Latafat Ali Khan
Ustad or 'Master' Latafat Ali Khan belongs to a very famous caste & family of professional Pakistani Classical Musicians, most of which have been recorded in history as legendary singers. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, he is the second oldest son of the late master, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, and nephew to Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan (their cd is available on the world network series under the title Pakistan). His Family are masters in the singing art of Khyal, Dhrupad & semi-classical styles (Ghazals, Dadra, Kafi & Thumri etc), as well as Pakistani folk music, especially from the Punjab, and their style or singing school is known as the 'Sham Chaurasi Gharana'.
Latafat Ali Khan has been learning music since he was very young because it has been the family occupation for over 600 years, going back to his ancestors Mian Chand Khan & Mian Suraj Khan, who were the famed court musicians of Moghul Emperor Akhbar in the 16th century. Latafat is a direct blood descendant of these two court musicians. He is based in London & performs all around Uk, and has toured extensively around the world in many prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall with his father back in the 80's. Latafat is the brother of the singers (oldest to youngest), Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan, Ustad Sukhawat Ali Khan & the renowned Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan! Latafat's most famous sister is the husky voiced 'Riffat Sultana', who is also a great ghazal singer in her own right. On his mothers side, Latafat is the nephew of vocalist Ustad Hussain Bakhsh Gullo. He is also the cousin of the famous experimental singer, Rafaqat Ali Khan, who is the son of Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan.
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, Surmandil & Tanpura (Drone instrument)! Latafat uses complex melodies (Raags) & Difficult rhythms (Taals), 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 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 'riaaz'. 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).
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.
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 gypsyindian@hotmail.co.uk Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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