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 Sukhawat Ali Khan
Shukriya (Megawave, 2007)
Qawwali musician Sukhawat Ali Khan lives in the USA and adds new elements to the venerable Sufi art. The opening piece on Shukriya, titled "Mustafa," blends traditional Qawwali sounds such as vocals, tabla and harmonium with electric bass, creating a powerful resonance that enriches the overall sound.
As a young musician, Sukhawat is also influenced by contemporary popular sounds. He uses bhangra and world beat sounds, in addition to the funky electric bass played by African musician Baba Ben Okulolo, to enhance his music.
While some of the pieces are upbeat and festive, combining South Asian percussion with African drums, some of the best material on the CD are the two dreamy cuts titled "Natnarayani (part 1) and (part 2). Sukhawat's intimate style, accompanied by a hypnotic drone and strings brings the listener a soothing feeling of calm and peace.
Highly recommended.
Buy Shukriya.
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