Qawwali ....Nasrut Fateh Ali Khan

Most of NFAK's recordings are made in USA or Europe. These are not bad. In fact some of them are splendid as I indicated in my review.

The quality of records made in India or Pakistan varies a lot, just like the CDs made in here most of which are poorly recorded. In fact, some of the Indian classical music CDs are atonishingly good presumably because of the simplcity of the recoding process.

NFAK was an artist who is born once in a century. With his sheer vocal power, he could bring a spell to his audience. He was and remains in a league of his own. It seems unfortunate that just when he was bringing an impact of his music to the Western world, he passed away. However, I feel he had accomplished his mission and he left a legacy that is going to stay there so long as there rae music lovers on the planet.

During the last 4-5 years of his life, he was too involved in commericial ventures and was spending more time on mixing his Qawaali music with techno and hip hop, which I do not find particularly attractive but do not hate either (just because of my admiration for his voice). This and a deteriorating health had stopped bringing the best creativity out of him, which is so vitally important for any form of art but more so for Qawwali music that needs constant practice. He was at his peak during the 1980s when he was in his 30s -- the contrast of his musical power at the young age and later age is so distinct.

Here is an article that I wrote in another forum about NFAK.

Hello Folks:
I introduce you to a new world of music. This is the world of music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the master singer from Pakistan, whose voice is a voice from heaven. A singer with tremendous talent and sheer vocal power, I consider him to be the best male vocalist that I have heard – and I listen to a large variety of music including rock, classical, jazz, Chinese, and many other kinds (I have more than 1200 CDs). NSAK sings a special kind of music called Qawwali, which is the devotional music of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. Qawwali originated in Iran and India during the tenth century when the Indian and Arab cultures blended. Qawwali in its present from is said to have been invented by Amir Khusro, a philosopher, scientist, and musician in India, who held an esteemed position in the Indian Muslim emperor dynasty known as Mughals. Amir Khusro is also known for his invention of the Sittar, a string musical instrument.

Qawwali is Sufis’ music. They used it, despite the opposition of the more traditional Islamic scholars, to sing and dance to convey the spiritual meaning of their religion. There are similarities between Qawwals (those who sing Qawwali) and Turkish dervishes. Qawwali is performed in front of live audience for different occasions. The message of Qawwali songs is not just related to God but also sometimes about love and devotion, transcending the religious boundaries and going to extreme in the praise of the lover. The objective is to sing and sometimes dance ecstatically and bring a spell on the audience.

NFAK, who sadly passed away in 1997 before turning fifty, is responsible for rejuvenating the art of Qawwali, and beyond the boundaries of his own country. He caught the eye of Peter Gabriel who then introduced him to Western world. Capturing world wide audience with his rhythmic and ecstatic singing, NFAK performed live extensively through the U.S. and Europe. Featured by both Time and Newsweek magazines, he also contributed to Hollywood movies. He has done several soundtracks, including “the Last Temptation of Christ” (this disc become one of the Stereophile magazines’s Records to Die for list), “Dead Man Walking” and “Natural Born Killers”. Listening and watching him live at Berkeley in 1996 was the greatest musical experience of my life. When he performed live in the Central Park of New York, New Times reported that every single soul listening to him, including the cops and security guards, were dancing. He also taught his art at the University of Washington at Seattle, who gave him an honorary doctoral degree.

Build like a Budhah, NFAK would sit with legs criss-crossed and perform with his party of eight or ten men using Tabla (small drums) and Harmonium (something like an Accordian).

Enough of the introduction………..here is my list of recommendations of NFAK’s music (I have more 40 CDs by him) for Apogee speaker owners, and others.

