Jazz Articles about Dewa Budjana

About Dewa Budjana

Extended Analysis

Guitarist, composer and producer Dewa Budjana is from Waikabubak, West Sumba, Indonesia. Budjana has been building a collection of jazz-inspired works and CDs, while also playing and composing for the rock band Gigi. Budjana's influences are varied and he has always infused the traditional sounds Indonesia no matter what genre he is exploring. Budjana's ability to bring together rock and jazz has firmly established his position as one of Indonesia's top guitarists. Budjana's courageous investigation of blending jazz ...

Album Review

Dewa Budjana: Joged Kahyangan

Read "Joged Kahyangan" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
December 12, 2013

Every so often a major pop artist steps out of the loop and shows the world another side of his or her technical acumen and penchant for executing within a more demanding, if not less commercially viable art-form. Drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones is a noteworthy example with his jazz big-band recordings, for example. A similar paradigm applies to Indonesian guitarist Dewa Budjana via his affiliation with the multi-platinum selling Indonesian pop/rock group Gigi. And to summon jazz ...

Album Review

Dewa Budjana: Dawai In Paradise

Read "Dawai In Paradise" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
June 21, 2013

Eminent guitarist Dewa Budjana's fifth solo album offers a medley of compelling stylistic components steeped in Indo-fusion, jazz fusion, progressive rock and indigenous components of his Indonesian roots. The album also includes older material, spanning 2002 through 2005, featuring US jazz heroes including drummer Peter Erskine, the late bassist Dave Carpenter, and many others who generate a world-beat focus. Budjana's technical gifts cannot be undermined, yet his primary motivation is based on song-form amid broadly entertaining values. The guitarist toggles ...

Extended Analysis

Dewa Budjana: Dawai In Paradise

by Dave Wayne
April 5, 2013

Though Dawai In Paradise is the first U.S. release by guitarist Dewa Budjana, careful study of the liner notes indicates that the Bali native has been playing jazz at a very high level for quite some time. Listening to this polished gem of an album, it's readily apparent that Budjana is no neophyte. In fact, he's a seasoned session guitarist and a permanent member of Gigi (Teeth), a well-established and quite popular Indonesian rock band.The tracks that comprise ...