| TDE: |
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When was the first contact with Dream Theater? Do you know them way back, or
was the tour replacement for Kevin Moore the first approach? |
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| Jordan: |
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I met them when Kevin left. I played one gig with them at Foundations Forum
in California. It was a metal convention. I would have joined DT because we
had a cool musical vibe together and personal connection, but at the time my
offer from the Dregs was more suited for where my life was at that point.
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| TDE: |
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Now that you will tour with DT, will you play the Kevin and Derek parts just
as they did, or add some new Rudess-spice to the songs? |
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| Jordan: |
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I'll add some things and keep the parts that I believe are important to the
integrity of the song and peoples memory.
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| TDE: |
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Tell us more about your instructional video? |
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| Jordan: |
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It is a real look inside the musical mind of Jordan Rudess. I cove many
topics including independence of the hands, creating leads, bass lines,
developing rhythmic understaing, technique, performance techniques and more.
It's geared towards all levels and should help to bring a musician to the
next level. |
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| TDE: |
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What bands and keyboard players have inspired you by the years? |
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| Jordan: |
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Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Gentle Giant, Genesis, Yes, ELP, Pink Floyd,
Jimi Hendrix, Patrick Moraz. |
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| TDE: |
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Exactly what did/have you done with The Dregs?s
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| Jordan: |
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I toured with them for the "Full Circle" tour. We did a lot of gigs
together. It led to my forming the Rudess/Morgenstein Project with
drummer/composer Rod Morgenstein. One of the recordings I am proudest of is
the Rudess/MOrgenstein Project. It's all keyboards and drums but it sounds
very full and orchestrated.
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| TDE: |
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I saw that you had produced an album for Kurzeil- Various Artists? What is
this, and is production a thing that you want to be involved with more?
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| Jordan: |
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I work on many levels with Kurzweil from designing sounds to perforoming at
the big trade shows for them. One of my projects was to hire musicians to do
demos for the Kurzweil products. That evolved into my wanting to make a CD
out of all the material that I received because it was some really cool
stuff and I thought it would be a cool way for people to hear these amazing
instruments. I'm not actively seeking being a "producer" but it is certainly
something that has some interest to me.
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| TDE: |
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Tell us about your solo albums, and you're future plans?
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| Jordan: |
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I have 3 solo albums out now. The latest one is called "Resonance". It is a
very intimate CD in that it features my improvisations at the Kurzweil 2500
keyboard. A lot of it is piano, and ALL of it is completely improvised
with no pre- conceived parts constructed ahead of time. I made the music
originally for a friend of mine who asked me to create some music to help
him heal from heart surgery he had to undergo. I sat for a few nights in
my studio and I just tried to put out the best energy I could into these
pieces. It turned out so well that I thought that I should share this with
everybody so I decided to release it my self it is available along with my
CD "Secrets of the Muse" on the web. (check my site for details). "Listen"
is my first solo album. It's a progressive rock album with a lot of
cool -stretched out very progressive music on it. It actually has me singing
on it! Shhhh.... It's on Invincible records. You can find it on my site as
well.
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| TDE: |
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Metropolis Part II will appear on the next DT album, right?
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| Jordan: |
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Will it??? Hum me the tune. All of that will be revealed at the right
time.
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| TDE: |
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Have you contributed a lot with songwriting for this, or is it mostly old
stuff? Is it a reminder of Part I?
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| Jordan: |
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In general of contributed alot to the new album. Certainly there was a lot
of music which the guys had already thought about to put on this new album,
but with that in mind I would say I'm really excited about my influence to
the DT world!
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| TDE: |
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Well, Good Luck with everything and hope to see you all soon!
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| Jordan: |
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Thanks! All I CAN SAY IS WHEWWWW!!! WHAT A WHIRLWIND IT'S BEEN.
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 Comments, remarks or ideas? Please mail us. |
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