Interview With Jordan Rudess From 2001

Interviewed by Gary Hill

MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2001 Year Book Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.

MSJ: What can you tell me about the new solo album?

JR: Feeding The Wheel is my latest solo album. I composed all the music and produced the album. It is an album designed to take the listener on a journey. It is not background music. It is music that pushes the usual boundaries of progressive rock, by stretching those established concepts of harmony, rhythm and timbre. It also features great performances by Terry Bozzio, Steve Morse, Billy Sheehan, Mark Wood, John Petrucci, and Barry Carl. It is instrumental. It is complex, creative wild music designed to blow your mind.

MSJ: Any other recent or upcoming projects you would like to talk about?

JR: Just finished working with David Bowie on some keyboard tracks for his next album. I am also in the studio working on a new Rudess/Morgenstein Project album for release next year sometime.

MSJ: What’s new on the Dream Theater front?

JR: Double studio album comes out in January followed by our next world tour. The album is best described as a mix of the “AWAKE” sound and that sound established by our Liquid Tension Experiment.

MSJ: How are you going to be spending the holidays?

JR: With my family. Listening to a lot of old Dream Theater cramming s billion notes into my head for the tour.

MSJ: If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you would be doing?

JR: I would be on my way to Mars right now in a spaceship.

MSJ: What was the last CD you bought, or what have you been listening to lately?

JR: A. William Kappel Plays Khachaturian. B. Autechre

MSJ: What was the last concert you attended?

JR: Aerosmith at Madison Square Garden. A GREAT show. The boys rocked like crazy.