Guitarist, composer and producer. Born I Dewa Gede Budjana on 30 August 1963 in Waikabubak, West Sumba, Indonesia.Based on a solid body of work as a jazz artist in his solo albums whilst also being the lead guitarist and songwriter of the band Gigi, Dewa Budjana’s ability to bring together rock and jazz has firmly established his position as one of the top Indonesian guitarist.
Dewa Budjana’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 where he was introduced to the music of Leo Kristi and John Denver. During this period, his tendencies varied from jazz rock to progressive influencedby John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Yes, Gentle Giant, ELP and later by Keith Jarret, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Bill Frissell, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny and Weather Report as he was more drawn to jazz.
With his first band Squirrel, 1980 became the year Dewa Budjana started his journey as a guitaristand composer while still in high school. The band’s repertoire included Budjana’s original instrumental compositions at a time when local jazz bands were mostly playing covers of famous bands. It was his composition Nusa Damai (Peaceful Island) that won Squirrel’s title as best band in the highly regarded Light Music Contest in 1984.
Budjana’s intrepid experimentations blending jazz with the traditional sounds emergedsince early on in his career as evident in Nusa Damai with its sounds of Javanese and Balinese gamelan (traditional musical ensemble). Nusa Damai would later become the title of his first solo album.
Upon graduation he made the decisive move to Jakarta to further pursue his career.
In Jakarta Dewa Budjana met and tutored under the Indonesian jazz legend, Jack Lesmana who introduced him to the principles and basics of jazz. It was Jack Lesmana’s son, Indra, who suggested Budjanato become a session player. This period was the beginning of his first professional performances with among others Isbandi in Telerama, a musical show on national TV, Twilite Orchestra with Addie MS, Erwin Gutawa Orchestra and Elfa’s Big Band.
In 1987, Dewa Budjana joined Spirit Band releasing two albums before leaving to join Indra Lesmana’s band, JavaJazz to release Bulan diatas Asia (1993). With JavaJazz he performed in the North Sea Jazz Festival.
Dewa Budjana earned his fame as the founding member of Gigi Band in 1994 and has released 23 albums to date, firmly establishing Gigi as one of the biggest pop rock bands in the country. 1997 marked the beginning of Budjana’s solo career with the release of Nusa Damai, a recording of his early compositions from 1994 to 1997.
Gitarku (2000) with its meditative sounds and Samsara (2003) in whichDewa Budjana collaborated with Peter Erskine (drums), the late Dave Carpenter (bass) and Ernie Adams (drums) added to this body of work. This album was earned the Best World Music Award, Anugrah Music Indonesia 2002
A tribute album for the Asian tsunami victims,Home (2006) was released in collaboration with Peter Erskine, the late Dave Carpenter and Reggie Hamilton (bass). His compositions in these solo albums incorporated jazz, pop and traditional sounds to produce music that is personal yet universal. A deep believe in harmony through music is reflected in Budjana’s frequent interfaith collaborations with his band Gigi and other artists.
His vision for peace through the universal language of music led to the creation of Nyanyian Dharma foundation. Through this foundation and with the collaboration of numerous artists, he produced three albums of music and song inspired by Hindu philosophies.
The role as a producer continued in Globalism (1998), the guitarist Balawan’s album with Batuan Ethnic Fusion. A biography titled “Gitarku, Hidupku, Kekasihku” (My Guitar, My Life, My Lover) and a concert DVD of the same title was released in 2008.
Together with guitar big names Balawan and Tohpati, Budjana formed Trisum, earning this group the reputation of being the home of the jazz guitar gods. With Trisum he released First Edition (2006), Five in One (2010) and a concert DVD. In 2011 Dewa Budjana’s orchestration abilities was showcased in the TV special “Harmoni SCTV: The Best of Gigi”where he arranged a selection of Gigi greatest hits for a full orchestra. In his fifth and latest album,Dawai in Paradise (2011) he introduces new compositions and visits earlier ones all in contemplation of his musical journey so far. This album includes recent collaborations with Howard Levy (harmonica) and Ade Irawan (piano).
Dewa Budjana is currently working on his next project, a book featuring his extensive collection of guitar artwork by various renowned painters. These masterpieces will eventually be on display in his guitar museum, the first in Indonesia to be located in Ubud, Bali.
Discography
Group:
Spirit (SPIRIT Band) 1988
Mentari (SPIRIT Band) 2001
Bulan Di Atas Asia (JavaJazz) 2003
Joy, Joy, Joy (JavaJazz Reunion) 2009
Angan (GIGI) 1994
Dunia (GIGI) 1995
3/4 (GIGI) 1996
2X2 (GIGI) 1997
Kilas Balik (GIGI) 1998
Baik (GIGI) 1999
The Greatest Hits live in concert (GIGI) 2000
Untuk Semua Umur (GIGI) 2001
The Best Of GIGI (GIGI) 2002
Salam Ke Delapan (GIGI) 2003
OST Brownies (GIGI) 2004
Raihlah Kemenangan (GIGI) 2004
Raihlah Kemenangan Repackage (GIGI) 2005
Next Chapter (GIGI) 2006
Pintu Sorga (GIGI) 2006
Peace, Love 'N Respect (GIGI) 2007
Jalan Kebenaran (GIGI) 2008
Gigi (GIGI) 2009 Kompilasi Religi
Restu Cintamu”(GIGI) 2009
Kompilasi Religi “Amnesia”(GIGI)
2010
Sweet17 (GIGI) 2011
Solo:
Nusa Damai - 1998
Gitarku - 2000 Samsara - 2003
Home – 2005
Dawai in Paradise 2011
Producer:
Nyanyian Dharma - 1997
Globalism (Balawan and Batuan Etnik Fusion)
1998 Nyanyian Dharma 2
2006 Nyanyian Dharma 3 (special edition)
2009
First Edition (Trisum with Tohpati) - 2006
Five in One” (Trisum with Tohpati and Balawan)– 2010
Book:
Get Biography Book of Dewa Budjana in Gramedia book store. Or you can contact webmaster.
Get Biography Book of Gigi in Gramedia book store. Or you can contact webmaster.
Contact details:
gitarku@dewabudjana.com
www.dewabudjana.com