1. Bandit Queen, soundtrack.
1994 Oriental Start Agencies, Ltd. BMG (7 3138 35766-2)
This disk is not a Qawwali music disk but musically and sonically a gem. It is the soundtrack of the Indian movie “Badit Queen”. The soundtrack is a clear example of Pakistan and Indian cooperation (they should do more instead of fighting). Musically, it is capturing music using a varieties of melodies and instruments such as drums, bells, and violins. Sonically, it is a true audiophile heaven. With a huge soundstage that will envelope you and with pin-pointed imaging of musical instruments, Nusrat’s voice echoes in full glory, sometime sounding like an angel and sometimes like a demon. The bass is earth shaking and some effects (like the sound of the river and a boat sailing through the water, which makes you feel that your feet will get wet) are very impressive. By the way, the movie is also good (it is in English).

2. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Shahbaz, Real World Music, 1991, (0 1704 62315-2), musically excellent with true Qawwali and NFAK at his very best. Sonically, it is good quality but not excellent.
3. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khn, Traditional Sufi Qawwalis, vol. II, Live in London.
I love the first track. It starts slowly but within minutes you will experience the power of NFAK. Slowly it will get into full rhythm with some very artistic classical parts in which NFAK sings tradition Rags (melodies). Sonically, it is excellent in which NFAK will be live on Apogee speakers. (7 604520 016263)
4. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, En Concert a Paris in 1985, Ocora, Paris, 1997. Again a masterpiece. I love the last two tracks. Very mush of audiophile quality. (3 149025 003997)
5. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, The Day, The Night, The Dawn, The Dusk, Shanchie 64032 ((16351 64322 3).
6. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, The Last Prophet, Real World, 1994, (24383 94682).

These disc are indeed available at big record stores throughout the US and many other parts of the world.

Enjoy.

Cheers

Here ia a list of some his recordings that I rate on the quality of music and sound:

Here is the long due list of recordings by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan that you requested me long time ago. The list below contains most of the CDs that I own and includes my comments and recommendation in front of each item. The list is by no means complete. There are several disks that I have not included, but basically the essence of NFAK’s music is contained in the list below.
Legend

Recommendation:

HR= Highly recommended
R = Recommended
NR= Not Recommended

Sound Quality (RQ) = scale of 1 to 10 (lowest to highest)
Music Quality (MQ) = scale of 1 to 10 (lowest to highest)

The List
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1. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Greatest Hits Vol. 2, Shanachie 66008
GD Comments: Some tracks are great while some are just ok
Time Magazine: “Khan brings to Qawwali an unrivalled ability to convey its spiritual intensity – to believers and non-bilievers alike,”
New York Newsday: “Blissful, ecstatic, musically fascinating and totally transporting,”

Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 9, Recommendation: HR

2. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Qawwal Party: Shahbaz
GD Comments: One of my all times favourite NFAK disk, with track 2 and 3 being my most favourites, simply awesome and breathtaking

Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

3. Bandit Queen, The Soundtrack Composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Roger White
GD Comments: Not typical Qawwali music but still interesting and emotional music. The sound is very good.

Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 9, Recommendation: HR

4. Pakistan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, En Concert a Paris
GD Comments: Made in France, one of the best NSFAT CDs. I have been listening to track 3 and 4 for 15 years without getting tired of them. I recommend you read in enclosed leaflet.. Volume 1, 3, 4, and 5 are also excellent but 2 is the best and can be purchased separately if you do not want to buy the whole set.

Summary: SQ = 10, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

5. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwal and Party: Shahan-Shah
GD Comments: Again, and excellent album, have been listening to it for years.

Summary: SQ = 7, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

6. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwal and Party: Shahan-Shah
GD Comments: Again, and excellent album, have been listening to it for years.

Summary: SQ = 7, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

7. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Rough Megastar
GD Comments: Contains 3 ethnic Qawwali songs. Good stuff.

Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 8, Recommendation: HR

8. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Rough Guide to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
GD Comments: The CD contains tracks from here and there from various albums, with a funny looking Nusrat Cartoon on the CD cover. The tracks are ok but the sound quality is just acceptable. Not bad.

