By Matthew Mont5ort -- Imagine music combining the irre- has something very unique and wonder- Future's second record (which Phild sistible rhythms of a jungle of African, ful to offer contemporary musicians. Rounder reissued on CD in 1994 to Balinese7 Indian, Middle Eastern and Through studying world music a uni- commemorate 15 years of Ancient Fu- South American percussion with the versal set of musical skills can be devel- ture history). Natural Rhythm (Philo beautjful melodic qualities of Indian oped that will allow the musician to 9006), includes a mite based on live raga and the rich harmonies of Europe. perform a broad range of styles7as well jam sessions with the rice paddy frogs Imagine a musical world without bor- as inspiring new forms of music. and Balinese musicians. As we sat un- ders where new music is created My desire to learn traditional music der the stars playing our instruments, through cross cultural exchange. More I integrated its knowledge into the frogs would join in when certain This was the dream I had when I my own work led me to many interest- rhythms were played. formed the world fusion music group ing adventures, including a trip to Bali As effortless and magical as play- Ancient Future in 1978. For me, this to study gamelan music. The music of ing music with rice paddy frogs was, be@dmamgpointinthe Bali seems to spring magically from fully integrating what I had learned evolution of music. One needed to go both the culture and the natural form about world rhythms into my music no further than the lacal record store to of the island Eveqthing from axiety turned out to be a dif£icultbut fhlfilling find music hmAfrica, Ma, Europe, to music to nature interlocks. The co- pursuit. I found that when I con- Indonesia, the Middle East and &uth operative village axial structure is mir- sciously combined one musid idea America. At the same time, rock music rored in the structure of the gamelan from one culture with another idea fkom had become very popular in third world compositions. The concept of kotehn, a Merent tradition, I would see many countries. an interlocking rhythm where two play- new musical ideas come forth. Al- This inspired me to create new mu- ers make one rhythm or melody by though the experiments sometimes pro- sic for an emerging world culture. At playing on each other's o£fbeats perme- duced some music that sounded forced, the time Ancient Future was formed, ates all. These rhythms of the gemelan more often the results were very there was no category for this music. mimic the interlocking calls of the rice exciting. We coined the term world fusion music paddy fiogs (or vice versa). Indeed, I For example, I was struck by the for music that combines ideas fiom two found that certain rhythms would in- great fondness that young Balinese or more musical traditions. spire the frogs towards song. Ancient showed for rock and roll. I had the idea There is an abundance of muical knowledge available to the musician 1 SHARE THE LEGEND OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY! with a global perspective, European ORDER THE WHITE BUFFALO T-SHIRTS OR classical music has developed harmony, 1 1-i SWEATSHIRTS NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! polyphony and orchestration to an ad- has T-SHXRTS (WHlTE OR GREY) S16.00 vanced state. Indian music devel- SWEATSHIRTS M'HWE OR GREW $30.00 oped melody and rhythm to a high degree of refinement. African music has SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER ALONG WITH developed multiple layers of rhythm NAME, ADDRESS, QUANllTY DESIFSD into an advanced form. Balinese music AND SIZE (LARGE,XL, XXL ONLY) has developed a refined form of orches- To: tral percussion with interlocking rhyth- mMAR PROMOTIONS mic phrases. These traditions formed P.O. Box 764 the basis for my world rhythm training JANESVILLE, WI 53547 book, @Ancient Traditions - Future PLEASE ADD $2.50 FOR SHIPPING & HANDLING Possibilities: Mythmic Training ON EACH ITEM ORDERED! ?