patterns on his first tabla at the age of 3, there was no going back. Aditya’s training began with none other than the legendary late Ustad Allah Rakha, and continued with Zakir Hussain. Aditya was first seen with his guru Ustad Zakir Hussain in the famous "Wah Taj!" television commercial at the age of 11. To quote the acknowledging words of tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain for his young, talented disciple; "Even a young player like, say, Aditya Kalyanpur has the ability to approach the instrument with much more expertise than someone of his age would do 30 years ago."

George Brooks (saxophone)

Acclaimed for bridging the worlds of jazz and Indian classical music, George Brooks began his jazz studies with Count Basie saxophonist Frank Foster, and continued at the New England Conservatory of Music with George Russell, Joe Allard and Jaki Byard. After graduating, he studied intensively in India with master vocalist Pandit Pran Nath. Returning from India, George settled in California and began his long association with pianist Terry Riley. George Brooks released Lasting Impression in 1996 and Night Spinner in 1998 on Zakir Hussain’s Moment Records. In 2000, he recorded Summit, an Indian/jazz fusion work featuring Zakir and Journey drummer Steve Smith. George worked with Zakir on the score for the 2002 Yo-Yo Ma and Mark Morris collaboration Kolam. In 2008, he was featured on John McLaughlin’s Grammy-nominated Floating Point.

Kai Eckhardt (fretless bass)

German born bassist/composer Kai Eckhardt began playing music in 1975. Born in 1961, he spent his early years in both Germany and Liberia/West Africa. Kai eventually moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, from which he graduated with honors in 1987. Kai Eckhardt then joined the John McLaughlin trio in 1988 with Trilok Gurtu on percussion. This particular lineup has often been credited with pushing the envelope of fusing modern jazz with South Indian classical music. Their album Live at the Royal Festival Hall went to the top of the Billboard jazz charts. Kai received invitations to perform with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Vikku Vinayarkam. In 2000, he released his first CD as a leader, entitled Honour Simplicity, Respect the Flow, which features Zakir Hussain.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/10/2026
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
415-459-1892 (no texts)
info@ancient-future.com

Purple Spirits

Tributes to Musical Giants

Hi-Res Square Cover Art: https://www.ancient-future.com/images/purplespirits1500sq.jpg: (1.0 MB)

by Ancient Future and Matthew Montfort

Drops April 10, 2026

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.

Purple Spirits Pre-Save: https://orcd.co/purplespirits

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20312. UPC: 825336203129. Recording Copyright: ℗ 2026 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Digital Album Sales Date: Friday, April 10, 2026. CD Release Date: May 29, 2026. Radio Add Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Web Page: ancient-future.com/purplenirvana.html. One-Sheet (166k .pdf with audio/video links): purple spirits 1 sheet.pdf. Formats: Audio Download, Streaming, CD. Genres: World Music, World Fusion, Indian Jazz. Smart Link: orcd.co/purplespirits. LP Links (Live Friday, April 10, 2026): Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YouTube • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal (Participating Public Libraries) • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia)

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

All tracks on "Purple Spirits" are live as of March 9, 2026. Use these individual track links to stream or purchase digital singles now!

