Purple Raga

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 From the charity compilation in progress Haiti Aid Through Music, this track is by Matthew Montfort

From Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar, the debut recording by Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort, which showcases his pioneering work on the scalloped fretboard guitar, a special modified instrument able to produce ornaments characteristic of the sitar. "Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar" follows the muse on the path of improvisation, inspired and informed by the ancient musical traditions of the world, but not bound by them.

As leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort has devoted himself to the scalloped fretboard guitar since 1978. He spent years of study with some of the world's best musicians, such as gamelan director K.R.T. Wasitodipuro, North Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan, and vina master K.S. Subramanian, with whom he did an intensive study of South Indian note-bending techniques.

He was interviewed in the December 2009 Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine about the scalloped fretboard guitar and the application of the rules of Indian raga to the music of Jimi Hendrix as exemplified by 'Purple Raga' from his debut solo recording, "Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar." He has performed concerts worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai.

He has worked with many world music legends, including tabla phenomenon Zakir Hussain and Chinese zither master Zhao Hui. Montfort wrote the book "Ancient Traditions & Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India" which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills.

Very few of the many reviews he has received:

"Matthew Montfort is an American Ravi Shankar on guitar." - Pandit Habib Khan, sitarist
"Matthew Montfort's synthesis of styles and sounds isn't superficial -- he plucks the essential musicality of several traditions without discounting them. Beautiful world fusion music." - Roger Carlberg, Electronic Musician
"The most beautiful, soulful guitar I have ever heard!!" - Chandi Devi, Editor-in-Chief, Karmacaffe.com
More reviews and album info


We also have to mention here that he was one of the first artists responding Andrea's call for this charity compilation, and Ancient Future Records offered one track from three of their artists: another one is Ochun, and stay tuned for the third track!

Download track and support volunteers working in Haiti

More songs from Haiti Aid Through Music:

 

One World by Joel Kanning
Uche by Paul Kwitek
Ostracized Melancholy by Softcore
Help Me Believe by Emerald
God Only Knows My Shoe Size by Ludwig Amadeus
Ochun by Ancient Future