Shabaz


Combining eleven generations of vocal history with a modern global sensibility and the wicked rhythms of the dance-floor comes Shabaz. Their self-titled debut for Miles Copeland’s Mondo Melodia label seamlessly blends ecstatic Qawwali singing with grooves and modern instrumentation for an intoxicating 21st century fusion of music.Shabaz features the voices of siblings Sukhawat Ali Khan and Riffat Salamat, the living embodiment of the ancient Sham Chorasi singing tradition.  The pair can date their lineage back to court musicians for ruler Akbar the Great. Their father, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, was one of the great classical Indian singers, and an influence on the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Sukhawat began singing at the age of seven, and has performed around the world for presidents and kings.Renowned for his technique and passion, he shares vocal duties with sister Riffat, whose siren sensuality and harmony burn with the Qawwali Sufi tradition, making her a rare female exponent of a style from which women are generally discouraged.