Dwiki Dharmawan, Rumah Batu Review

Editor's PickWorld

Dwiki Dharmawan, Rumah Batu Review 2

Dwiki Dharmawan is back with another outstanding release on MoonJune records,  (meaning “the stone house” in Indonesian Bahasa language). The iconic keyboardist, composer, and producer, Dharmawan, brings sounds from jazz influences of tonal color and improvisation and then mixes it with his rich Indonesian cultural heritage, to create a sound that is unified and highly original. Having sounds that are both in the progressive jazz-vein and the world music vein, Rumah Batu delivers eight adventurous compositions with superlative performances. A wonderful cast of players have been compiled to bring the music a vastly international sound including: the enigmatic French virtuoso, of Vietnamese descent, Nguyên Lê, on guitar; legendary flamenco fretless bassist, Spain’s Carles Benavent; the extraordinary flutist, also from Indonesia, Sa’at Syah, and the proven progressive backbone of fellow Israeli-born, UK transplants, Yaron Stavi [on upright bass  (yes: the album features two bass players!) and supreme drummer, Asaf Sirkis. There are also multiple guest musicians and vocalist on Rumah Batu, the result is music that is of pure inspiration in its free transmission of feeling and emotions though the gift of music. Your very cells will dance with this album and that’s the short of it!

Positives:

World music sounds based on ethic roots from the ancient gamelan tonal system, which is the basis for the traditional music of Sunda, Bali, and Java. The music is played with the Western tempered scale and fuses the rhythms and unique melodies of jazz, rock, and funk -- making for an enticing combination of cultures, and a captivating listening experience.

Bottom Line:

Dwiki Dharmawan has brought a unique blend of sounds and styles into focus with a band of exciting musicians for our listening enjoyment and body vibration. The album contains some of its most exciting, ground-breaking and adventurous-minded music to hit the airwaves in the jazz fusion and world genre in years. The playing is of the highest caliber and in association with MoonJune Records, a label that continually produces progressive and amazing fusion albums, the result is magnanimous. Dharmawan is an excellent composer and the tunes on Rumah Batu flow, whether the music is written or improvised. This is an outstanding project that should be savored and enjoyed.

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