The Late Legendary singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was an admirer of Latafat's family's art, and incorporated it into his style of singing. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan refers to Salamat & Nazakat Ali Khan as his idols in one of his biographies, "As a child in my parents' home, I got to know the masterly art of khyal singing. They've been my idols ever since" (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan). Latafat has won many awards and trophies for his sweet, Melancholic, velvety voice, including the annual award for best artist at the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khans memorial in 2004.
Latafat Ali Khan also sung the hit soundtrack "Allah Hoo" from the hilarious film "East Is East". This festive song is known as a Qawwali, and was popularized by the great legend 'Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan' decades ago.
Latafat also plays the Harmonium (Indian Accordion), Surmandil (Indian Zither Harp) & Tanpura (Drone instrument)! Latafat uses complex melodies (Ragas) & Difficult rhythms (Talas), in true improvisation to captivate his audience, which he uses to uphold his family tradition. Latafat is at great ease improvising in Jazz or any type of music, western or eastern and is able to perform with any artist regardless of musical genre. He sings comfortably in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Persian & even Arabic. The reason for Latafat's unique & complex singing style is due to excessive vocal training with the Tanpura (Drone Lute) & harmonium, and the exercises are known in the east as 'riaz'. Latafat has also inherited most of his singing from his forefathers, which has been passed down through blood lineage for many centuries. Latafat & his family have been known to practice vocal exercise constantly for up to 20 hours a day, even sometimes with very little or no sleep. Many of the great famous singers from India & Pakistan (including from the bollywood industry) have learned, or become true disciples (involving the traditional ceremonies) of Latafat's family, including artists such as the female Sufi singer Abida Parveen, & Hans Raj Hans (a renowned Punjabi & bollywood playback singer). Master Artists such as Ghulam Ali & Mehdi Hassan also took training from Latafat's father.
Kamran is Latafat Ali Khan's Spanish Guitarist, and is a disciple of Latafat Ali Khan. Latafat is inspired by Kamran's guitar, whose style is very oriental in flavour thus complementing his voice. Kamrans aim is to improvise around and mirror Latafat's voice. Note: The guitar playing in the above recordings of Latafat are not played by Kamran, & Latafat always performs live with Kamran. Kamran's guitar music is influenced by Greek, Persian, Arabic & even Spanish Gypsy music when playing Indian Bollywood songs. This could be to do with the guitar type, being a Spanish flamenco guitar, and the styles of music being inter-related, using similar scales & rhythms. Or even more simply to do with our Roma Gypsies who still sing & dance like us to this day in Europe, especially Spain! Many people think of the style as a hybrid style, i.e. fusion occurring within just the one instrument, but Kamran says "This is'nt, Fusion, the Flamenco is part of our Indian culture in the way we play & improvise, its from our Gypsies, who we are still proud of for maintaining their Indian identity in Europe to this day...".
Kamran can also play the ektara (or tumbi) which is a single-stringed traditional Punjabi folk banjo. Its high pitch has a sharp tone and attack and can be heard with its distinctive sound in mainstream music, such as the song by Punjabi MC 'Mundiyan To Bachke Rahe'. Kamran also loves dancing during performances in the traditional Indian way as well as singing Bollywood, Bhangra & folk songs in accompaniment to Latafat or solo.
Latafat Ali Khan's Discography includes his Albums: Mukhra (1995), Chaand Nagar (1996), as well as the song 'Allah Hoo" from the film soundtrack album "East is east".
Latafat Ali Khan & his group are available to hire for any occasion including private performances, corporate events, weddings, parties & concerts! For bookings your event please contact Kamran (guitarist) by telephone on 07960 867 599 or e-mail us at [email protected]
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