Hasta Karma
Hasta Karma (Moonjune Records, 2015)
Indonesian guitarist Dewa Budjana has released a series of fabulous fusion albums in recent years bringing together jazz, rock and Indonesian music. Thanks to the support and distribution provided by the MoonJune label, Dewa Budjana is getting well deserved international attention.
Hasta Karma is the new album by Dewa Budjana. He continues his collaborations with North American jazz musicians from the USA and Mexico. In this case, it’s an impressive lineup of first class musicians based in East Coast with a knockout rhythm section featuring Ben Williams on upright bass and Antonio Sanchez on drums (both of whom play with Pat Metheny’s Unity Band) as well as spectacular vibraphone work by Joe Locke, one of the finest vibraphone players in the jazz scene.
Throughout Hasta Karma, Dewa Budjana delivers one dazzling guitar performance after another with his unique style that incorporates Indonesian melodies with scorching jazz-rock. I really like the East Coast jazz sound here, much better than the West Coast style.
Highlights include the opening track ‘Saniscara’ which has a rich Pat Metheny Group-style essence. It’s as if Dewa Budjana was jamming with Pat Metheny’s musicians. The creative drumming throughout the track is a true delight.
Another high point is track 2, ‘Desember’ where the pace slows down and Dewa Budjana delivers a remarkable rock-infused solo.
The most Indonesian piece is the splendid track 3 ‘Jayaprana’ where Dewa Budjana creates memorable melodies and trance-like repetitive sections inspired by the music of his native Bali. The musicians get plenty space to showcase their talent with an excellent drum exhibition by Antonio Sanchez and a terrific vibraphone solo by Joe Locke.
Track 4, ‘Ruang Dialisis’ is the most progressive. It begins with dreamy psychedelic sounds and features experimentation, traditional voices, another great vibraphone solo.
Also notable is the jovial groove of track 5, ‘Just Kidung’ where bassist Ben Williams delivers a noteworthy bass solo.
The last piece, ‘Payogan Rain’ has a strong Pat Metheny flavor. It’s similar to Metheny’s most melodic and nostalgic works. Payogan Rain’ includes a bittersweet melodica solo by Indra Lesmana. He’s a gifted player, but the melancholic jazz melodica, harmonica or accordions are sounds that I find difficult to digest.
The lineup on Hasta Karma includes Dewa Budjana on electric and acoustic guitars, Ben Williams on upright bass, Antonio Sánchez on drums, and Joe Locke on vibraphone.
Special guests: Indra Lesmana on piano, melodica; and Jro Ktut, who provides the vocals in ‘Ruang Dialisis.’
Hasta Karma is progressive jazz fusion at its finest.