When you are sharing the recording studio with the likes of drummer Jack DeJohnette, drummer/keyboard player Gary Husband, and bassist Tony Levin, as well gaining contributions from other notable players such as Tim Garland, Danny Markovich, and Guthrie Govan, you are definitely doing something right in your career. Indonesian guitarist Dewa Budjana has been wowing us here at Sea of Tranquility with his last few releases for MoonJune Music, and this time he is also working with Steve Vai's Favored Nations label to bring his latest masterpiece, the 2CD set titled Zentuary. Packed with 12 lengthy compositions spread across 2CDs or 3LPs, Zentuary features Budjana's blazing jazz-fusion and rock guitar work over some incredible rhythms from his stellar cast. More importantly though, it's the songs that shine through, Budjana more than capable of crafting some catchy melodies and addicting arrangements that leave room for instrumental virtuosity but never at the expense of the actual song.
Fans of Return to Forever or The Mahavishnu Orchestra will love the rampaging, rumbling fusion workout "Dancing Tears", while "Solas PM" is a breezy, melodic number with some soaring sax courtesy of Markovich and Husband's intricate drumming working overtime alongside Levin's elastic bass grooves. Husband delivers a fine synth solo to combat a scorching Budjana on the upbeat "Lake Takengon", a tune that also features a rampaging DeJohnette plus quirky vocals courtesy of Ubiet. The atmospheric jazz of "Suniakala" provides for a tranquil vehicle for a stunning Govan electric guitar solo followed by plenty of lush acoustic tones from the leader, while the darker "Dear Yulman" again features some sensational drumming from DeJohnette and Levin's lovely bass solo, followed by a savage jaunt from Budjana and an eventual piano excursion of Husband. Breathtaking stuff. Indonesian flavors permeate the gorgeous "Rarengat Langit (Crack In The Sky)", Husband's acrobatic drumming and melodic piano melodies providing the perfect foil for some tasty guitar work from Budjana, and a nice way to end the first disc in this set.
The majestic sounds don't end there, as the second CD picks up with "Pancaroba", a wild prog/fusion workout chock full of acrobatic drums & classy electric piano from Husband while both Levin and Budjana laying on the riffs thick, the guitarist even throwing in a jaw dropping solo dripping with technique and emotion. DeJohnette, Husband, Levin, and Budjana create some intricate lines on the exciting "Manhattan Temple", a tune that also features a killer sax solo from Garland, and Budjana drops in a monstrous solo of his own on the atmospheric, near 11-minute "Dedariku". This actually begins a string of three 10+ minute songs, the next being the engaging "Ujung Galuh", Budjana's ability to craft catchy melodies never more apparent, and another spot for Markovich to add in his lovely sax and Husband to shine on the piano. The third of these epics is "Uncle Jack", which sees DeJohnette switching over to piano and saddling up next to Budjana's acoustic & electric guitar, Husband rumbling underneath and Levin's NS bass popping alongside. The brief classical strains of the title track brings this magnificent album to a close in grandiose fashion, the players all getting a chance to take a bow and enjoy their standing ovation.
To be honest, this is about as perfect an album as you can get. While some might expect that a jazz-fusion double album could get tiresome and contain a certain amount of bloat, Zentuary is full of variety, memorable melodies, and of course sensational instrumental passages packed with virtuosity. It doesn't get much better than this folks-bravo!
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1.
Dancing Tears 09:11
2.
Solas PM 09:18
3.
Lake Takengon 07:45
4.
Suniakala 08:40
5.
Dear Yulman 08:21
6.
Rarengat Langit (Crack In The Sky) 07:36
7.
Pancaroba 08:12
8.
Manhattan Temple 10:00
9.
Dedariku 10:45
10.
Ujung Galuh 07:05
11.
Uncle Jack 10:50
12.
Zentuary 02:50
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