100 likes | 387 Views
Jordan rudess. “keyboard wizard”. Jordan Rudess. Born November 4, 1956 in Great Neck, NY Keyboardist, composer, and business owner Dominant Style: Progressive Rock/Metal Most famous for his work with current band Dream Theater. Musical Background.
E N D
Jordan rudess “keyboard wizard”
Jordan Rudess • Born November 4, 1956 in Great Neck, NY • Keyboardist, composer, and business owner • Dominant Style: Progressive Rock/Metal • Most famous for his work with current band Dream Theater.
Musical Background • Studied at Juilliard School of Music until his college age years. • Left Juilliard to pursue his dreams of synthesizers.
Keyboardist • Started with his 1st solo album Listen in 1994. • Did tour work with rock band The Dixie Dregs • Asked 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.
Composer • 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
Business Owner • 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
Musical Style • Classically trained (favorite composers are: Chopin, Bach, Debussy, and Brahms) • Influences of famous progressive rock bands (Yes, Genesis, etc.) • Long, complex solos • Complex time signatures • Also is influenced by jazz (improvisation and ragtime bits).
Dream Theater • 1999-Present • Heavily involved with song writing. • 7 studio albums and 5 live albums • With 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?)
Liquid Tension Experiment • Where Jordan got his foot in the door with progressive metal. • Heavy distortion of instruments • Darker 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 Blue • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osh6jkA_Y4Q
References • 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.