Its always a good time to listen to Nusrat. Here is one of my favorite ghazal collections from the big man.
Singing the Mystery: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
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Remembering the Big Man: Rahat Ali Khan and Michael Brooks
An interesting album with some truly moving and exhilarating performances. As I mentioned in my most recent article for Scroll.in it was through a remix of one of Nusrat’s qawwalis (Dam Qalandar Mast) in the early 1990s that qawwali went mainstream. Or at least as mainstream as any non-European spiritual music is ever going to go!
Canadian guitarist Michael Brook, though uncredited on Mustt Mustt, played a huge role in creating the sound and ensuring the massive impact of that album on the earholes of millions of new fans. He later went on to produce (and get credited for) Night Songs another hugely popular qawwali-fusion album in 1996.
In this instance, a performance in honour of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the combination of qawwali and western music just doesn’t click like in the earlier works. The drums especially are irritating, adding little more than an annoying rumble in the background that distracts from Rahat’s voice and the performance of his ‘party’.
In her introduction Jameela Siddiqi makes special thanks to Michael for taking ‘time out of his very busy schedule’ to participate. And I, for one, can’t help but feel that while his body took the time his heart was somewhere else. Then again, this is a recording of a live event. Maybe being there was more impressive than listening to the music disconnected from its performance.
As for Rahat he is in very fine voice raising the roof throughout the evening. I never tire of marveling at how this guy can sing. It sends shivers down the back as he builds up the tension like water pressing hard against a cracked earthen dam. The water recedes slightly before coming flooding back and ultimately breaking free. Track number 4 is a perfect case in point.
For what it’s worth, this is a definitely a good album. Just find a way to ignore the drums and lackluster noodlings of Brook.
Here are the translated lyrics of the title track.
Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
How beautiful the lord has created you!
Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
O Dil Karray Vekhda Ravaan
How beautiful the lord has created you
And my heart desires to keep gazing at you
Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
How beautiful the lord has created you!
Dil Murrda Nahi Laakh Samjhaya
Dil Karray Vekhda Ravaan
My heart halts not even with thousands of reasons
And instead it desires to keep gazing at you
O Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
How beautiful the lord has created you!
Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
How beautiful the lord has created you!
Dil Vich Tera Pyar Vassake
Vekkhi Javaan Kol Bithakke
Your love is dwelling within my heart
And I want to gaze endlessly nearby you
O Tainu Dil Walay Sheeshay Vich Sajaaya
Dil Karray Vekhda Ravaan
You are bejewelled within the mirrors of my heart
And my heart desires to keep gazing at you
O Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
How beautiful the lord has created you!
Pyar Tera Ae Zindagi Meri
Karni Ae Mein Pooja Teri
Your love is my existence
And you alone I adore
Tainu Akhiyan De Vich Mein Vassaya
Dil Karray Vekhda Ravaan
I have let you sink within my eyes
And my heart desires to keep gazing at you
O Kinna Sohna Tainu Rab Ne Banaya
How beautiful the lord has created you!
Track Listing:
01 Introduction-Jameela Siddiqi
02 Crest (Shaman Paiyan Tere Bina)
03 Nothing Without You (Sanu Ik Pal Chain Na Aave)
04 My Heart My Life (Tu Mera Dil Tu Meri Jaan)
05 My Comfort Remains (Sun Yaara Gum Khara Dildara)
06 Err (Tarana – A Tribute)
07 Mustt Mustt (Dam Mast Qallandar)
08 Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaaye
09 Kinna Sohna Tenu Rab Na Banaya
10 Chaap Tilak Sab Cheeni
The Man from Uncle: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
There is really nothing to I can say about this recording that is more important than what Rahat himself says by way of introduction. “We are here to honour Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan by singing some of his beloved compositions, as well as some untold stories. Thank you so much for coming.”
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
This is one of two tribute albums by the great man’s nephew and protégé which I hope to post eventually. Listen to this straight through and loud! Get lost in the music and remember fondly one of humanity’s most powerful musical forces to have ever visited this planet.
