Nusrat teaching students at University of Washington 1993
University Of Washington invites Celebrity Visiting Artists every year for it’s Ethnomusicology Program. In 1992-93 they took a chance to Invite NFAK, hoping he wont turn up. To their surprise , NFAK happily agreed (eventually) … why hadn’t he … he was going to get great chance to spread his music to a completely new audience and ample resource for his musical-cross blendings.. .. The program was a huge success as not just students but even faculty members and artists from different universities as well as different parts of USA turned up for the program…the fact that his students became one of the most Hardcore NFAK fans ever was not at all surprising… He also gave one of his most memorable performances ever at Meany(University Theater) after huge request by students . NFAK was awarded an honorary Doctorate later by the University ……… What Follows is a writeup by Professor Hiromi Lorraine Sakata remembering NFAK’s Stay…
If NFAK was the thunder that entranced the world, Farrukh was the rain of melody that followed..
“Nusrat is now the symbol of the family name and its tradition. He is the prestige that has been brought to our house. His popularity and the respect he commands has immortalized our family. Nusrat is a living legend.I think of only one thing, That may Allah reward him more and more with greater honour. Honours such as have not been received by any other artiste. We consider his honour to be ours and his unprecedented popularity to be our own. Our hearts beat for each other, we feel each other’s pain and pleasure. We may have different names and bodies but our hearts beat as one.”
These were the words of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan when he was asked about NFAK’s unimaginable success. Farrukh was the driving soul of the party , A man with a great voice with varying texture, a prodigy of music and the greatest Harmonium player of his era , he even composed many of NFAK songs, though Nusrat always tried to credit him as the “Music Director of Ensemble” he never took any credit… the pious soul was happy with what he had, and was forever thankful to god for being NFAK’s Brother. Farrukh was a great classical singer too, it he did many solo Jugalbandis with NFAK . He frequently used to beautify NFAK’s improvisations with his “Textured Alaap” .. very often Nusrat used to praise him in between song by nodding his head or sometimes even saying “Subhaan Allah” . He very easily used to cover the mistakes of other party members and was great at tune transitions. Continue reading →
Have you ever tried any of NFAK Ghazals… When it came to Ghazals NFAK thunderous voice used to become honey-soft , Sargam Improvisations used to become murkiyan ( A murki is cluster of notes that sounds like a short, subtle taan ), Repetitions of Phrases by Ensemble was replaced by NFAK’s solo repetitions full of Adayagi( Elite way of Expressing) and intense hand movements were now just limited to eyes and facial expressions… ( Though NFAK sometimes induced Sargams in Ghazals too… Cross-blending as he always did..)
My most Favorite NFAK Ghazal is ” Mai Khayal Hoo Kisi Aur Ka ” followed by “Kehna Galat Galat” (yes it’s a Ghazal)
Missives From Allah – One of the best Ghazal Albums of NFAK
Data Durbar( or Darbar) is the shrine of great Sufi Saint, Sufi saint, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (more commonly known as Daata Ganj Baksh, meaning the master who bestows treasures). It is one of the most important and oldest Sufi Shrines of World.Data Darbar is also viewed as one of the home grounds of traditional Qawwali. Till date , every Thursday there is a Qawwali performance at the shrine which starts at 3pm and continues throughout the evening. Data Darbar holds special significance in Nusrat’s Life, his performances here were the one that established him as a Great Qawwal in his native Pakistan and shut those down who accused NFAK of westernizing Qawwali, devotees present during NFAK’s yearly performances on Urs in Data Darbar Complex are still found describing it as unmatchable and divine. When NFAK performed here first time, story is that Other Qawwals scheduled to perform after NFAK didn’t even got a chance.. why? You obviously know that…
What we present today is a set of NFAK performances from Data Darbar Recorded in 1995. We apologize for poor recording Quality…let me assure you that it’s the best available.. Just try to get A feel of The Saints by listening to a man who was no less a “Saint” Himself…..
Getting Off Music for some time now, lets me tell you more about NFAK’s likes, the second most particular one this time.
One of Faisalabad’s Streetside Kabab shops that had privilege to host NFAK
If there was anything else NFAK was ever known for other than Music and nature, it was his appetite. He never used to eat before and during the performances which lasted 5-10 hours. You will be amazed to know that once he ate 70 kebabs in one go after a performance. NFAK was quiet weak when it came to compromising with unfamiliar food, so during his World Tours (which continued for months), he used to face a lot of problems. Once during his Germany visit, he literally lived on fruits for a few days. Another incident happened in Japan where he couldn’t eat Japanese rice and organizers finally had to arrange food from a Indian family living there.
Being the simplest man he was, he always missed the local street-side Kebab shops of Faisalabad. Fans still visit these shops when they miss Nusrat. ..
Faisalabad’s Seekh Kabab, one of NFAK’s Favourite Dish
