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Dewa Budjana

Guitarist, composer and producer Dewa Budjana (pronounce Dèh-wah Boo-djana) was born on 30 August 1963, in Waikabubak, Bali, Indonesia. (It is an area considered by those who know it to be a tropical paradise.)

Dewa has established a solid body of work as a jazz artist on numerous solo albums (featuring a "who's who" list of current jazz luminaries), while also being the lead guitarist and songwriter of the Indonesian nationally-celebrated pop/rock band, Gigi. His fluidity and grace in both rock and jazz idioms has firmly established his position among the very elite guitarists in the world, as well, perhaps, as Indonesia's most well-known and highly-regarded guitarist ever.

Dewa’s journey as a musician started at the early age of eleven, when he bought his first guitar. His passion and talent for the instrument was further nurtured when the Balinese native moved to the city of Surabaya. During this period, his tendencies varied from jazz-rock to progressive music — influenced by John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Yes, Gentle Giant, ELP; and later by Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Bill Frissell, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny and Weather Report, as Dewa became steadily more drawn to jazz.

Both Dewa’s intrepid experimentations — blending jazz with traditional sounds — and his hunger to pursue his gift were evident early on in his career. Upon graduation, Dewa aggressively pursued his dreams, making the decision to relocate to Jakarta, to further his musical ambitions and embark on a career. While there, Dewa met and tutored under Indonesian jazz legend, Jack Lesmana, who introduced him to the principles and basics of jazz.

It was Jack Lesmana’s son, Indra, who suggested to Dewa that he should become a session player. This period was the beginning of his first professional performances. It was a time which saw him become very busy, where Dewa was featured on "Isbandi in Telerama" — a popular musical show broadcasted regularly on national TV.

Dewa Budjana first earned international fame and celebrity as the founding member of Gigi, in 1994. The band has released 22 albums to date, firmly establishing Gigi as one of the biggest, most successful pop rock bands in the region.

Dewa is also an accomplished producer, a role which began with the release of his first solo album, "Nusa Damai," in 1997, and continued with guitarist Balawan’s album "Globalism," the following year.

The common thread connecting his body of solo works is the merging of multiple musical elements: incorporating jazz, pop, rock and traditional sounds, producing music that is personal and intimate in its delivery, yet universal in its appeal.

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Liner Notes

Dewa Budjana: Joged Kahyangan

Read "Dewa Budjana: Joged Kahyangan" reviewed by John Kelman


Dewa Budjana may not be a household name outside of his native country, Indonesia, but with MoonJune Records picking up this exciting guitarist and composer, all that could be about to change. He's already garnered some serious attention with his first recording for the label, Dawai in Paradise, released earlier this year (2013), but at home, he's nothing short of a pop star. Lead guitarist and songwriter for the multi-platinum, million-selling Indonesian pop/rock group Gigi, the fifty year-old Budjana has ...

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Liner Notes

Dewa Budjana: Surya Namaskar

Read "Dewa Budjana: Surya Namaskar" reviewed by John Kelman


There was a time when artists were able to release albums on their own schedule rather than that of the record label. While most jazz artists release, at most, one album a year these days, for some there's an even longer gap between recordings. For the most part, the days when an artist like Miles Davis was releasing two, three, sometimes even four albums in the space of a single year are long gone. There are a number of reasons ...

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Album Review

Daniel Dyonisius: Miles to Go

Read "Miles to Go" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Indonesia had produced some fine guitarists over the years. Dewa Budjana is high on that list with the records he has under his belt as a leader. Here, Budjana guest stars on the first track of Miles To Go, the debut album by Daniel Dyonisius. The young guitarist comes out blazing with the eight minute plus “Freedom." The Dyonisius original (actually all but one are originals) creates just that, the freedom for the two guitarists to improvise with beautiful colors. ...

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Album Review

Dewa Budjana: Naurora

Read "Naurora" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Balinese guitarist Dewa Budjana's seventh album on Moonjune Records, Naurora, reveals--for those who have not heard him--a musician of seemingly unlimited talent and an artist in possession of an expansive vision. He has been called a “progressive fusion maestro" and, if he has to be labeled, that description feels right. Leading off with this disc's eleven-minute title tune, Budjana--who composed, arranged and produced the music here--lays down huge, rich soundscapes in the company of a bunch of forward-looking allstars, including ...

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Album Review

Nicolas Meier/ Dewa Budjana Group: Flying Spirits

Read "Flying Spirits" reviewed by Jim Worsley


As much as 2020 was a lemon, it was quite the fruitful year for jazz and fusion records. The vault had been closed, sealed, and bolted shut for the year, until a spirit swept the room. Under the heading of 'saving the best for last' or a 'hail Mary,' the magical journey of Flying Spirits (Blue Canoe, 2020) was in the air, in the ear, and enriching the mind. The record brought together virtuoso level guitarists, Nicolas Meier and Dewa ...

