Shafqat Ali Khan

Amazon.com
Shafqat Ali Khan is the son of famed Pakistani singer Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, who was the uncle and one of the first teachers of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the best-known exponent of Pakistani Qawaali singing. But you can't listen to a lineage, and Shafqat Ali Khan blazes his own path on this self-titled album co-composed with keyboardist Douglas McKeehan, known for his work with the world-fusion group Ancient Future. Together, they create a contemporary extrapolation of the gharana music tradition, a sound of unbridled passion that spins off vocal ornaments that sound like a baroque painting on acid. This isn't traditional music souped up with modern arrangements, but new compositions built from the ground up. Shafqat writes his own, Rumiesque lyrics, ranging from the love song of "Ashina" to the ecstatic rave-up of "Dance of My Soul." It's that mixture of sensuality and spirituality that creates the tension of Qawaali music. McKeehan's inventive arrangements often eschew Pakistani signposts completely, from the bluegrass banjo on "Dust to Dust" to the cyclical guitar lines of Richard Michos on "Valley of Memories." Beautifully produced, Khan and McKeehan create a dynamic relief to what can often be an unremittingly intense music. --John Diliberto

Tracks:

Dance Of My Soul
My Restless Heart
Dust To Dust
Ashina
Valley Of Memories
Stolen Dreams
Sleeping World
Stay, My Love

Product Description

1. Dance Of My Soul
2. My Restless Heart
3. Dust To Dust
4. Ashina
5. Valley Of Memories
6. Stolen Dreams
7. Sleeping World
8. Stay, My Love

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Shafqat Ali Khan is the son of famed Pakistani singer Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, who was the uncle and one of the first teachers of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the best-known exponent of Pakistani Qawaali singing. But you can't listen to a lineage, and Shafqat Ali Khan blazes his own path on this self-titled album co-composed with keyboardist Douglas McKeehan, known for his work with the world-fusion group Ancient Future. Together, they create a contemporary extrapolation of the gharana music tradition, a sound of unbridled passion that spins off vocal ornaments that sound like a baroque painting on acid. This isn't traditional music souped up with modern arrangements, but new compositions built from the ground up. Shafqat writes his own, Rumiesque lyrics, ranging from the love song of "Ashina" to the ecstatic rave-up of "Dance of My Soul." It's that mixture of sensuality and spirituality that creates the tension of Qawaali music. McKeehan's inventive arrangements often eschew Pakistani signposts completely, from the bluegrass banjo on "Dust to Dust" to the cyclical guitar lines of Richard Michos on "Valley of Memories." Beautifully produced, Khan and McKeehan create a dynamic relief to what can often be an unremittingly intense music. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Shafqat Ali Khan's dazzling blend of old and new.......2001-01-20

I stumbled onto this album looking for one by his more famous cousin, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I gave it a listen and was immediately taken by the tasteful blend of upbeat instrumentation with the ancient qawwalli soulful vocals. I am sure Shafqat and his main collaborator Douglas McKeehan did more than the average amount of pre-production and post mixing,to get this sound. The mix is truly great when you can take the upbeat rhythms of modern electric instruments,African percussion, a banjo even!, and place them to fit with Shafqat's heartfelt wail of anguish, as if this sort of music had been commonplace for years. It's not. In contrast, I was severely disappointed with the Swan Song lastlive concert of cousin Nusrat, which only just justified its purchase with the amazing opening rendition of Allah Hu.

Every note, every lick of Shafqat Ali Khan's debut album seems effortless in transporting the listener to a place which does not exist physically, but is yet as real if not more so, than the physical world. That's what music is supposed to do.

Two things that shouldn't go together.......2000-08-02

An interesting mix of rock instrumentation to traditional middle eastern vocals. Unfortunately, the two styles don't mix well when both are left in their unaltered style. Some very nice music here, broken by the swooping and shaking vocals. Just goes to show that some things just don't sound good to a techno beat.

A dance lover's delight.......2000-06-06

As a Dance Instructor and the Director of the Oasis Dance Company, a great deal of my time is spent evaluating music selections for danceability and general audience appeal. This album is a definite must for any dancer's library. The song lengths are just right for a coherent dance presentation (whether solo or group performance). This album is true to the Spirit of the East, yet appealing to the Western Ear.

