Dewa Budjana, Indonesian
iconic guitar legend of Balinese ethnic heritage, is releasing his 3rd
album (his 7th solo effort on his parallel jazz-fusion career) on MoonJune Records;
the New York City independent label of progressive music that explores
boundaries of jazz, rock, avant-garde, ethno & the unknown, run by
its cosmopolitan honcho and executive producer Leonardo Pavkovic.
Recorded in Los Angeles by the world renowned engineer Robert Feist (who
recorded Stevie Nicks, Anita Baker, and 8 albums of Allan Holdsworth,
among many others) during two sessions in January and October of 2013, Surya Namaskar (Salute to the Sun, in Budjana's native Balinese language) represents a significant change from Dewa Budjana's last album, Joged Kahyangan. While bassist Jimmy Johnson (Allan
Holdsworth, James Taylor, Flim & the BB's) is back from that
session, this time the drummer is the much in-demand powerhouse Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck, Sting), with ubiquitous guitar session ace Michael Landau (James Taylor, Renegade Creation, Joni Mitchell) and drummer turned keyboardist Gary Husband (John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jack Bruce) making valuable guest appearances on one track each.
Full of twists and turns you could never see coming, Surya Namaskar provides
ample evidence that the Balinese guitarist is just as much at home in
moments of pure spontaneity, ripping over a killer groove, as he is in
denser, more orchestrated settings. Exploring previously-unrevealed
facets of his artistic mystique, this album highlights a more
instinctive, uninhibited approach to both his guitar playing and music
making. Served up just-out-of-the-oven fresh and delivered with
conviction and urgency, each song is its own unique, engulfing cosmic
voyage.
The sum total of Surya Namaskar is
most definitely greater than its individual – monstrously talented –
parts. Together with his two previous MoonJune recordings - Dawai in Paradise (January, 2013) and Joged Kahyangan (October, 2013) - Surya Namaskar paints
the ongoing portrait of a guitarist who may be a superstar in the
Indonesian pop-rock world as a founding member of the multi-million
selling Gigi (one of the most prolific bands in Indonesian history, with
24 releases to their name, celebrating this year their 20th anniversary
with their 25th album Live at Abbey Road, in which Budjana is
the main composer and author of many hits), but whose lesser-known
credibility and, more importantly, visibility as a jazz and fusion
guitarist is slowly on the ascendance, as more and more international
progressive music fans discover the depth, the heart, and the profound
spirituality of Dewa Budjana, at fifty a new guitar hero of strength, creativity and significance.
In
January 2014, Dewa Budjana has recorded in New York City material for
another studio album to be released by MoonJune, in October 2014,
featuring Antonio Sanchez on drums, Ben Williams on upright bass (both
recording and touring with Pat Metheny) and Joe Locke on vibraphone.
MUSEUM GITARKU (Guitar Museum, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia)
Conceived by Dewa Budjana.
Located
in the idyllic village of Payogan in Ubud, Bali, the original intent
behind Museum Gitarku (Guitar Museum) was to store his beloved guitars
(a collection of more than 130 guitars). However, in the development of
the museum, designed by acclaimed Balinese architect Popo Danes as part
of the 100-room 5 star Pakayon Hotel & Resort, Budjana felt that not
only could it serve as a testament to his lifelong passion for the
instrument, but also as his contribution for the people of Bali and
Indonesia that would enable future generations to learn more about the
musicians whose playing has graced the guitar over the years. The museum
will feature instruments donated by an ever-expanding list of
Indonesian and international musicians alike, from local guitar heroes
of a country of 250+ million people, such as Chrisye, Rhoma Irama and
Eross Candra, to world-renowned virtuosos and guitar legends including
Allan Holdsworth, Robbie Krieger, Steve Vai, Michael Angelo Batio. Grand
opening is planned for January 2015 with a special appearance by one of
the world's best known guitar icons.
For more info: www.museumgitarku.com
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