The Saami Brothers are a group of Pakistani vocalists and musicians, known for their performances of traditional Sufi Qawwali and Khayal music. They are the sons and disciples of the critically acclaimed maestro Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, and are considered contemporary custodians of the centuries-old Qawwal Bachchon ka Gharana (musical lineage).
The ensemble's performances are noted for preserving the authentic, traditional style of their 13th-century lineage, which includes the mastery of complex microtonal vocal scales, particularly the rare 49-note scale that their father is the last known living practitioner of.
History and Lineage
The Saami Brothers belong to the Qawwal Bacha Delhi Gharana (Delhi School of Qawwali and Khayal), a musical tradition that traces its origins back approximately 800 years to the 13th-century Sufi poet, musician, and scholar, Amir Khusrau (also known as Hazrat Ameer Khusrau).[1]
Their lineage is traced to Saamat Bin Ibrahim, a principal student of Amir Khusrau, who is credited with founding the gharana. The Saami family is regarded as the last family to preserve this tradition in its purest form, which blends Persian, Arabic, Turkic, and South Asian musical elements.
The brothers' father, Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, is a central figure in their musical education and performance. Ustad Saami, an acclaimed master of Khayal and Qawwali, learned from his paternal uncle, Ustaad Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed Khan, and others within the family.
The Saami Brothers—namely, Rauf Saami, Urooj Saami, Ahmed Saami, and Azeem Saami—received rigorous, intensive training in Eastern classical genres from their father and other family elders, including the late Ustad Munshi Raziuddin Khan and Ustad Nizamuddin Saami.
Musical Style and Artistry
The Saami Brothers' performances draw deeply from the styles and repertoire of their gharana.
Qawwali: As a Riwayati Qawwali group (traditional Qawwali group), their devotional music follows the rhythmic and melodic structure intended to induce a state of wajd (spiritual ecstasy) in the audience. Their Qawwali often incorporates the poetry of Sufi mystics.
Khayal: The brothers are highly skilled in the Khayal (literally "imagination") genre, an improvisational and meditative form of classical South Asian vocal music. Their Khayal performances, often presented with Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, are celebrated for their profound contemplative depth and complex melodic exploration.[2]
Microtonal Mastery: The group is particularly distinguished by its preservation and performance of the rare 49-note microtonal scale (also known as the Surti scale). This system divides the Western 12-tone octave into 49 distinct pitches, demanding extraordinary vocal precision and intuition, and is a unique hallmark of their family's tradition. Rauf Saami, a lead vocalist, has described the learning of this scale as demanding patience, listening, and years of guided training.[3]
The ensemble typically features the brothers on lead and supporting vocals, often accompanied by instruments like the harmonium, tabla, and sometimes the sarangi.
International Recognition and Performances
While deeply rooted in Pakistani and South Asian classical music, the Saami Brothers have performed internationally to critical acclaim, often alongside their father, Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, as a special guest. Their performances have been lauded for the powerful spiritual and transformative effect of their music.
Notable international appearances include:
WOMAD Festival (various locations, including Adelaide, Australia).
Le Guess Who? (Netherlands).
Performances and residencies across the United States, including at the Asia Society (NY), Wolf Trap National Performing Arts Center, and Town Hall Seattle.[4][3][5]
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami's work, which forms the basis of the group's performances, has been featured in the 90-minute documentary movie Closer to God by Swiss director Annette Berger.
Membership
The Saami Brothers group is primarily composed of the four sons of Ustad Naseeruddin Saami:
Rauf Saami (Lead Vocalist)
Urooj Saami (Vocalist)
Ahmed Saami (Vocalist, Harmonium)
Azeem Saami (Vocalist, Tabla)
They are often joined by their father, Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, and other accompanying musicians.
Discography
While their career focus has been on live performance and the oral transmission of their tradition, the work of Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, which is inseparable from their repertoire, has been recorded on international labels.
God is not a terrorist (Ustad Saami) (Glitterbeat Records, 2019)
Pakistan is for the peaceful (Ustad Saami) (Glitterbeat Records, 2020)
East Pakistan Sky (Ustad Saami) (Glitterbeat Records, 2021)
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