I Wayan Balawan..The Magic Finger from Bali

If America have Lee Ritenour as “captain finger”. Indonesia have young talented “the magic finger” I Wayan Balawan.

Born in Bali - Indonesia 9 September 1973, I Wayan Balawan, Grew up amongst Balinese gamelan music. At age of 8 he began to play guitar and start his first band in the age of 14. He can plays rock guitar virtuoso style like Yngwie Malmsteen since he was 10 years old.

In 1993 he went to Sydney and got a scholarship to study jazz at the Australian Institute Of Music for two years. He went back to Bali in 1997 and form Batuan Ethnic Fusion (A mix of Balinese Gamelan and Jazz) and released one album in 1999.

He is versatile guitarist that play many styles of music, and a great solo performer. He has developed the ability to play a special and difficult form of tapping which involves chord and bass work with the left hand and tapped melody with the right hand, which resembles piano playing.

In his second solo album, now under label Sony-BMG Music Indonesia, titled, BALAWAN - MAGIC FINGERS, he proved his greatest skill in guitar playing.
Magic Fingers is also ruly a showcase of Balinese guitarist Iwayan Balawan ability in arranging , composing and his unique blend of musical styles which collaborating between great guitar playing mix with the traditional instruments of Bali.

Balawan is now considered as one of famous favourite jazz guitarist in Indonesia.