(March 2026) Episode 716 is NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN, considered the most famous performer of qawwali – a form of Sufi devotional music from South Asia. He reached audiences way beyond the region and is thus considered a top promoter of the “world music” genre (a categorization I dislike). Khan possessed a powerful voice and incredible stamina; he would perform for hours in a seated position. I find qawwali compelling — a mix of the sacred and traditional South Indian instrumentation. The number of recordings of Khan’s performances are impossible to count. Many releases included added instrumentation and beats to try to appeal to Western audiences: abominations. He branched out beyond qawwali, composing for Hollywood and Bollywood soundtracks.

Favorite album: Pukaar: The Echo

Favorite song: Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: Find a video of one of his live performances to see get the physical and group dynamics of the music.