jeff beck

[Diane]

Blame it on the truth that ran us down, Kush. By the way, as you got me into the sound, I have been dying to tell you that last weekend at WOMAD I was lucky enough to experience Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali's powerful and mesmerising performances (with Nusrat's nephews). Wow did they ratchet up the intensity and then some. I will have Allah Hoo Allah Hoo ringing in my ears for some days yet to come I think.

nos da:-)

[Kush]

Sounds like you enjoyed it Diane. Havent heard Nusrat in a long long time .....gotta pull one of his CDs at some point soon. I usually go through phases where I am hearing one thing for some time and then something else.

[Jokapaikanapina]

I missed Jeff in Canada AND Finland this year. Too bad since I heard that the Finnish gig was "the best gig ever" from a friend's dad. And apparently the drummer's insane.

It would've also been really cool to go to the Valentine's Day concert this year, Eric Clapton also played there.

[Diane]

Hello (again) Joka. Welcome.

I usually go through phases where I am hearing one thing for some time and then something else.

Me too:-)

Yes I saw three performances over two days. They were totally involving - burning and transcendent. The tabla/drum rhythm was a fair bit more promiment live than on cd, which was just one of the aspects of 'being there' that made it so good. It was moving to witness first-hand the amount of energy and devotion put into the singing, by Muazzam and Rizwan (who were part of a ten piece band - the minimum number for Qawwali, so we learnt). There was a session where their manager explained how much improvisation is involved, about the 'conversation' between the singers themselves, and the band and the audience, and that traditionally a single qawwali can go on for hours sometimes. He also pointed out that traditionally, the audience would understand the words (!), which I imagine does indeed add an extra dimension to the music even though it is far from necessary to be able to feel it. He explained that the Qawwalis are in praise of God, Mohammed, a Sufi saint, or a lover. It's not surprising that Sufi poetry, with the blurred distinction between sexual and spiritual love is one of Leonard's influences (as has been noted on here many times already). There are no restrictions on how the audience must behave - you can dance ecstatically if you feel so inclined.

I have looked up some of Nusrat's lyrics in recent days - lovely to read (even knowing that they are losing in the translation).

from Allah Huu, Allah Huu:

Allah huu Allah huu
Allah huu Allah huu

(Sufi mystic chants - meaning "God is")

You, the one who glows with new radiance every moment
[and] perplex the yearning eyes.
All the branches [of trees] sing praise of your creation
[and] all the leaves lead to your omnipotence.

There is no one like you and that is your grandeur, O! the unique one
you are the imagination and inquisitiveness, you are the wish
you are the light [and] the voice of heart
you were there, you are there and you will be there.

Nusrat's original version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLK8AZx8kXY in case anyone else is interested.

Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali have three albums, the middle one of which is a dub one - so they're not afraid to experiment. I didn't warm to the dub one, listening to the samples on Amazon though, although I like a lot the Gaudi/Nusrat dub album.

I also saw this time another excellent Toureg desert blues band, Toumast, including a female singer/guitarist. Found one of their songs on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FmNSP0QRL0

So refreshing it is, to hear world music! It makes the usual rock n roll sound a bit formulaic and limited.

I'll leave it there, as this has nothing whatever to do with Jeff Beck (mind you, he along with George Harrison introduced the sitar sound to pop music). Kush you always make me go off-topic.

[Kush]

Noted for future reference Diane (probably in a year or two ). You sound excited by the experience, good for you. I'll let the Jeff Beck fans continue on here - if they want to....

p.s. just checked out some Rizwan muazzam's music on amazon. very cool! will definitely keep in mind for future. Thanks.

[Goldin]

Tal Wilkenfeld is a very talented young woman!

Her cover of Chelsea Hotel #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWHszh0JHPE (just vocals + bass).

[sebmelmoth2003]

lee wenham claims that his gypsy-crime family were close friends with jeff beck.

producer ted roffey too.

full account in ghostwritten book `diamond gangster`.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/g ... m-35041425

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua9lEJn82PY
------------------

Excerpt from the book: - "String" by Steven R. M. Acworth copyright 2006.

https://www.steve-acworth.co.uk/jeff.beck.htm