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 An
exclusive interview with Jordan Rudess Interview:
By George Roldan
09/15/04
George: I was looking forward to talking to you about this new album and the other
projects you have in store for 2004, Rhythm of Time; which was released on August
31, 2004.
Jordan: That's what they tell me.
George: Your newest rock solo album on Magna Carta Records. Featuring Rod
Morgenstein, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Vinny More, Greg Howe, Daniel Jay, Dave
LaRue, and Kip Winger. How did you get Rhythm of Time together?
Jordan: I really wanted to make another album. Honestly, I didn't know how that was
going to happen. I was expressing that one-day to my wife Danielle out on a walk. My
wife is a producer, it's her business to make things happen and she's good at it. So
she said go in your studio, turn off your phone, no email and just compose music. I
thought she was out of her mind. She said if you do it, I will make sure there is
food delivered to your door. You have my support. I ended up going in the studio and
I started to do it, but after two days, I realized that this time period is the only
possible way to create this album. So I began fairly crazy. Just me by myself. After
14 days, I was able to come from studio with pretty much the entire album written
and all the keyboard parts laid out. At that point, I had some time before going out
on the road with Dream Theater after the new year. That was spent coordinating the
guest musicians to come to my studio in a period of about two weeks. They were all
able to do it. Somehow they were cool and did it. Then I spent about two weeks
mixing the album and
before I left, we finished mixing.
George: How did you handpick your artists? Did Magna Carta say 'hey we want these
artists' or did you handpick them?
Jordan: We bounced around ideas. The only person I didn't know was Greg Howe. I
knew his playing and I liked it, so I called and we had a great chat. The next thing
I know, he was recording his track.
George: How would you describe your sound that you are performing on this album?
Jordan: The style?
George: Yeah.
 Jordan: I would say progressive rock. The reason it has to come along with an
explanation is now a days musicians and journalists have progressive rock confused
with music that happened in peaks in the 70's. I would say that yes this music
that I create, a big influence to me like Genesis and Yes when they were really
peaking. I view progressive rock as music that is constantly moving forward.
Progressive to always incorporate and evolve. Keep things looking ahead. Something
has gotten foggy over the years and so many musicians creating music that literally
sounds exactly like Genesis with Peter Gabriel.
George: Are you using pro-tools?
Jordan: My engineer uses pro-tools. I use digital performer in my studio.
George: As far as your song writing, how would you describe what goes into this?
Jordan: I song write and compose music in a lot of different ways. I basically use
all the tools that are available today as well as all the tools that were available
yesterday. In terms of standard music paper and pencil, I will do that. Or I will
just play keyboard directly into performer and improvise 12 measures, 2 measures,
whatever. If I like what it is, I get print out and see it and start layering from
there. So if I'm lucky, I will get inspiration and whip something out. I have a
couple different sides to the way I produce music personally. One of them is
that I do a lot of improvising. I have albums out that are purely that. Secrets of
the Muse, a lot of the tunes on there are created by spontaneity. I have no problem
with creating music that way. A lot of times when I do something like Rhythm of Time
or Feeding the Wheel, it's a little bit more literally composed.
George:
Expanding on that Jordan, do you feel you were able to expand your
boundaries on improvisational work on your solo work with more then, say, Dream
Theater?
 Jordan: Dream Theater is not about improvisation so much. On the last tour, we got
into it and it was a lot of fun. We would take a couple songs and go crazy and play
whatever we played. We enjoy it. So we are trying to incorporate that a little in
Dream Theater. But that's not where we are coming from. Personally, as a musician
that is where I am coming from. A lot of mine has more gentle piano stuff as well as
crazy stuff. It's something I have always done.
George: I'm going to catch one of your shows when you do something with Rod Morgenstein. Getting back on the album, what was your vision for the album?
Jordan: To me this was a follow up to Feeding the Wheel. I wanted to create
something that incorporated all my influences to date. When I created Feeding the
Wheel, I hadn't had as much experience with Dream Theater. I was newer to the band.
A lot of information I got from them didn't really sink in until the last 2/3 years.
I learned more about the guys and what made them tick from the beginning. I also
have my influence. There was a lot to draw from there. As a composer for Dream
Theater, I thought there was something to offer away from the group and to show how
my ideas work in other ways. So I felt inspired and something I needed to say. An
important statement from me to put down and create.
George: You have Kip Winger on this album. I have a promo from Magna Carta so I'm
not sure who wrote the lyrics. I just know he sings. As far as having him on the
album, I mean we're talking an old 80's rock band, bringing him into a progressive
album. What was that like?
Jordan: Well I have known Kip for years. He sounds a lot like Peter Gabriel meets
Thomas Dolby. He is very talented. A lot of people don't realize the true depth of Kip's musical ability, but I do and I respect it. Great voice, he is a composer, and
he plays guitar and bass. I like him, his music, and his talent. I was all set to
sing the songs on my album, had them recorded and everything, which is actually
available on a limited edition on August 31, 2004 in America. When you put the CD in
the computer, it will come up and there will be two vocal songs with me signing on
them. But on the album, it's Kip.
George: Would you consider performing this album on stage?
Jordan: Yeah.
George: Do you have a target audience that you want to perform this music for?
Jordan: Well Dream Theater has a core audience around the world, so we can start
there.
George: What remains the most satisfactory element on this album for you?
Jordan: The whole project. I am at this point where my studio is very cool. I have
a lot of amazing toys like my synthesizer. The fun factor like a mad scientist. Deep
into my own little world, and turn out these sonic journeys, if you will.
George: Can we expand some on other projects you have coming up?
Jordan: Sure.
George: You have two books coming out this year?
 Jordan: Yes. The Dream Theater Keyboard Anthology, which is exciting. People have
been writing letters and asking about it since I joined the band. I talked to a
friend at Warner, Aaron Stang, for a few years. Warner doesn't have a rock/keyboard
department because the guitar market is bigger. About a year ago, Aaron said lets do
this. So I worked with Chris Romero, a partner in my online conservatory, and we
went to work on this keyboard book. I have to say that I think it is the most
keyboard notation book in all of rock. It's awesome. My other book is called Total
Keyboard Wizardry on Cherry Lane Publishing.
George: Where can these books be found?
Jordan: On my online store, they can buy it all on there, and most music stores.
George: I wish you a lot of luck with that.
Jordan: I also have my online conservatory, which is the basis of the whole book
with Cherry Lane. I have an online instruction line geared toward beginner,
intermediate, and advanced. Features 100's and 100's of files, text, and notations;
plus a wide range of different subjects.
George: What are you listening to these days? What do you find exciting?
George: These days, well I just got a phone with MP3, so all I can listen to right
now is my own music so I can learn it for these up coming shows. When I do listen to
other music, I like things like Siga Rose, Super Furry Animals, Porcupine Tree, Apex
Twin and Gentle Giant.
George: You are currently on tour.
Jordan: Yeah.
George: With Yes.
Jordan: It's like a dream come true.
George: I know you are a busy person and have to maintain your time. Thank you for
talking to me with Prog4you.com.
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