Concert in the Park: Ancient Future Fuses Pleasing Melodies
By Tricia Chambers
As soon as I plunked down to take a seat on the lawn at last Sunday’s Concert in the Park, the melodic notes coming from Ancient Future, immediately caused my blood pressure to drop.
When I realized that the three-member band was only in the process of tuning their unusual-looking instruments, I knew I was in for a memorable show.
Award-winning composer/band leader, Matthew Montford took to educating the crowd in between plucking his scalloped fretboard guitar.
“You can see us perform on You Tube if you go to our site,” he said.
The show centered on themes of love and opened with one of the band’s dreamy songs that Monford introduced as ‘Dawn of Love’ from their seventh and latest CD. Next, he introduced an Egyptian wedding march. “Let’s get married right now!”
I don’t know how the trio kept from going into a trance-like state. Eventually, my heart rate slowed, I closed my eyes and couldn’t help but envision a peaceful, desert oasis.
Montford explained that the AF organization which was founded to help foster cooperation between musicians all across the globe and to encourage them to create new music, now has over 30 member-musicians.
Just when you think you have AF figured out, they switch centuries and represent a different part of the globe, like when they performed a 17th century Scottish song.
Mariah Parker, a musician who plays a modified instrument of the santur family, and records solo CDs, sat to the side in a jeweled skirt.
“I’ve always played the piano. This is the ancestor to the piano,” she said. “These are like piano strings if you open up a piano. And I already knew the notes. I’ve played piano all my life.
The West, according to Parker, is combining Eastern features to their music and creating a new genre. And she should know. Her latest cd ‘Sangria’ features Brazilian and East Indian sounds with Indo-Latin jazz.
A member of the audience, also a suntar player compared notes with Parker.
“Oh, I see,” she said. “You play it with hammers but you do it a little different. These instruments are becoming all the more common here.”
Last, but not least was Bombay native, Arshad Syed, who sat on a blanket on the ground before a set of three metal Tabla (metal drums from Northern India).
Syed seemed to be having loads of fun, but what’s it like to live in Fremont, so far from one’s birthplace?
“No pain, no gain,” he said. “I try to go back every few years.”
Opportunity and an MBA degree brought Syed to America. But it’s a new life as a tabla teacher and performer that keeps him here. His past experiences include working with tabla master, Zakir Hussain and Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart.
The Cultural Advisory Commission will sponsor four more concerts, July 27 to August 17 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Central Park is located at 909 Kiely Boulevard. Call (408) 615-2210 or visit http://www.santaclaraca.gov/events/concert_in_the_park.html.
