30

F R I D A Y

An acquired taste for many Western listeners due to its raw Indian/Pakistani/Middle Eastern characteristics, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s modernized qawwali singing rewards repeated listens. Whether backed by guitar when harmonizing with Eddie Vedder on the Dead Man Walking soundtrack, electronic percussion when teamed with Michael Brook on Night Song, or handclaps and harmonium with his own group, Party, on Intoxicated Spirit, the Pakistani Khan wails, scats, and improvises his Suni devotional lyrics up and down octaves and through a range of tempos. With compositions ranging in length from 5 to 25 minutes, and over 100 albums to his credit, Khan is nothing if not long-winded: Live, he has been known to sustain his incantatory vocal gymnastics for up to four hours. At 8 p.m. at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. $25-75. (202) 783-4000. (Steve Kiviat)