BEGUM ABIDA PARVEEN: Unquestionably brilliant, the rightful heir to the legacy of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the reigning queen of Sufi music, witness Begum Abida Parveen once again as she takes the listeners into a spiritual trance, this time with some of the most beautiful works of mystic poet Kabir.

A disciple of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Abida primarily sings the structured, poetic Kafi as also the soulful ghazal genre of singing and improvisational qawwali style. Each rendition exudes an energy that sends the audience in raptures and takes them into a state of that what is truly divine. Singing raw and robust takes them on a journey of rhythmic and melodious nuances. With her effortless renditions she paints a musical picture of surreal beauty out of the timeless poetry of Kabir. It has been often said, that to experience Abida is to experience life itself. Here then is another taste of life, by the sub-continents only Sufi Diva, Begum Abida Parveen.

KABIR: By profession he was a weaver and perhaps that is how Kabir wove simple words into something so wonderful as his poetry. Picking situations that surrounded our daily lives made his poetry eternally relevant. Thus even today, his poetry has a major influence on both the social and the spiritual context.

Characterized by a free use of the vernacular, his lyrics were unfettered by the grammatical bonds of his day. It is this quality which has made his philosophy accessible to generations of Indians. Today Kabir ranks among the world's greatest poets and is perhaps the most quoted authors, attributing to the fact that his work had a universal appeal. The social and practical manifestation of Kabir's philosophy has rung through the ages and across religions. It is a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim concepts, while at the same time it is widely accepted by the Sikhs as well. From Hinduism he accepted the concept of reincarnation and the law of Karma. From Islam he took the affirmation of the single God and the rejection of caste system and idolatry and thus went around in his quest for the ultimate religion, with an approach that was straightforward and honest. He believed that all life is interplay of two spiritual principles, the soul (Jivatma) and the God (Paramatma). Salvation then, is the process of bringing into union these two divine principles. Born more than six hundred years ago, mystic poet Kabir is said to have lived for 120 years and finally relinquished his body in 1518.

GULZAR: Poet, lyricist, writer, filmmaker Gulzar has created some of the most beautiful moments for all of us to enjoy. His poetry paints pictures of pain and loneliness, love and life; it deals with the multitude of emotions present in the realm of human relationships. In ‘Abida Sings Kabir’ he takes a moment to introduce and explain each piece of poetry and the following rendition, in his flawless style, thus enhancing our experience of the album as a whole.