The tradition of qawwali, originally limited to mausoleums and brotherhoods, has now spread everywhere, carried by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan -an exceptional performer: Sufi poems and incandescent lyricism. While the Mongols conquered by the sword and oppression, the Sufis attracted peoples through the richness of their culture. During their gatherings, these Sufis listened to the poems of their masters, sung by musicians known as qawwal. Their music, enriched with new literary and musical elements, ultimately became the most widespread musical genre in Hindustani music. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's group is the leading proponent of this secular tradition. "As each verse was sung, the emotion-filled audience uttered cries of joy that encouraged the musicians. Their gestures marked the syncopations and they swayed from one foot to the other. Deep silence fell when the singer embarked upon one of his subtle vocal variations..."
J**R
an album you just gotta hear !
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - En Concert a Paris - Vol. 1 & 2I likely would not have come to know and appreciate Pakistani Qawwali music if it weren't for the extraordinary voice of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ! I first heard his voice in Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation Of Christ" and then I was on a mission to find more by this voice that touched my soul.Ali Khan was well known in his home country as an iconic artist of sacred music with an octave register that ranges from that of an angel to that of a dragon ! His jazz-like improvisations of Sufi Texts made their first impression on the Western music world with these historic 1985 concerts from Paris.Nusrat was schooled in classic style musically by his father, renowned qawwal Ustad Fateh Ali Khan and was at his peak in these electrifying concerts from Paris. Nusrat was accompanied by his brothers and troupe on vocals, tabla, handclaps, and harmoniums. The long, stately pieces literally bend time and space as only Ali Khan can .His voice transcends the human spirit and touches me in ways few ever have. A few months before his untimely death Nusrat and legendary music producer Rick Rubin recorded a wonderful 2 CD set aptly titled "The Final Studio Recordings" which is also essential...buts leave that to another review....
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