I wanted to share my first memory of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It was in Toronto at the Metro Convention Centre. ..not a great place for a concert... 15 years ago. The room was a huge, cave like space with excessively high ceilings...the stage was a make-shift one with rich carpets, microphones placed all around.
People stood everywhere, on chairs, on stairs and eventually, everyone had to stand up. One very tall Sikh man, hoisted my young son on to his shoulders, saying 'you have to see the munshie...". I guessed he meant the maestro of music.
You heard of the phrase "mind-blowing"? Well, during that concert, it was actively demonstrated. The power of Nusrat's voice reached such an amazing crescendo that he blew the speakers around him. It was almost an hour before things were miked up again and during this time, he was laughing, joking and making fun of the situation. Of course, he sang and it was still possible to enjoy his voice without amplification. It was music beyond this world.