RIZWAN MUAZZAM

Qawwali group delivers perfect performance in London

THE Rizwan-Muazzam qawwali group have had a close connection to the UK ever since they made their international debut as teenagers at the Womad festival in 1998.

They recently returned for another British tour powered by mesmerising shows. A big highlight of the Asian Arts Agency produced tour was back-toback performances at the Kings Place in London. The brilliantly talented brothers, backed up by a world-class ensemble, delivered a majestic concert that showed their magnificent musical mastery.

Instead of slipping into the comfort zone of just performing much-loved qawwalis by their late uncle Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the concert was dominated by new compositions, very much rooted in centuries-old tradition and had the kind of energy that would normally be found in those iconic pieces. They mixed up these new qawwalis with all-time greats made globally famous by their late great uncle like Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae. They rounded off the concert with a rousing finale that saw them effortlessly glide from Akhiyan Udeek Diyan to Mast Qalandar.

Performer: Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals Producer: Asian Arts Agency

What made the concert particularly special was the superb stage presence of an entire ensemble that complimented one another perfectly. On one side of the stage Muazzam Ali Khan was like a turbocharged engine filled with infinite power, while his brother Rizwan Ali Khan sat at the opposite side and offered up a softer, more soulful side. In between, there was an ensemble that fitted perfectly to bring everything together as a whole. What all the artists had in common was they drew out emotional energy from each verse and transferred it to a multi-cultural audience with hypnotic beats.

Although their late uncle Nusrat left a permanent hole in the music industry, in terms of qawwali purity and offering up something new, the Rizwan-Muazzam group have come closest to filling that void with flawless performances.