The recordings that first brought Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan into world recognition are a series of Paris concerts from 1985-8 released on five volumes[and collected into a box set] by the Ocora label,distributed by the Harmonia Mundi label.Ocora is one of the most respected presenters of serious world and ethnic music anywhere.Although there are many recordings of Nusrat,these i feel are the greatest representation of the Quawwali-Sufi devotional genre,his best recordings and the finest example of the Ghazal song form.These songs[performances] begin with the traditional Indian percussion and as the music rises the harmoniums,usually two,start the melody and the voice will enter with the song.As the piece builds it enters the realm of improvisation and this is where the vocal range of Khan reaches an intensity rarely heard in Western music.John Coltrane was one of the few Westerners to grasp the concept of expanding the emotional range of this music and brought it to Jazz.As the song unfolds Khan continues to build his voice to an almost call and response pattern with the other musicians.There is interaction between the Tablas and voice and all the other instruments until it reaches a spiritual orgasmic peak then settles down into a euphoric resolution that eventually touches ground.An amazing musical adventure.His nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has continued the tradition and performs throughout the world.
It was my great pleasure and immense good fortune to attend a performance at a Los Angeles hotel of the great Nusrat. this was a benefit for a group of Pakistani physicians and the performance went well into and past three hours of the most intensely beautiful music i have ever heard. An amazing night of music that will stay with me for a long time.There were just a few non-Pakistani people there so we knew we were hearing the real thing.As his notoriety grew,and his health declined his music,though still remarkable, lost some of the fire you will hear on those Paris concert recordings.He was a great artist.
