JOGED KAHYANGAN

I heard about DEWA BUDJANA this afternoon when I received a copy of Surya Namaskar by the Indonesian guitarist with Jimmy Johnson and Vinnie Colaiuta, but before going with that album , decided to try Joged Kahyangan, because I wanted to listen his own style first, so I went my collection and found this album which I heard a long time ago but didn't remembered well.

The first thing I must say is that Dewa has a more traditional approach unlike other Indonesian players as who prefer to introduce typical instruments like Kendang percussion, as a fact he's well accompanied by competent musicians like Larry Goldings (keyboards), Jimmy Johnson (bass), Bob Mintzer (sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) and drummer Peter Erskine, who support Dewa with dexterity.

The music is soft and pleasant but at the same time complex and elaborate, flowing gently from start to end, but the most interesting feature is the capacity of Dewa to play complex passages in a style that reminds me of icons as John Mc'Laughlin and Pat Metheny with a touch of Tohpati (As in Majik Blue), but also the importance to allow the other musicians to perform lengthy sections in which he keeps away, avoiding over saturation and futile shredding when unnecessary.

It's hard to choose a favorite song, because the album sounds as a complete entity where every piece is like a chapter of a book that only makes sense in the context it was recorded, but idf somebody asks me, I would mention the complex Majik Blue, wghere Dewa shows us his skills with some strong sections, not as frantic as in the magnificent Erskoman where Peter Erskine surprised me with the solid drumming impressively supported by Jimmy Johnson in the bass

But I also was impressed by his capacity to play softer stuff like the incredibly beautiful As you Leave my Nest with Janis Siege in the vocals and Borra's Ballad, a soft piece where Larry Goldings adds some delicate organ touches to enhance the oneiric atmosphere, the perfect closer for a very good album.

Maybe because I was expecting something different, I won't go with the maximum rating, but anything below 4 solid stars, would seem unfair to me.

Now I can review Surya Namaskar, being more familiar with the sound of this talented guitarist and composer.