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***Qawwali's devotional themes of love come from Allah and are sung by men who belong to a Sufi tradition and trace their music back over seven hundred years to the spiritual Samah songs of Persia. There is a long tradion of Qawwali singers in the Ali Khan family, including the man who brought Qawwali to the West-- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Like his father, uncles and grandfathers before him, Nusrat sang with a fervor and style that reverberated within the being of all his listeners. During his lifetime, Nusrat saw his audience grow from Pakistani devotionalists to a larger, more international group comprised of many races and religions from around the world. In the 1990s, he collaborated with the likes of Eddie Vedder and Tim Robbins (Dead Man Walking soundtrack), Michael Brook, Massive Attack, and Peter Gabriel (Last Temptation of Christ). Through these collaborations, Westerners discovered the voice of Qawwali and flocked to his concerts. When Nusrat passed away in 1997, he was at his peak in popularity. He had just completed his biggest American tour to date and was signed to a major recording company. His voice was clear, powerful and inspirational. The Final Moment documents one of the last concerts of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His group also featured Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who continues the Ali Kahn legacy. Longtime collaborator Baba Varma recorded this 1996 concert of ecstatic Sufi compositions, a celebration for all who attended, now a vital and loving document of the Voice of the Century. |
