In collaboration with PASSIONS, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in PASSIONS Volume 43 in 2013, we present this story on Marco Alonzo and Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan, two men from two different worlds coming together to make music for the world.
Cuban Marco Alonzo and Pakistani Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan have backgrounds as different as chalk and cheese. Apart from the obvious linguistic and cultural differences, one is the son of a veteran of a revolutionary war, while the other is a scion of a family considered near royalty in their hometown. Yet they both share a commonality which binds them closer together than any superficial difference can ever separate. It is a love for music – that unspoken language which speaks louder than any tongue and which transcends the boundaries of borders and cultures.
From Cuba…
Speaking to PASSIONS, along with Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan, Marco Alonzo revealed that his foray into the world of music came by chance rather than design. Growing up in the Cuban province of Sancti Spiritus, Marco often chaffed at the strict discipline of his father – a soldier who fought for Fidel Castro in the Revolutionary army – and looked for avenues to release his frustrations.
His first outlet was the world of professional wrestling, where he would stay for several years, until one day his nephew came up with a suggestion which changed his life. Reminiscing the incident, Marco said, “He said to me, ‘Marco, why don’t chu (sic) try playing music?”
Marco explained that the suggestion tickled him because he had – till then – absolutely no training or knowledge of music. Yet, as the old saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way, and Marco soon taught himself the ropes. Slowly but surely, he learnt how to play the guitar, read musical notes, and even how to keep time and rhythm.
And Pakistan…
While Marco Alonzo was a relative late-comer to the world of music, it can be said that Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan was born into the art. The scion of a long line of Sufis – a spiritual order within Islam – for whom Qawalli music is one of their most sacred forms of devotion, Nadeem has music in his blood as his father – Bakshi Salamat Ali Khan – was also one of the most respected and revered Qawalli musicians of his time.
Talking about his youth, Nadeem recalled the incident where he was touched by the magic of music. “I remember I was around 6 years old, and I followed my father to a concert where he performed with another devotional musician from Pakistan,” he told PASSIONS. “When my father started playing, I was immediately captured by its beauty and my heart swelled with emotion and passion for Qawalli music.”
It is one thing though to be an aficionado of Qawalli music, and another thing to learn it. Even though he was the son of a legendary musician and from a family of Qawalli icons, Nadeem was not guaranteed an opportunity to learn the craft. Rather than depend on family connections, he had to compete on his own merits with other young men who came to his family home in the hope of being accepted as students.
Nadeem explained that to be accepted as a Qawalli student by the Khans is considered a great honour as the family are considered music royalty in Pakistan. It is also a very rare privilege as only those who prove themselves worthy and willing to immerse themselves into the lessons which usually take several years will be accepted.
Needless to say, Nadeem was accepted as a student, and his aptitude and talent were later recognised when he was bestowed the title Ustad – which means teacher – by his seniors. Today, he is imparting his knowledge and skills to his own protégé, Haider, who has been under his tutelage for 11 years.
Converging in Malaysia
Interestingly enough, it was Haider who indirectly brought Marco Alonzo and Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan together. It so happened that his brother – Ravin Sikander – is a friend of Marco who had set up a small recording studio – by the name Rhythmatix – in Damansara, Malaysia. Together with his sound technician, Shahril Bahar, they had produced hits for doyens of the Malaysian music scene such as as Reshmonu, Ning Baizura, Noryn Aziz and Datuk Siti Nurhaliza.
Looking to collaborate with an international musician, Marco was introduced to Nadeem who visited Malaysia in early June in order to commence their joint-venture. Although the two had not previously met, such is the power of music as a language that the two of them immediately established a bond which made the time in the recording studio an extremely fruitful and enlightening experience.
For both Marco and Nadeem, music is universal and its appreciation is one that transcends age, sex, colour and creed. Because of this, they believe that different forms of music can be successfully combined to create new and unique sounds – something which they hope their efforts in Malaysia will bring about.
It should also be noted that owing to his skills in the art of Qawalli music, Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan is recognised as an official emissary from Pakistan. As such his partnership with Marco Alonzo has the blessings and support of the government in Islamabad. Furthermore, Marco’s efforts have also been promoted by the Cuban Embassy in Malaysia.
Yet, at the end of the day, official recognition as well as awards and accolades take second place in the hearts of both Marco Alonzo and Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan. Instead, as they told PASSIONS, they are focused on using music as a medium to bring people and nations together, as well as address social issues.
“East is East and West is West. And never the twain shall meet,” so goes the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling. While the one-time Nobel Laureate in Literature may have been a sage in many things, Marco Alonzo from Cuba and Nadeem Salamat Ali Khan from Pakistan are proving that when it comes to music, it is indeed a world without borders.
