Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Shahen Shah

Nusra Fateh Ali Khan

It's difficult to escape the tight, almost rushed feeling characteristic of some of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's studio recordings. Unlike the Qawwali: The Vocal Art of the Sufis series, where the party takes its luxurious time in immersing itself in praising Allah, studio-recorded Nusrat can often feel rushed, as if the party was singing qawwali for the sake of the recording rather than for the sake of religious praise. Thankfully, 1989's Shahen-Shah is different. With Nusrat's voice in fine form and the recording providing the right touch of reverb, this CD leads listeners through an outstanding sample of qawwali. Nusrat's improvisational vocal work on "Kehna Ghalat Ghalat To Chhupana Sahi Sahi" is mind-boggling, and the ensemble is outstanding for the wall of beautiful melody it creates. Rich with spirit and grace. --Karen Karleski

Price: $16.98