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Article: Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Life of the Qawwali Party
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 20, 2001
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Pakistani singer Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the nephew of
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who dominated the genre of qawwali -- Sufi
songs of divine love and earthly devotion -- before his death in
1997.
Although he is widely identified as his uncle's rightful heir,
Rahat does not yet have the assurance or the following of his great
predecessor: He and his eight-piece group (known as a "party")
performed Saturday night to a half-full Lisner Auditorium. But Rahat
does have the voice to someday rival his late mentor.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan collaborated with various rock and
electronic musicians, yet he stayed true to qawwali tradition when
performing with his own ensemble. His nephew also retains ...