About Dam Dam Ali Ali, Vol. 9
Dam Dam Ali Ali, Vol. 9 is a qawwali album by Pakistani vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, released on January 1, 1991. Oriental Star Agencies Ltd. published the recording in digital media format as part of Khan’s extensive discography in Sufi devotional music. The album comprises four tracks that showcase the traditional qawwali style, characterized by rhythmic clapping, harmonium accompaniment and Khan’s improvisational vocal techniques.
The lead track Dam Dam Ali Ali Kar serves as the album’s titular piece, featuring call-and-response exchanges between Khan and his accompanying chorus. The composition follows the poetic conventions of Sufi mysticism, with lyrics invoking divine love and spiritual longing. Data Hajweri Tanoo Lakhan pays homage to the 11th-century Sufi saint Ali Hujwiri, known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, blending Persian and Punjabi verses in a medium-tempo arrangement. The third track, Main Diwani Gunj Shakar Di, employs a faster rhythmic cycle with intricate taan (melodic runs) that highlight Khan’s vocal agility. The closing piece, Sindhri Da Shahbaz Qalander, references the folk-sufi legend of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, integrating regional Sindhi musical elements with qawwali’s structured improvisation.
Khan recorded the album with his longstanding ensemble, including harmonium player Dildar Hussain and percussionists on tabla and dholak. The production retains the live-performance aesthetic typical of qawwali, with minimal post-production alterations. Oriental Star Agencies Ltd. distributed the release internationally, contributing to Khan’s growing recognition in Western markets during the early 1990s. The album’s liner notes do not specify recording locations or exact session dates beyond the 1991 release year.
Critics and scholars often cite Dam Dam Ali Ali, Vol. 9 as an example of Khan’s ability to balance traditional qawwali forms with broader accessibility. The tracks adhere to the hamd and naat traditions while incorporating folk motifs from Punjab and Sindh. No commercial sales figures or chart positions are publicly documented for this volume, though the series as a whole reinforced Khan’s status as a preeminent exponent of Sufi vocal music. The album remains available through digital platforms and reissue compilations under the Oriental Star Agencies catalog.