Thoughts of Jordan Rudess

[Herrick]

Hasn't Jordan been playing guitar for years? I seem to remember it being talked about back when he joined the band.

I think so - but it seems that since the beginning of November or just before that, Jordan has been posting frequently about practicing guitar and having lessons and getting going on his "guitar journey" While he may have dabbled in it previously, it appears he's upped his dedication to shred these days

A few years ago, he had a signature guitar which I thought was odd...not the guitar, but the fact that he had a signature guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrJLOGI3v48

[Setlist Scotty]

A few years ago, he had a signature guitar which I thought was odd...not the guitar, but the fact that he had a signature guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrJLOGI3v48

I know what you're saying, but let's face it, Druzkowski Guitars aren't exactly on the same level as Fender, Gibson or Ibanez, or even Music Man. 

Wouldn't be surprised if the luthier is a DT fan and gave JR the guitar for free, in exchange to asking JR to attach his name to it.

[pcs90]

Jordan played guitar at an LTE show in...2008 I think? when his keyboard rig went down. He was pretty accomplished back then. Based on the audio of  that show he actually sounded a lot more accomplished back then compared to some of the recent clips I've heard. So he's certainly been playing on and off for quite a while.

[ytserush]

Jeter sucks, fuck the Yankees.


JR

As a lifelong Yankees hater, I'm on board with this.

[RoeDent]

I occasionally think thoughts of Jordan Rudess. Often when I'm listening to DT. He is...a person that exists.

I will say I appreciate the attempts to derail the thread by focusing on Derek Jeter.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I recently posted my feelings how Dream Theater is not the same band since Mike Portnoy left. As with most teams (music & sports), when the star leaves, he is replaced. Everyone is replaceable; perhaps with the exception of Derek Jeter. The result could be positive of negative. For me, Mike Portnoy leaving DT was negative; they are just different now. They are missing something.

On the other hand, Kevin Moore the keyboardist on "Images and Words" and "Awake" (considered by many as DT's best album) suddenly left the band and his replacement Derek Sherinian lasted one studio album. Then along came Jordan Rudess, a Julliard prodigy, and an incredible player. Jordan just killed both earlier DT keyboardists, and his presence greatly improved the band. This time, a replacement in DT was definitely a positive one and Jordan's impact on "Scenes from a Memory" put DT back on the map of great progressive rock bands. And it has continued to the present. Jordan Rudess is easily the best musician in Dream Theater. He's just brilliant.

Now this may shock you. I feel that Jordan is not only rock music's best keyboardist today, but after serious thought, I have to say Jordan is a better player than the great Keith Emerson was. This opinion comes from a keyboardist (me) that said "Thank you for changing my life" when I first met Keith Emerson. I was speaking not only for myself, but for the thousands of keyboard players that feel the same way. Keith Emerson took the ignored keyboardist from behind the drummer and made them recognizable. He was the first keyboardist to be a band's frontman that wasn't a guitarist or singer. He changed the musical world for keyboardists everywhere.

Nevertheless, Jordan is the greatest player I've ever heard. However, he will never attain the legacy status Keith Emerson did. After all, Keith composed "Tarkus" and "Pirates"; enough said.

Dream Theater's addition of Jordan Rudess is without a doubt the most important change in Dream Theater's history. He's made them a better band, and better musicians, year after year. And yes, he does blow away his fellow bandmates, whether you agree with that or not.

Well, first let me say I agree with your first statement that the band is different without MP, but I don't agree with anything else there. I think they're way better now without him, no disrespect to MP because he's a great drummer. It's just that MM is a next-level player, with whom only a few can compare.

With respect to JR, I pretty much agree he's so damn good. He's the best out there now but I think it's important to caveat that players need to be considered in the context of the style in which they play. I think he is the best proggy/prog-metal pianist out there. Also, I am not sure if you play any instruments, but I do not think it's accurate to say he blows the other band members away. If you are a guitarist and you post here, you have to know that JP is a a legendary guitarist who is going down in music history. MM is a similar story, even though he never played in such a big act for an extended period of time -- he is truly next level. JM is also an elite bassist. I think today all the instrumentalists are at the top of the food chain in their respective instruments, which is totally awesome and very rare.

On the other hand, I could see someone making the case that Kevin Moore is better because he played on better albums and had better solos. That'd be a fair argument.

[Volante99]

Jordan Rudess was definitely a great addition to the band- "who is better than who" is kind of conjecture and opinion at this level. I think Kevin Moore was the greatest keyboardist for Dream Theater FOR THAT TIME. Just like Rudess was perfect for the operatic style of Scenes from a Memory (his shining moment with the band in my opinion, along with ADToE).

I think his only weakness is the more straight ahead metal headbangers. I'm not convinced he feels comfortable with those songs, and I'm not convinced he is REALLY engaged with that type of music. Some of his parts seem superfluous and unnecessary. There are more than a few songs/moments from ToT, D/T, and View where the songs would be improved if had he completely sat the song out. The same could be said of Moore, though.