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Album Review

Dewa Budjana and Tohpati: Janapati

Read "Janapati" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Janapati combines the names of two of the best guitarists (jazz, rock, jazz-rock fusion, world, and any/every other music you've got) from Indonesia, Dewa Budjana and Tohpati Ario Hutomo (Tohpati). As leaders of their own bands or as contributors to other recordings, the two have appeared on more than fifty combined releases, many for the globetrotting MoonJune Records label, and they suggest in their joint liner notes: “Long enough friendship in music makes us more familiar with each other and ...

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Album Review

Dewa Budjana: Mahandini

Read "Mahandini" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


After the extensive double album venture Zentuary (Favored Nations, 2016), Indonesian guitar virtuoso Dewa Budjana returns with a more condensed set of tunes that have a much heavier edge to them. Instead of featuring a multitude of different guests and recording over a longer period of time, as on its predecessor, Mahandini finds Budjana in interplay with a fixed trio comprised of Progressive Rock pioneers Jordan Rudess on keys and Marco Minnemann on drums, while Indian prodigy Mohini Dey--who's made ...

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Festival

MoonJune Music Festival Toledo 2023 Featuring Soft Machine, Diego Amador, Dwiki Dharmawan, Dewa Budjana, Markus Reuter Anchor & Burden And More

MoonJune Music Festival Toledo 2023 Featuring Soft Machine, Diego Amador, Dwiki Dharmawan, Dewa Budjana, Markus Reuter Anchor & Burden And More

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

September 28-30 and October 1, 2023 At the Circulo De Arte Toledo, Plaza San Vincente, Toledo, Spain Music That Fits Toledo MoonJune Music and M Films Producciones present a multi-sensory festival of eclectic, international progressive music expanding the boundaries of jazz, rock, global music, and the unknown. Join visionary presenters Leonardo Pavkovic and Mauricio Aguinaco in historic Toledo, Spain, for four days of extraordinary concerts, roundtable discussions with seasoned music industry professionals, regional gastronomical delights, and the warm camaraderie ...

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Recording

New CD Release By Indonesian Guitar Virtuoso Dewa Budjana Featuring Jimmy Johnson & Vinnie Colaiuta Now Available On MoonJune Records

New CD Release By Indonesian Guitar Virtuoso Dewa Budjana Featuring Jimmy Johnson & Vinnie Colaiuta Now Available On MoonJune Records

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

New York, NY - Dewa Budjana, Indonesian iconic guitar my Johnson & Vinnie Colaiuta Now Available On Moonune Recordslegend 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 ...

Recording

Dewa Budjana's New Album "Joged Kahyangan" Features Larry Goldings, Peter Erskine, Jimmy Johnson, Bob Mintzer, Janis Siegel

Dewa Budjana's New Album "Joged Kahyangan" Features Larry Goldings, Peter Erskine, Jimmy Johnson, Bob Mintzer, Janis Siegel

Source: Leonardo Pavkovic

Boasting a stellar lineup of modern jazz icons Larry Goldings, Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Johnson and Peter Erskine (and featuring guest vocalist, the fabulous Janis Siegel), Indonesian guitar maestro Dewa Budjana's sixth solo album — his second for MoonJune Records — is a progressive jazz master-class session of huge proportions. Overflowing with moments of elegance, grace, depth and invention, Joged Kahyangan is Dewa's musical interpretation of the beauty of heaven. Featuring eight exquisitely-crafted, -arranged and -executed gems, Budjana and friends have ...

Recording

Indonesian Guitar Legend Dewa Budjana Releases "Dawai In Paradise" on MoonJune Records

Indonesian Guitar Legend Dewa Budjana Releases "Dawai In Paradise" on MoonJune Records

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

MoonJune Records is proud and pleased to present the incredible artistry of legendary world-class guitarist, Dewa Budjana. Renowned throughout his native Indonesia, his status as a maestro is well-deserved and immediately apparent. Dewa's fifth solo album, Dawai In Paradise, explores his vast, diverse array of guitar stylings in a host of fresh, powerful, intriguing musical settings. A showcase of astounding, brilliant music is performed by a host of great musicians — including Grammy-winning artists drummer Peter Erskine (Weather Report; Steps ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Naurora

MoonJune Records
2021

buy

Miles to Go

Demajors Records
2021

buy

Flying Spirits

Blue Canoe Records
2020

buy

Janapati

MoonJune Records
2019

buy

Mahandini

MoonJune Records
2018

buy

Hasta Karma

MoonJune Records
2016

buy

Freedom

From: Miles to Go
By Dewa Budjana

Miles to Go

From: Miles to Go
By Dewa Budjana

Joged Kahyangen

From: Flying Spirits
By Dewa Budjana

Duaji & Guruji

From: Surya Namaskar (with Jimmy...
By Dewa Budjana

As You Leave My Nest

From: Joged Kahyangan
By Dewa Budjana

Lalu Lintas

From: Dawai In Paradise
By Dewa Budjana

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