SUPERB.......2000-05-03

Shafqat Ali Khan claims a Qawwali vocal heritage stemming from the 16th century and it shows. His vocal command and virtuosity is seamless. His voice flows effortlessly. Unlike some fusion albums. Shafqat Ali Khan is able to combine western elements curtsey of Douglas McKeenhan et al without submerging the authentic Qawwali sound. Even traditionalist will like this album. It is a successful interweaving of two distinct music styles. People who appreciated the music of the late Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan will love this album in spite of or because of its soulful resonance. It is actually perfect there are no dull songs so it makes good traveling music. Shafqat also deserve full credit for a fabulous front-cover from Corbis images.

Beautiful tapestry mix of ancient meets modern.......2000-05-01

On first listen, I thought not bad, great melodies and Shafqat Ali Khan has a beautifully trained voice that soars above the middle eastern, other worldly melodies. After listening to it a few times, I found that I quickly enjoyed the instumentation that accompanies the vocal arrangements. This is one CD that will not disappoint you. Also, the lyrics are provided in English so you know what he is singing about, but in the end, it does not matter because great music transcends language. If it sounds pleasing to the ear, that is all that matters and with this music you get just that! I highly recommend it! You will enjoy it!

Average customer rating:

Beyond the Beyond Review
Fantastic album...better than any CD of it's kind!

Beyond the Beyond

Manufacturer: Beyond the Beyond Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00007KJP9
Release Date: 2002-11-11

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Album Description

A musical prayer for sacred journeys takes the listener from the most ancient form of singing- spontaneous primordial sound (called aalap) to the Heart Sutra sung in Japanese woven with mantra to make the perfect album for yoga, meditation, massage and relaxation.

Customer Reviews:

Beyond the Beyond Review.......2006-02-01

This music is simply ethereal. The voices blend together beautifully and I find myself listening to it time and again. It is by far the best music I have heard and is excellent for meditation and relaxing. All of the tracks except "Satori" are slow and deeply relaxing. I just wish there was more of this type of music around as it is sublime.

Fantastic album...better than any CD of it's kind!.......2002-12-12

This album is a must for anyone who does yoga, meditates, or just wants a little tranquility in the car. The CD really guides you on a spiritual journey and you emerge at the end feeling incredibly calm and centered. The vocals are ethereal and the style so fresh that I find myself listening to it over and over. And their take on the Heart Sutra is sublime...I definitely recommend!

Average customer rating:

Sublime Sufi
Shafqat Ali Khan
Manufacturer: Arc Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000093FHG
Release Date: 2003-04-22

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Sitara (Star)
Raqsay Bismil (Dance of the Wounded Lovers)
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Putah Butah (The Flower Doesn't Know)

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ASIN: B00008ZZ75
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Ish Kamal (Love Sublime)
Yaad (Memory)
Sakhi (Oh Sufi)
Sitara (Star)
Raqsay Bismil (Dance of the Wounded Lovers)
Tarasti Ankhay (Thirsting Eyes)
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Putah Butah (The Flower Doesn't Know)

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Sufi Songs
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Manufacturer: Arc
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ASIN: B0001HM51O
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

Aao Sayyo (Friends)
Ishq (Love)
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Piloo (Thumri)
Nadiya Kinare (Thumri)
Raga Yaman Kalyan
Maar Na Vich Vichode Yaar
Raga Bhutyar
Lakh Jatan
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Average customer rating:

Mysterious and mystical sound from the distant past

Sufi Songs
Shafqat Ali Khan
Manufacturer: Arc Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pakistan | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

General | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Middle East | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music
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Beyond the Beyond

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Release Date: 2004-05-04

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Aao Sayyo (Friends)
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Raga Yaman Kalyan
Maar Na Vich Vichode Yaar
Raga Bhutyar
Lakh Jatan
D

Customer Reviews:

Mysterious and mystical sound from the distant past.......2004-09-24

This CD is absolutely eerie and very beautiful: the slightly echoing envelope sound of the chamber where this was recorded (a marble palace?) gives this a feeling of hearing voices of the exotic past.

Sufi is a mystic Islamic sect; the singing here is in the "kafi" style which is Punjabi and quite ancient and rare. Shafqat Ali Khan sings to the accompaniment of tabla, harmonium (shruti), tanpura, sarangi and surmandal, a kind of zither played by Khan himself as he sings. There are ragas on this CD, love songs and thumri or a sort of light classical music. My favorite song was "Piloo", sung in a very sad sounding scale, slowly, and with a very dark, thin, tragic tone. Khan's voice is flexible, with a wide range and very great variety of tone, from ornamented and intricate, to clear and soaring. An amazing voice.

There are a wide variety of songs on this CD, all in the interesting Indian/Pakistani Islamic tradition. If you are interested in Islamic music or music of India and Pakistan, this is a must-have CD. Quite amazing.