With its pulsing drums and harmoniums, ecstatic incantations with euphoric choral refrains, nothing induces a state of spiritual intoxication quite like Qawwali, a 700-year-old tradition of hypnotic Sufi praise music.

Qawwali Gospel Creation united one of the genre’s revered torchbearers, Pakistani singer Faiz Ali Faiz and his ensemble, with African American gospel music—a tradition equally steeped in cathartic song—for a joint evening with renowned pianist/singer Craig Adams and the Voices of New Orleans, raising the spirit in ecstasy.

Support for Qawwali Gospel Creation is provided by the Asian Cultural Council.

Qawwali has traveled the globe for centuries in the mouths, ears, hearts, minds, and, more recently, the digital players and MP3 files of the South Asian diaspora. It is a musical form associated with the sama’, spiritual concert, of the Chishti Sufi Order.

Listen in on Faiz Ali Faiz and his Ensemble performing Dam Mast Qalandar:

And read on to learn more about the qawwali musical tradition.