Summary: SQ = 6, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

9. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Traditional Sufi Qawwalis, Live in London, Vol. I, II, II, and IV
GD Comments: The music is Nusrat at at peak of his performance. Some of the tracks can be very ethnic and hard to understand unless you are really into this. Sonically, great recordings.
Summary: SQ = 10, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

10. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: Akhian
GD Comments: Akhian means eyes in Urdu. The CD contains some of the most powerful and beautiful Qawwali music by NFAK. The sound quality is just acceptable but I still highly recommend it.

Summary: SQ = 5, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

11. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwal: The Rough Guide to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
GD Comments: The CD contains tracks from here and there from various albums, with a funny looking Nusrat Cartoon on the CD cover. The tracks are ok but the sound quality is just acceptable. Not bad.
Summary: SQ = 6, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

12. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Day, The night, the Dawn, the Dusk
GD Comments: Excellent disk, sonically and musically.
Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 9, Recommendation: HR

13. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: Nusrat Forever
GD Comments: I love the first and fourth track. The sound is good
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

14. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Ecstasy, The Essential Selection from the Genius of Qawwali
GD Comments: Astonishing pieces of music. The first track is one of the best ever by Nusrat, reminding me of his Concert in San Francisco back in 1996, easily my greatest ever musical experience. The third track, presenting a classical raga, was recorded live in Seattle when Nusrat was a visiting scholar in the University of Washington to teach Qawwali music. The University awarded Nusrat an honorary Ph.D. degree. When you listen to the third track, you stay motionless for 20 minutes or so because the music virtually hypnotizes you. It starts very slowly but picks rhythm gradually. It is human voice as good as it gets with tremendous control and delicacy. You just wonder if is humanly possible!
Summary: SQ = 10, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

15. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: Back to Qawwali
GD Comments: This was Nusrat’s first Qawwali music after he had been flirting with mixing his music with pop, a stuff that I do not care for but do not dislike either, and his collaboration with Peter Gabriel. I like the first and second track very much.
Note: Buy the one from WaGram not from Wotre Music
Summary: SQ = 6, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

16. Natural Born Killers: Soundtrack
GD Comments: A violent movies, in which Nusrat music for peace and love of God was inappropriately used. Nusrat was naïve and did not know how it was going to be used. He complained afterwards but the lawyers had answer to everything. The soundtrack has a couple of tracks by Nusrat. Good stuff, including the rest of the CD. The sound quality is very good.

Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

17. The Last Temptation of Christ: The soundtrack
GD Comments: This was Nusrat’s first collaboration with peter Gabriel
The main theme of the movie is “Passion” (not to be confused with Mel Gibson’s Passion”), which is sung by Nusrat. The main theme is the background music during the cruficiation. Nusrat’s voice is at its glorious best, sounding totally divine. An SACD version is now available.
Summary: SQ = 10, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

18. Dead man Walking: The soundtrack
GD Comments: Nusrat has a couple of songs in it. Not bad
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

19. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: The Supreme Collection Vol. 1
GD Comments: the CD was reviewed in Stereophile, a few years back.
The music is good and sound quality is also good. The reviewer liked it a lot but complained of the long repetition in songs. Yes, he did not pick Nusrat’s best CD for review and there are bit unwanted repetitions but still it is a good 2 disk set. I like the second disk more.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

20. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: The Supreme Collection Vol. 1
GD Comments: the CD was reviewed in Stereophile, a few years back.
The music is good and sound quality is also good. The reviewer liked it a lot but complained of the long repetition in songs. Yes, he did not pick Nusrat’s best CD for review and there are bit unwanted repetitions but still it is a good 2 disk set. I like the second disk more.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

21. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: The Supreme Collection Vol. 1
GD Comments: the CD was reviewed in Stereophile, a few years back.
The music is good and sound quality is also good. The reviewer liked it a lot but complained of the long repetition in songs. Yes, he did not pick Nusrat’s best CD for review and there are bit unwanted repetitions but still it is a good 2 disk set. I like the second disk more.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

22. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: Body and Soul
GD Comments: It is very ethnic. I like it but it may sound too ethnic to some ears.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

23. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: Master Recording from the Maestro of Qawwali
Jeff Buckely wrote about hearing Nusrat for the first time: “I felt a rush of adrenaline in my chest like I was on the edge of a cliff, wondering when I would jump”
GD Comments: It has some good ethnic Qawwali music but also includes a few pop style songs that I do not particularly care for but people like it. The recording quality varies from song to song. I listen to this disk occasionally. If you want a good NFAST Cd with a variety of stuff, then it is recommended.
Summary: SQ = 7, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

24. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Marhaba Marhaba
GD Comments: One of the best. I love it.
Summary: SQ = 10, MQ = 9, Recommendation: HR

25. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Broom: The Night Song
GD Comments: This is widely found in audio stores by people who like NFAT’s voice but are not familiar with his music. The disk does not contain Qawwali music but has pop style songs that Nusrat sang during the last years of his life in collaboratin with Michael brook. I like one or two songs only but I know many people like it. The sound is good.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 7, Recommendation: R

26. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party: The Last Prophet
GD Comments: Again, one of the best.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

27. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Must Must
GD Comments: One of the most popular ones here in the US. The music is not Qawwali but vocal ragas combined with Tabla (Indian drum) and some other instruments. I like it a lot. Some tracks have excellent bass.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

28. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Farewell Song
GD Comments: very good, some of the best songs by NFAT
Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

29. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Pary: Devotional and Love Songs
GD Comments: Another pop style album. I do not mind it but not recommended
Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 6, Recommendation: NR

30. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Live in New York City
GD Comments: Live concert but very poor recording. You can find the same songs on other CDS.
Summary: SQ = 2, MQ = 9, Recommendation: NR

31. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Revelation
GD Comments: the disk contains some very emotional songs.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 8, Recommendation: R

32. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Live at Islamabad, Vol. 1 and II, 2-disk set.
GD Comments: Some of the most authentic Qawwali music with great sound.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

33. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Ultimate Vol. I and II
GD Comments: This is a 4 CD set and includes a selection of songs from other albums. It is just a collection that overlaps with other albums mentioned above. If you have any of the above, no need to buy this. Otherwise, it is a good collection. The sound varies from song to song.
Summary: SQ = 7, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

34. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Rapture, An Essential Selction from the Genius of Qawwali
GD Comments: Another random selection of traditional Qawwal and pop style sounds.
Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 8, Recommendation: HR

35. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Prophet Speaks
GD Comments: The songs are traditional and sound quality ok. Not one of the best.
Summary: SQ = 6, MQ = 7, Recommendation: NR

36. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Qawwali: The Vocal Art of the Sufis I
GD Comments: A live recording with the same songs that can be found on the CDs mentioned above. The sound quality is poor with one channel louder than the other.
Summary: SQ = 5, MQ = 9, Recommendation: NR

37. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Gregorian Chant and Qawwali Music: Oriente/Occidente, Made in Italy
GD Comments: Nusrat and Gregorian Chant? There are 21 tracks of chant but that includes only one by Nusrat. Strange why they named it a Nusrat CD.
Summary: SQ = 7, MQ = 7, Recommendation: NR

38. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Swan Song, His Final Performance, Narada
GD Comments: A live recording, with good performance but poor recording
Summary: SQ = 5, MQ = 8, Recommendation: NR

39. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Imprint
GD Comments: The songs are contained on the CDs mentioned above. But if you do not have thos, it is a good start. Great performance and good sound.
Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 10, Recommendation: HR

40. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Final Moment
GD Comments: Another live recording, with good performance. The sound is good capturing the atmosphere of a live concert
Summary: SQ = 8, MQ = 9, Recommendation: R

41. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Final Studio Recording, Vol. I and II
GD Comments: Excellent music and excellent sound. Some songs are in Persian.
Summary: SQ = 9, MQ = 9, Recommendation: HR

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Enjoy.