Jordan Rudess chat

2112snowdogs: Jordan, you are my favourite musician ever, and that’s coming from a drummer! What are your favourite songs to play from A Dramatic Turn of Events? Any news on a new album being started? Also, an AMA from Mike Mangini would be great, hint hint.

JordanRudess: I love playing Breaking All Illusions and Outcry..

thc2me: Hi Jordan, do you feel pressured / obligated to always compose very complex pieces / parts and do you ever sit down at the keys and play some really simple stuff just for pleasure? Don’t get me wrong I find your music and resources brilliant and inspiring, but tend to find that the more technically adept musicians get the more they tend to play really ‘crazy’ stuff, like if you can play it then you need to show it.

JordanRudess: Its fun to play fast but I also enjoy playing slow...

Arubaluba: What is it like working with John Myung and being around him in general?

JordanRudess: He is a very unique and special human.. One of a kind and we are great friends

benjimoe: You are awesome, you are the one who has motivated me to start playing the keyboard. What are some of your influences? What are some good keyboards that you would recommend using? Any tips for a beginner keyboardist?

JordanRudess: My biggest influences are guys like Keith Emerson, Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman

Metroshant: 1- Are you planning to release another solo album ?

2- What is your favorite musical gadget of all time ?

JordanRudess: Yes I am. Details not available yet! I’m pretty into jamming on this Lenova 27 inch screen at the moment!!

lavosprime: Thanks for doing this, Jordan. I’ve been a huge fan for years. When you’re writing for Dream Theater, do you tend to focus on your own instruments, or do you cross-pollinate? I know you often double Petrucci’s riffs with the snarling pig (which is so fun), but how often do your keyboard ideas end up on guitar, and how often do pad lines and such come from Petrucci or Myung?

JordanRudess: Ihave to be careful not to introduce the metal riff off doom with a toy piano sound but if I present something well very often a keyboard idea can end up on guitar or vice versa.

kilowhisky: So how much did Microsoft pay you to advertise Windows 8?

JordanRudess: They did not pay me at all. It is my pleasure to be here because the technology is so cool. There is nothing like playing MorphWiz on a big screen!

pervertedmoose: Sir, the fact of having you here and the thought of the possibility of you reading this is very exciting. I’m a huge fan and your work with The Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Chacao was beautiful. Any chances of having you back in Venezuela?

JordanRudess: Venezuela is a hot spot for Dream Theater and my music. There is certainly a chance of doing more down there and I always would welcome the opportunity~!

r0ryb0ryalis: I’ve had this burning question for years now: is any of your music in any way influenced by video game soundtracks? Particularly Nobuo Uematsu’s work with the Final Fantasy series? There are uncanny similarities between LTE’s Biaxident and FFVII’s Aeris’ Theme, as well as a section of Bridges in the Sky and one of the songs from FFVIII!

JordanRudess: I don’t have any direct influence from video game tracks. It just so happens that sometimes people think my music would fit that genre well

Jimmyness: Do you agree there’s a large amount of pretentiousness in progressive metal?

JordanRudess: absolutely...

CompactedPrism: Long time fan of Dream Theater (You guys kicked ass touring Iron Maiden for the Final Frontier tour).

1. What is the song-writing like in Dream Theater?

2. What was it like taking over for Derek Sherinan?

3. Please do another Liquid Tension Experiment album, please?

JordanRudess: THe song writing is pretty fun! There is a lot of back and forth with Petrucci and I. One of the coolest things that can happen is we start writing a line between us and the more excited we are about what we are writing the fast we write and the faster we play until we just start laughing!!

[deleted]: Jordan, you’re the best keyboard player of all time. Do you think LTE will ever do another album?

JordanRudess: its possible

pervertedmoose: It’s a real honor to have you here, sir. Who brought you around?

JordanRudess: Pete Brown.

wswim: Tell me you are going to use the harpejji in the next album! I thought it would have already made it onto a DT album by now..

JordanRudess: It has made it to an album and possibly will again!!

dlm85: Thanks for answering our questions. When did you start using computers in your music?

JordanRudess: It was about 30 years ago and a program by Hybrid Arts for the Atari. Very good sequencer actually!

Imastupididiot: Have you ever had any problems using the iPad on stage? Every time I’ve seen Dream Theater in concert since you have started using the iPad I wonder what would happen if you accidentally hit the home button or something.

JordanRudess: In general things have worked well but yes- I have hit the home button!!

parvindy: How is your current relationship with Mike Portnoy, do you still keep in touch? Are you open to work/play with him in a project like LTE or a special gig?

JordanRudess: Have not spoken to Mike much although he and I have a lot of history together and I will never forget about all of that!!

moves03: Jordan, I thought you were a mac man, I’m pretty sure I saw the ipad on stage in front of you when you play.

JordanRudess: I still use iOS and Apple stuff and get a lot out of it! Its kinda like me and my keyboards. A pro keyboardist uses more then one type of keyboard. I use Moog, Roland, Yamaha etc. I use what I need to make my music and advance my art..

Codaflow: Hey Jordan, big fan. I’ve always wanted to know – when you’re performing live, are you sight reading everything from that screen on top of your gear? Or is it there as a reminder? If you are sight reading, first holy shit, second who’s scrolling the pages for you?

