Album Notes

Description: The seventh Ancient Future recording, "Planet Passion," features 19 world music masters telling a love story through world music about flirtation, courtship, gods of love, betrothal, seduction, and longing for the beloved.

Top masters of Indian, Nepalese, African, Cuban, Celtic, Middle Eastern, Indonesian, Chinese, Eastern European and American music traditions contributed to the project, and each cut on the CD features a different band variation.

Since bandleader Matthew Montfort coined the term "world fusion music" at the band's inception in 1978, Ancient Future has evolved from a quartet into a large musical family of world fusion music ensembles led by scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort.

Artist biography: Ancient Future is the world's first and longest running band dedicated to the creation of world fusion music.

BILLBOARD calls the group "trendsetters" for contributing to the emerging genre known as world fusion music, a term Ancient Future coined at its inception in 1978 for music that blends musical ideas from many different cultures.

The award-winning music of Ancient Future combines the contemporary sounds of jazz and rock with the irresistible rhythms of African, Balinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and South American percussion, the rich harmonies of Europe, and the beautiful melodies of Asia.

In short, their music is an exhilarating fusion of exciting rhythms and exotic sounds from around the globe.

The members of Ancient Future have looked beyond their American roots for inspiration by studying with the master musicians of many world music traditions, from Balinese gamelan director Madé Gerindem to North Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan.

They use their knowledge of world music to create something new and uniquely their own that is respected by pundits from the cultures whose traditions are a part of the mix.

According to INDIA CURRENTS, Ancient Future "plays with technical brilliance and gypsy-like fire," and their music "demonstrates the continuing beneficial influence of Indian music upon world culture." Ancient Future has sought to expand its musical palette by collaborating with traditional musicians from around the world, from Bolivian panpipe master Gonzalo Vargas to Vietnamese dan bao master Bui Huu Nhut.

Through cross cultural exchange, Ancient Future has created a musical world without borders.

"Rolling Stones of Fusion"
--Bob Tarte, THE BEAT, Feb 2002