%rough the Traditions of Africa, Bali ALIDW 24WEEKS FOR DELIVERY and India" (Mill Valley, Panoramic ALL SHIRTS ARE A 50150 COlTON BLEND Press 1985). Each of these traditions I NEW AVENUES OCTNOV 1994 45 that it would be exciting to mix rock read Chinese music notation, she taught process. music with Balinese kotekan. After me "Dusk Song of the Fisherman," an Of course, musicians have been ex- some experimentation, I found that I ancient Ching Dynasty theme depicting changing knowledge across national had best results by studying the tradi- the fisherman returning at dusk, sing- boundaries as long as there has been tional rhythms to improve my musi- ing a happy song. I had never per- contact between cultures. For instance, cianship and then letting the knowledge formed a fixed composition with so Flamenco music was the result ofcross- steep in my subconscious mind. Then much elasticity of tempo. She was able cultural exchange between the Spanish when I least expected it, wonderful new to communicate the tempo changes with and Moorish cultures. One of the most fusions of musical ideas would come to her body language, much as a conductor successful cross-cultural exchanges in me almost magically in the inspira- would cue an orchestra, only she does modem times was the music of Shakti, tional moments of composition. My this while she is playing, making her led by jazz-rock guitarist John gamelanjrock fasion ideas came to frui- music seem like a graceful dance. McLaughlin with South Indian violinist tion with a piece called "Gamarock," This experience was the genesis for L. Shankar, South Indian percussionist which showcases an electric violin soar- the sixth Ancient Future record. Asian T.H. Vinayakram, and North Indian ing over rock versions of gamelan Fusion (Narada Equinox 630023). I be- tabla master Zakir Hussain. Shakti rhythms. The piece then plunges into a came very inspired about the kind of combined classical Indian music and traditional gamelan section with a Bali- music that we could make by fusing an- Western music at a level that had not nese style drum solo and ends with an cient Asian and contemporary Western been reached before. Indianlrock scalloped fretboard guitar elements, and set about writing compo- We recorded a tribute to violinist L. solo over bamboo gamelan sounds. The sitions for her. Through working with Shankar called "Lakshmi Rocks Me" piece was included on the fourth An- Ancient Future she was exposed to a for the World Without Walls cient Future record, Dreamchaser whole different approach to rhythm and (NaraMSona Gaia 62763) release, and (NaraMSona Gaia 154) improvisation that was both exciting felt fortunate to be able to work with Another way world fusion music and extremely challenging to her. In Zakir Hussain on the record Many of gets created is through collaboration be- my composition "The Empress" (off the the great masters of traditional music tween artists from different cultures. At Asian Fusion CD), I wrote into her part appreciate seeing their knowledge be- the end of an Ancient Future perform- a complex Balinese kotekan, an Indian come a part of the emerging popular ance, I was introduced to Zhao Hui, one rhythmic cadence known as a tihai, and world culture, and Zakir's input was ex- of China's foremost masters of the gu intricate melodies with Latin rhythms. tremely exciting and inspiring. Zakir's zheng (Chinese zither), and a musical She had never even danced to Latin tabla and kanjira helped "Lakshmi get together was quickly arranged. I rhythms and she was being asked to Rocks Me" to rock out both in Western was absolutely captivated by her play- perform some of the most difficult of and Eastern terms. ing. The sound of her gu zheng blended these rhythms. But needless to say, she As this planet becomes more aware beautifully with my scalloped fretboard pulled it off beautifully, because she of itself as a whole, a growing number guitar, and a real musical chemistry was willing to work long, hard hours to of musicians are now experimenting was immediately apparent. With her get it right. A truly great musician with new combinations of world music husband acting as an interpreter, I loves a challenge. That is the beauty of styles. Today, the expanding popularity asked her many questions about Chi- cross-cultural exchange - people learn- of world music merits its own sales nese music. After explaining how to ing from each other and growing in the chart in Billboard. The world fusion . music movement is blossoming. Matthew Montfort has led the world fusion music group Ancient * Individual Counseling Future since 1978, producing six highly acclaimed CD's. The latest Age Regression & Ancient Future release, Asian Fu- * sion, was the Tower Pulse! pick for Past Life Work the #4 Best Contemporary Instru- an. mental Release of 1993. Able to accept most insurance plans for counseling sessions. An award-winning guitarist (Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Cambridge, WI Colorado Outsanding Young Gui- $60 classes (30 min from Janesville or . tarist Award 1976), Matthew holds Sam - 4pm Madison) a B.A. in World Music and Compo- Classes average 6 meditations 1-608-423-4773 sition and an M.A. in Arts and Me- or partner exercises per day. ., Sliding Scale Fee Available dia Technology Traditions. page 46 OCTNOV 1994 NEW AVENUES .