Track Listing:
01 Introduction By Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
02 Man Kunto Maula
03 Allah Hu
04 Lagan Laagi Tum Se
05 Tumhein Dillagi Bhool Jaani Padegi
06 Sanson Ki Mala
07 Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal
An Opportunity Missed: Novum Gaudium and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
This is a bit of a strange one. It is advertised as Gregorian chants + Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, which led me to think it was a blending of two spiritual modes of music: chant and qawwali. I could see how that would work and immediately shelled out the cash for the CD.
Coro Novum Gaudium
Well, the title is accurate enough. It is the female choral group Novum Gaudium, an ensemble of Gregorian chanters from Italy, conducted by Padre Anselmo Susca, singing a number of typically austere and arresting chants by such mystical composers as Hildegard of Bingen. Throughout this lovely concert there is no sign, whatsoever of Nusrat or his qawwali party, until the very final number in which they run through a fast paced rendition of Mast Mast. That too is highly enjoyable and as I said, fits very nicely indeed, into the mellow proceedings of the rest of the album. But it hardly lives up to the implied billing of NFAK double billing with NG. Rather it seems more of a marketing afterthought.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
So a bit disappointing.
But only for a while.
Because, as I say, the music, taken in its own right is worthy of repeated listens and the concept, at least, is a worthy one. Too bad the opportunity to mix male and female, western and eastern musical approaches to spiritual music was missed. Aah well…
Just prepare thyself for what it is, rather than what you think it should be.
Track Listing:
01 Missus Est Angelus Gabriel
02 Latabundus
03 Angelus Est
04 Ecce Ancilla Domini
05 O Clarissima Mater
06 Factum Est Autem
07 Facta Est
08 Puer Natus Est Nobis
09 Dies Ista Collitur
10 In Diebus Illis Mulier
11 Ubi Charitas Est Vera
12 Dico Vobis, Gaudium Est Angelis Dei
13 Ubi Charitas Est Vera
14 Vespera Autem
15 Cum Vidisset Jesus Matrem
16 Quem Queritis
17 Victimae Paschali Laudes
18 Exultandi Et Laetandi
19 Popule Meus Quid Feci Tibi_
20 O Quam Mirabilis Est
21 Mustt Mustt
The Nephew: Rahat Ali Khan
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a large man. A man with a body larger than a couple of linebackers stuck together and voice that seemed to be the reason for the heavens themselves. Single handedly he brought the music of Sufi Pakistan into mainstream western consciousness and left behind a reputation that only true geniuses are accorded.
Rahat Ali Khan
Rahat Ali Khan is the nephew of the great qawwal who died in 1997. And for better or worse he has been given the heavy responsibility (burden?) of carrying on the tradition. Groomed by Nusrat from a young age to be the second lead vocal in his ‘party’ Rahat’s voice can be heard on many of his uncle’s recordings, playing off, sparring, challenging and complementing the formidable giant of qawwali.
In the years since his uncle’s passing, Rahat has forged a role as a pop star, singing a mix of Sufiana tinged music and straight ahead Pak-pop. Some of it is excellent; some not so great. But there is no denying the allure of his voice which has that same ability of his uncle’s to easily scale high registers and dance with agility and incredible power. Clearly, Nusrat recognised something special.
Several years ago, Rahat Ali Khan and a small band that included electric bass, piano and soprano sax along with the usual qawwali party accompanists, recorded a concert in memory of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In his short introduction to the show, Rahat thanks his audience for giving of their precious time to come to pay respects to the ‘one they loved’. He promises to sing some of the songs from his uncle’s repertoire as well as others which ‘until now have not had their stories told’! How lovely is that?
A fantastic record of what must have been a truly magical night.
Track Listing:
01 Introduction by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
02 Man Kunto Maula
03 Allah Hu
04 Lagan Laagi Tum Se
05 Tumhein Dillagi Bhool Jaani Padegi
06 Sanson Ki Mala
07 Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal
Harmonium 