I also don't agree that he blows the other members of DT away. They are all talented musicians with their respective instruments. And you're talking apples and oranges. Rudess may be one of the best keyboardists in the biz today but Petrucci and Myung are also absolute monsters.

Finally, he is a great pianist but listening to some of his classical work, it's pretty obvious he's not anywhere in the league of the greats (Horowitz, Rubinstein, Gould etc). That's not a knock on him- very few people ARE in that league. Rudess is a rock keyboardist not a professional classical pianist.

[jadiggerdt]

we know that rudess himself does not control the official instagram account but he himself knows that he follows lots of porn stars😁

[The Letter M]

I came into this thread to see if Jordan Rudess' thoughts were posted here, but the thread title lied to me. 😤

-Marc.

[Cool Chris]

 

[HOF]

My thoughts of Jordan Rudess are that he's an amazing keyboard player, definitely one of the best to touch the instrument, but that he was a better fit for LTE than DT.

[MoraWintersoul]

we know that rudess himself does not control the official instagram account but he himself knows that he follows lots of porn stars😁

He left a mildly saucy comment on a photo of Shakira on Facebook once, lock up your man mrs. Rudess

[wolfking]

Thoughts of Jordan Rudess;

'Hmmm.....I don't know the guy, but he seems like he would be a nice chap.  Plays keyboards fairly well too.'

[YtseBitsySpider]

My only problem with Jordan Rudess is that sometimes he plays a lot more notes than the music calls for. Specially with his solo music. But beyond that he's a great musician

This.
He tends to give their music an almost robotic feel.
I recognize his talent. But he is my third favorite DT keyboardist.
I personally loved Derek. He reminds me of Slash. Flare. A distinct tone. The ability to make songs better on a whole, without being the best at their craft\instrument.

Kevin gave DT's music his sadness and longing for something else. You could hear it in all the songs he was involved with.
Have DT flourished with Jorden? Sure.
But the songs are all very similar. They write Jordon's solo's into the music. They shouldn't have to.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't know the guy, but he seems like he would be a nice chap. 

He is.  First time I took my kids to see DT, we bumped into him walking out a parking deck on the way to the venue.  He walked us to the venue and we had very pleasant conversation on the way, with him including my kids.  When we got there, he gave me his iphone so I could take a pic of him standing next to the marquee outside displaying the night's DT show.  Super cool cat.

[The Letter M]

Have DT flourished with Jorden? Sure.
But the songs are all very similar. They write Jordon's solo's into the music. They shouldn't have to.

I've never seen someone misspell "Jordan" twice, in two different ways, in a thread whose subject spells the name correctly at the top. 

Let's just toss out "Jordin" and "Jordun" for good measure.

-Marc.

[HOF]

Have DT flourished with Jorden? Sure.
But the songs are all very similar. They write Jordon's solo's into the music. They shouldn't have to.

I've never seen someone misspell "Jordan" twice, in two different ways, in a thread whose subject spells the name correctly at the top. 

Let's just toss out "Jordin" and "Jordun" for good measure.

-Marc.

Jordan played some piano on the Prefab Sprout album "The Gunman and Other Stories" (which is really good BTW). The liner notes credited him as Jordan Rudes, with just one S.

[krands85]

Have DT flourished with Jorden? Sure.
But the songs are all very similar. They write Jordon's solo's into the music. They shouldn't have to.

I've never seen someone misspell "Jordan" twice, in two different ways, in a thread whose subject spells the name correctly at the top. 

Let's just toss out "Jordin" and "Jordun" for good measure.

-Marc.

Don't forget Jordyn! 

[wolfking]

I don't know the guy, but he seems like he would be a nice chap. 

He is.  First time I took my kids to see DT, we bumped into him walking out a parking deck on the way to the venue.  He walked us to the venue and we had very pleasant conversation on the way, with him including my kids.  When we got there, he gave me his iphone so I could take a pic of him standing next to the marquee outside displaying the night's DT show.  Super cool cat.

Cool story hef!  My judgement was correct then haha.

[wolfking]

Have DT flourished with Jorden? Sure.
But the songs are all very similar. They write Jordon's solo's into the music. They shouldn't have to.

I've never seen someone misspell "Jordan" twice, in two different ways, in a thread whose subject spells the name correctly at the top. 

Let's just toss out "Jordin" and "Jordun" for good measure.

-Marc.

This Jawden fella seems pretty good though.

[Volante99]

Storytime;
About ten years ago while on tour Jordan once posted a YouTube video of himself walking around my local city- lo and behold he stops for minute on the sidewalk DIRECTLY outside my apartment (on his way to the AppleStore a few blocks away). Maybe he could sense the presence of DT fan?? I mean what are the odds of that? I still kick myself for not being outside- if I had only known!! Surely he would have asked me for a tour of the city, given me backstage passes and we would have most certainly became best friends. 

Anyway, that's my Jordan (non)story.