“keyboard wizard”

Jordan rudess

Born November 4, 1956 in Great Neck, NYKeyboardist, composer, and business ownerDominant Style: Progressive Rock/MetalMost famous for his work with current band

Dream Theater.

Jordan Rudess

Studied at Juilliard School of Music until his college age years.

Left Juilliard to pursue his dreams of synthesizers.

Musical Background

Started with his 1st solo album Listen in 1994.

Did tour work with rock band The Dixie DregsAsked to join progressive rock supergroup

Liquid Tension Experiment in 1997.Became permanent keyboardist for the

progressive metal band Dream Theater in 1999 due to the success with Liquid Tension Experiment.

Has released a total of 12 solo albums with the 13th on the way.

He is also very talented at the guitar.

Keyboardist

Jordan has written several solo albums, is a major collaborator in the music writing process of Dream Theater, and has written one classical symphony mixing classical elements with progressive rock.

Example: "Explorations for Keyboard and Orchestra” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCEVT4rM56Q

Composer

Due to his fascination with technology, Jordan created an “app” for the iPad called Morphwiz, a portable synthesizer based off of one of his fingerboards, the Haaken Continuum. Through that app a business has emerged called Wizdom Music. He uses Morphwiz in his music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np7t3t449cE

Business Owner

Classically trained (favorite composers are: Chopin, Bach, Debussy, and Brahms)

Influences of famous progressive rock bands (Yes, Genesis, etc.)Long, complex solosComplex time signatures

Also is influenced by jazz (improvisation and ragtime bits).

Musical Style

1999-PresentHeavily involved with song writing.7 studio albums and 5 live albumsWith Dream Theater his love for technology has

evolved.Examples:

Octavarium (beginning) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pUpbLvbQ7A

On the Backs of Angels (5:49) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28MmnThlYOo

(Also, watch the end of the video. Is it Salt Lake?)

Dream Theater

Where Jordan got his foot in the door with progressive metal.Heavy distortion of instrumentsDarker musical themes

All musicians wrote the songs. All songs are instrumental.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaW4IvVXPeo

Just for fun, in a concert, they did a cover of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Bluehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osh6jkA_Y4

Q

Liquid Tension Experiment

Rudess, Jordan. "Interview with Jordan Rudess." The Dream Theater Experience Featuring Jordan Rudess. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred, 2009. 3-8. Print.

"Wizdom Music: Makers of MorphWiz, SampleWiz, and Geo Synthesizer." Wizdom Music: Makers of MorphWiz, SampleWiz, and Geo Synthesizer. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.

www.jordanrudess.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 April. 2013.

References