Ustad Saami

Ustad Saami: God Is Not A Terrorist

by Chris May
February 17, 2019

God Is Not A Terrorist is by no stretch of the imagination a jazz album, but it contains deep and authentic music and will appeal to some AAJers. Ustad Saami is a master of the Pakistani vocal style known as surti, which is characterized by its use of microtones. Microtones are widely used in music throughout Pakistan and India, but surti is a distinct tradition, dating back to pre-Islamic times. Saami's voice is the focus of the music, accompanied by ...