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Jordan Rudess

Keyboards 1999-present

Voted “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine, Jordan Rudess is best known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire for platinum-selling Grammy- nominated prog rock band, Dream Theater. At nine, he entered the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training, but by his late teens he had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music. Against the counsel of his parents and tutors, he turned away from classical piano and tried his hand as a solo progressive rock keyboardist.

Jordan Rudess Biography

Jordan Rudess is widely recognized as one of the most innovative and virtuosic keyboardists in progressive rock and metal. In September 2024, he released his latest solo album, Permission to Fly, which showcases his boundless creativity and technical prowess across a variety of musical landscapes.

After performing in various projects throughout the 1980s, Rudess gained international recognition in 1994 when he was voted “Best New Talent” by Keyboard Magazine readers, following the release of his solo album Listen. This accolade drew attention from major progressive bands like The Dixie Dregs and Dream Theater, both of whom invited him to join their ranks. Rudess opted for the Dregs, preferring the flexibility of a part-time role to accommodate his young family.

During his time with the Dregs, Rudess formed a “power duo” with drummer Rod Morgenstein. The chemistry between the two was sparked during a concert where a power outage left only Rudess’s keyboard working, leading to an impromptu jam with Morgenstein. This led to the creation of the Rudess/Morgenstein Project (RMP), which has released both a studio and a live album. The duo briefly reunited for a U.S. tour in November 2013.

Before officially joining Dream Theater in 1999, Rudess collaborated with guitarist John Petrucci, drummer Mike Portnoy, and bassist Tony Levin of King Crimson to form Liquid Tension Experiment. They released two highly regarded instrumental albums that pushed the boundaries of progressive rock and metal.

Rudess has been a full-time member of Dream Theater since their 1999 album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. Since then, he has recorded numerous albums with the band, including Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002), Train of Thought (2003), Octavarium (2005), Systematic Chaos (2007), Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009), and A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). He also contributed to Dream Theater’s self-titled 2013 release and their ambitious 2016 rock opera, The Astonishing, which was co-written with Petrucci.

In addition to his studio work, Rudess has appeared on Dream Theater’s live albums and DVDs, including Live Scenes From New York, Live at Budokan, Score, Chaos in Motion, Live at Luna Park, and Breaking the Fourth Wall, the latter of which reached #1 on the Billboard charts.

Outside of Dream Theater, Rudess continues to explore other musical projects. He recorded a live album with John Petrucci (An Evening With John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess), toured with Blackfield in 2005 and 2007, and contributed to Steven Wilson’s 2011 album Grace for Drowning. In 2013, Rudess joined forces with Tony Levin and drummer Marco Minnemann to form Levin Minnemann Rudess (LMR), and the trio released two albums, including From The Law Offices Of Levin Minnemann Rudess (2015).

In 2010, Rudess debuted his classical composition, Explorations for Keyboard and Orchestra, performed by the Chacao Youth Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela. A full symphonic recording of the piece was released in 2014, performed by Poland’s Sinfonia Consonus. His acoustic piano album All That Is Now (2013) and orchestral project Explorations further showcased his musical diversity.

Jordan’s love for cutting-edge technology is evident in his role as the founder of Wizdom Music, a successful app development company that has released award-winning music apps, including MorphWiz, SampleWiz, and GeoShred. He has collaborated with major tech companies like Intel, Microsoft, and RIM to develop innovative music software.

He also serves as Chief Music Officer at CME Music, creators of the XKey mobile keyboard, and as the Director of Music Experience at Roli Labs, developers of the Seaboard. Rudess has delivered keynote speeches at prestigious events like MacWorld and Microsoft Build Developer Convention, and authored two books on keyboard technique, including Total Keyboard Wizardry: A Technique and Improvisation Workbook.

Through his Online Music Conservatory, Rudess provides a comprehensive set of courses for musicians worldwide, offering training in harmony, rhythm, improvisation, ear training, and technique.

In 2024, Jordan Rudess continues to push the boundaries of music with Dream Theater and his solo endeavors, with Permission to Fly marking another milestone in his expansive and ever-evolving career.

In The Studio & On Stage Gear

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