JordanRudess: I’m certainly not sight reading as I’ve played these pieces before!! I have a foot pedal that changes the pages of I can blink my right eye

[deleted]: Jordan! Huge fan of your work. What is one of your favourite pieces you have written, both in Dream Theater/Liquid Tension Experiment and on your own?

JordanRudess: As far as LTE goes I really like the way Kindred Spirits turned out!

silentgnome: How much has Van der Graaf Generator influenced in your music? ...and what’s your favorite VdGG album?

JordanRudess: I love Pawn Hearts. I’m a big Peter Hammil fan

sclark89: I know nothing about Windows 8, or apps or anything. However, I would like to know if there is any news you can share about the new DT DVD?

JordanRudess: We are working on getting it ready. Hopefully fairly soon there will be official news about it

jahreed: HEY JR! cool to see ya on here! I don’t have any windows 8 questions but i’d love to get your 2cents on the status of the JR Hexatone software... It’s a killer little app that i have used pretty often as a brainstorm tool and even in actual productions. I’d love to see some updates for it – midi over wifi prolly being the top of my list. Any chance it will see a new version? cheers! JR

JordanRudess: I wish I could control this situation and get a new or working version of Hexatone. The developer is in Moscow and he is difficult to nail down and influence to work on it!

brobroma: I’ve been a fan of Dream Theater for a few years now – how is DT looking to use this new technology? How is your style of music going to change cause of it?

JordanRudess: My music is always changing around the advancement of technology. I love being part of all the developments in music technology. Im basically just into cool ways to make sound!!

parvindy: Are you working on the next Dream Theater album?

JordanRudess: only in my head

isakgeissler: Aren’t there rules against shameless product endorsements in this subreddit? This could be a slippery slope.

JordanRudess: I’m promoting my apps which includes what I’ve been doing with Windows 8.

LostDemise: Been a Dream Theater fan since I was in 6th grade- I adore your work, and it inspired me to start playing piano! Anyway, what was it like working on a David Bowie album?

JordanRudess: It was really fun. It was a trip hearing David’s familiar voice in my headphones as I was playing on the album

darkknight3993: Hey Mr. Rudess, I’ve followed your work with Dream Theater as well as your solo work for some time now. You always seem to bring out the best audio quality with the technology given to you, and better yet, you are able to re-create these sounds live with keyboards like the Korg Kronos. Does Windows 8 actually do anything to help you as a musician create higher quality music?

JordanRudess: Well my experience with Windows 8 has just begun.

daigoba66: Given how much effort you put into making great iOS apps, what do you find compelling about Windows 8?

JordanRudess: Playing on a large screen is a dream come true! That alone is very compelling. Add to that that my apps are running very nicely on the system and that becomes very appealing!

bluntismaximus: hey jordan, big fan! my question is, when getting into the process of song writing, how much does Windows 8 progressively rock?

JordanRudess: haven’t used it for song writing yet

SneakyNoob: Do you want to have heavier use of your apps on the next Dream Theater album? how will Windows 8 push your creation forward in ways other operating systems wont let you?

JordanRudess: Time will tell. I just got started with Windows 8. I don’t feel a huge need to use apps on my music however I love pushing the boundaries in the way music is created...

Linkisdoomed: Hey Jordan! I’m so excited to see you on Reddit! I’m a huge fan of DT, as well as your personal work. That said, I’ve been following your passion with iOS devices for a while now, and I’m curious as to what Windows 8 has to offer over iOS. Perhaps they both work together in a way? Your setup seems to be growing into an ecosystem of all types. It’s definitely attention-grabbing.

JordanRudess: It offers me another platform to get my musical vision out there to a wider population of people... I love the idea of taking my thoughts and having them reach far and wide. Windows 8 does a fine job running my apps and they play well

DeepBlueMajesty: How can one start playing keyboards the way that you do? I’ve always been hugely interested in keyboards, but I’ve been stuck with just an acoustic piano for a while and am interested in starting to play an electronic keyboard to be able to play more complex progressive rock kind of stuff, but I don’t really know where to start (and I want to know which steps to make before making any kind of purchase). Any tips for beginners? And another question. I saw you last December here in Mexico City (INCREDIBLE show, my DT first!) and we all saw the way your keyboard stand got stuck in a diagonal angle during most of the show. What caused this (was it the small earthquake before the show)? You still played amazingly, but I can imagine that it was considerably harder being stuck in such a position.

JordanRudess: I think the earthquake must have been the cause of the mysterious stand problem. It was a very unusual experience playing leaning over like that! If you are interested in playing keyboards feel free to check out my online conservatory at www.jroc.us

Aspirations49: Can we expect new apps any time soon?

JordanRudess: Always working on something! Hopefully we can announce a new one soon

nikatapi: What’s your favorite DT keyboard part not composed by you?

JordanRudess: the drum solo

nikatapi: Are you going to replace your ipad with a windows 8 tablet live in order to get a bigger surface for playing with your apps?

JordanRudess: I love the idea of having a big surface on stage.. We will see. I have time before the next world tour to get a cool system together!