Adil Najam
I am not sure how ATP readers will react to this, but let me say that I have been totally mesmerized by this music and have had it on auto-repeat play for the last three days.
But, first let me thank Zeeshan Suhail, on whose blog I found this wonderful fusion/jazz band called Brook’s Qawwali Party (BQP).
BQP produces a captivating sound based on Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s classic works and turn it into a unique and peculiar fusion of sufi qawalli rhythyms and jazz. But I will let them explain what they and their music is about. According to the BQP webpage (since unavailable):
What would happen if New York jazz musicians were to play and improvise around the melodies of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan? From this idea, Brook’s Qawwali Party was born. BQP consists of fourteen musicians: five horns, three percussionists, guitar, acoustic bass, harmonium and three designated clappers. The exuberant sound of BQP has been enthusiastically welcomed in New York City and across the globe.
According to Sepia Mutiny “Brook’s Qawwali Party is … made up of non-desi Brooklynites who get together in Park Slope… [they are] probably one of the only Sufi bands with Jewish members in existence.”
Of the half dozen audio clips that I have heard, my favorite is ‘Beh Haadh Ramza Dhasdha’ (He Manifests Himself in Many Forms)
I am a big fan of the original by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (in the album Shahbaaz) — I believe it is a tribute to Mansoor Hallaj shouting Ana al Haqq, even as he is executed on the gallows.
The BQP version has a very different quality to it and in the beginning I could not pin it down. But as I hear it again and again it seems to me that because they are using horns, their version has a shaadi waala band sound to it (I say this as a compliment because I am a huge fan of shaadi waala brass bands).
Anyhow, do listen and make up your own mind.
Of the other clips on their site, I also like Tou Kareemi very much. It again has that interplay of horns that reminds me of a good military band playing at a shaadi. Both of these are rather ‘fast’ numbers. If you are looking for mellower sounds you should try their rendition of Man Kuntou Moula. Their versions of Mast Mast and Allah Hou, Allah Hou are not bad but these seemed much more like instrumental versions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s originals and, especially in the later, the chant of ‘Allah Hou’ gets a little too Americanized in accent for my taste.
(UPDATE: The clips I had first written about are no longer available. Here are some newer YouTube renditions:
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Digg
YouTube
–this is a typical western music form which is dominated by Harmony and Rythm. qawali is mainly based upon two important pillars: rag and tal. Rag is the melodic form while tal is the rhythmic.
Brooklyn qawali is a corruption of western and eastern musical forms and lack of devine notes, is like shouting and without classical music constraints.
sounds like Balkan Gypsy band.
Aistaguca – Balkan Gypsy Wedding Band! – Iag Bari
salam wale kum ,i m naviin from india & i play a uniq bow instrument called belabaharr which my father has invented wish to showcase my art of tabla & this instrument in Pakistan ,its my dream for d people there to see & enjoy my music & it wud also b my privelege to b with them interact & also touch the pakistan soil,inshahallah m hoping ur reply on +919820207827
thanks regards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HepqyIEzDBA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPja12NPpfA&feature =related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOJDbucUGt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIP8c6twdqU
thanks ,regards
Well do right away
Nominate Nusrat on National Public Radio befor 16th October.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?story Id=113301632
Nomination Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the ‘King’ of Eastern music. His vocal talents was admired by the likes of Peter Gabriel and Michael Brook.
Nusrat dominated the East West fusion music till his death in1997.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdSXvipXxk8
Thanks
Dil Nawaz
Dear Fans
i am looking for a Kawali/song ( tu agar baii Nakab ho ja ee, tou zindagee sharab ho ja ee ) of Nusrat Fateh ali khan…
i am really trying to find it on net… but all my tries are going invain…. you fans are last hope… as i heard this song only once…
hope to hear from you… please reply me at ” shrive_@hotmail.com”
will be very obliged
Respected All…..
I have visit pakistaniat.com realy very good & remarkable.
We are doing Sufi music promotion from Pakistan with the world’s famous Sufi music artist.
We are introducing you our world’s famous Qawwali Artist by the name of Rizwan Muazzam Ali Khan Qawwali group (Nephew of ustad nusrat fateh Ali khan)
They had perform all over the world and worked with womed international,Real world record UK.They have worked with Peter Gabriel 5 years.Rizwan Muazzam had perfomed also in Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2004.
So now we are intrusted to work with your company in You’re up coming festivals and other events or other concerts and programs in future.
USA tour detail is listed below.
10 April 2005-7 May
Michigan,
Columbus
Chicago
Minneapolis
Albuquerque
Alamosa
Farmington
Houston
Bethesda
Brooklyn
We had just performed in Malaysia from 18 nov-22 nov 2007
And performed in World tour of MYSTICAL Journy in Canada
October 11,2007
The Canadian Tour
Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Montreal
Toronto
Note: We are also promoting other Sufi music artist and qawwali artist.
If you requir any type of detail about us then let us know.
We are waiting your kind reply in future and hopeful to avail future tour with you.
Mian Azeem
Love is Rhythm, Life is Rhythm
International Manager
Rizwan Muazzam Qawwali Group
Pakistan.
Cell # 92-321-9664817
Cell # 92-300-9664817
sufimusic786@gmail.com
sufimusic786@hotmail.com