1. 'Punjabi Jhinzaki (Zakir Hussain Tribute)' (Montfort) 6:20. Smart Link: orcd.co/zakirtribute. Track Links: Qobuz (Hi-Res 24-Bit/96 kHz) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal (Participating Public Libraries) • KKBox (Japan, Southeast Asia) Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), George Brooks (sax), and Kai Eckhardt (bass), who have performed and recorded with Zakir Hussain. Genres: World Music, Indian Fusion, Indian Jazz. ISRC: US-N9P-26-20303.
2. 'Spirit of Nirvana (Extended Intro)' (Cobain, Grohl, and Novoselic) 5:55. Smart Link: orcd.co/spiritnirvana. Track Links: Qobuz • Spotify • Apple • Deezer • Tidal • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • KKBox • Freegal. Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Mariah Parker (santur), and Benjy Wertheimer (tabla). Genres: World Music, Rock. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20305.
3. 'East of the Sun (Studio Version with Paul McCandless, Oboe)' (Montfort) 5:10. Smart Link: orcd.co/eastsun. Track Links: Qobuz • Spotify • Deezer • Tidal • Apple • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • KKBox • Freegal. 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. Genres: World Music, Jazz. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20301.
4. 'Tarantas Alap' (Montfort) 6:40. Smart Link: orcd.co/tarantasalap. Track Links: Qobuz • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal • KKBox. 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. Genres: World Music, World Fusion, Flamenco, Indian, Impressionist. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20801.
5. 'Tres Tarantas Tres' (Montfort) 4:32. Smart Link: orcd.co/3tarantas3. Track Links: Qobuz (Track 2) • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal • KKBox. 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. Genres: World Music, Flamenco. ISRC: US-N9P-25-20802.
6. 'Purple Nam (Glissentar and Đàn Bầu Duet)' (Montfort) 1:18. Smart Link: orcd.co/purplenam. Track Links: Qobuz • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal • KKBox. Matthew Montfort (Godin glissentar, fretless bass) and Bui Huu Nhut (đàn bầu) with Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion) and Mariah Parker (keys). Genres: World Music, Asia. Genres: World Music, Asia. ISRC: US-N9P-24-20307.
7. 'Purple Haze (Vietnamese Đàn Bầu Style)' (Jimi Hendrix) 3:25. Smart Link: orcd.co/purplehazeaf. Track Links: Qobuz • Spotify • Apple • Tidal • Deezer • Amazon • YTmusic • Soundcloud • Pandora • Freegal • KKBox. Matthew Montfort (Godin glissentar, fretless bass), Bui Huu Nhut (đàn bầu), and Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek percussion) with Mariah Parker (keys). Dedicated to Jimi Hendrix. Genres: World Music, Rock. ISRC: US-N9P-24-20308.

Purple Spirits Videos

Purple Nam (Glissentar & Đàn Bầu Duet) Official Music Video by Ancient Future

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

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-90307. UPC: 825336903074. ISRC: US-N9P-24-90307. Videographer: Michael Braden. Producer, Editor: Matthew Montfort. Composition: "Purple Nam" by Matthew Montfort © 2016 Ancient Future Music (BMI). Recording Copyright: © ℗ 2024 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Formats: Official Music Video - Live in Studio. Videographer: Michael Braden. Video Release Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (National Guitar Day).
Description: "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 Art Score Video by Matthew Montfort

Apple Video. YouTube Video (4:32).

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-90801. UPC: 825336908017. ISRC: US-N9P-25-90801. Copyright: © ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Producer, Editor, Composer: Matthew Montfort. Formats: Art Score.
Description: 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 Educational Guitar Score Video by Matthew Montfort

Ancient-Future.Com Video Download (Available National Guitar Day, February 11, 2026):
Tres Tarantas Tres Educational Guitar Score Video - $2.98 (Sale $2): https://www.ancient-future.com/guitartrek.html#scorevideo

YouTube Video (4:32. Premiers During International Guitar Month, April 10, 2026)

Catalog Number: Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-90802. UPC: 825336908024. ISRC: US-N9P-25-90802. Copyright: © ℗ 2025 Ancient-Future.Com Records. All rights reserved. Producer, Editor, Composer: Matthew Montfort. Formats: Guitar Score Video.
Description: This version of the video is intended for musicians and music students. It shows the sheet music without any additional visuals that make it accessible to music fans but could distract from practice concentration.

Sheet Music

"Tres Tarantas Tres" is the first composition by Matthew Montfort to be transcribed as recorded including the improvised sections. The charts are available on Ancient-Future.Com in regular staff notation with and without TAB:

https://www.ancient-future.com/guitartrek.html#score