Comments on: Brook’s Qawwali Party

By: Raj

Raj — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 01:51:41 +0000

This is actually where I was blogging from yesterday. If you see a brown guy in the Tea Lounge, there’s a good chance it’s me. Come say hello. ha.

By: Jai

Jai — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:25:09 +0000

Anybody interested in listening to Nusrat saab singing Gurbani can find free samples of his work on the Sikhnet website, here, here, here, and here.

By: meerkat

meerkat — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 04:56:03 +0000

Jeff’s voice does thin as he hits the trills and high notes, but considering that he’d never been trained in qawwali/Sufi-style music, he does a fantastic job. i wouldn’t be surprised if taught himself the song by listening to a tape! the intricacies of south asian classical music are hard to replicate…and sure, my granny would call him out when he’s not in sur/raag/taal, but he sure as hell impressed me!

even compared to the other qawwals i’m familiar with (well….i only know the sabri brothers and badar ali khan), i don’t think anyone can quite replicate NFAK’s edge. very distinct.

By: ashvin

ashvin — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 03:37:17 +0000

And don't dis on Buckley's range. I feel his version is more soulful, but that might be because his rock voice is more ~emotionally~ familiar to my western ears...

I hear you on the soulfulness of JB's voice. (Evidence: his breath-taking cover of L.Cohen's "Hallelujah"). I'm just saying that when he hits the high notes and the trills on this NFAK cover, his voice sounds kinda thin unlike Nusrat's.

Nice informative thread, everybody.

By: mankanwal

mankanwal — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:40:43 +0000

Sort of sounds like an indian wedding band but good nonetheless.

Anyone know the name of the UNFAK punjabi song which has the lyric:

jere din da vichhard gaya tu, main kakan vaangoo rul gaya

By: Jai

Jai — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 21:16:17 +0000

It's such a shame that qawaali music doesn't have a higher profile in the West, considering events post-9/11 and the increasing Wahhabism of the faith in many quarters, including some of the South Asian population (at least here in the UK).

Things would be so different if qawaali and its associated Sufi philosophy was the dominant interpretation (and image) of Islam here, instead of what's happened in recent times and is continuing to occur worldwide. Quite a tragedy.

My favourite Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan song is "Ni Main Jaana Jogi De Naal". Anybody else heard that one ? Absolutely fantastic from start to finish.

By: sirc

sirc — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 20:34:22 +0000

Sound like a college ska band’s van crashed into a Indian wedding. My buddy played me the Buckley cover track just this weekend…very nice job. I went to NFAK’s last show in the states..the joint was electric.

By: Suhail Kazi

Suhail Kazi — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 19:21:40 +0000

Jay Singh, thx. btw, just so you know, that Pakistani music site has a collection of almost 50+ NFAK songs, including the Punjabi ones. Enjoy!

(I am desperately waiting for anyone to answer my query)

By: meerkat

meerkat — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:58:31 +0000

wow! i’m amazed at buckley’s vocals! the trills in NFAK’s qawwalis are hard to replicate! way to be! thanks for sharing! worth the 99cents off iTunes.

By: Suhail Kazi

Suhail Kazi — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:17:53 +0000

Its not pronounced as Aa-laa. Its pronounced as Al-lah.

Actually I like that touch of phoren twang. I just think that makes them Coool.

Hello funkqawwali guys, if you are reading this, wanna come down to Austin, 6th Street? The live music capital?

midWE'er, thx for one more pointer.

And while we have so many NFAK fans around, let me ask : Any of you know where can I purchase audio CD which contains his "Tum Ek Ghorak Dhandha Ho" track? I've written about it in brief in the ps:section of this post. You can listen to the streaming version here. If you are a NFAK fan, and haven't heard it -- you're gonna thank me for the rest of yr life.