Watch the lyric video for Why I Dream here:
Jordan Rudess on Why I Dream:
”Trust the cards if you dare… Guitarist, Vinnie Moore, and I trade burning leads in “Why I Dream”, the lyric
video release from my upcoming solo album. Wired for Madness serves up a full range of my styles and
influences. In “Why I Dream”, you get a blend of prog rock and fusion with tinges of musical theater. Enjoy!”
‘Wired for Madness’ bursts and flows forth with all of the drama, technique and melodicism that have become
his musical hallmarks, the album also features the keyboard wizard handling many of the vocals. Renowned
guests include drummer Marco Minnemann, Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie, guitarists Vinnie Moore,
Guthrie Govan, Joe Bonamassa and John Petrucci. There are appearances by notable players including
drummers Rod Morgenstein and Elijah Wood among others.
Jordan Rudess Online
]]>The title track starts us off in fair enough shape – it is split into two sections, but together is a whopping 22-and-a-half minutes plus. It is fair to say that this one is a monster vehicle for the keyboards. Of course, Jordan lets everyone else take their chance to shine as well. There are both male and female vocals, lead piper for Dream Theater James LaBrie notwithstanding, there are some fairly pleasant runs here. W4M throws in everything including the kitchen sink; you get rock, big band, classical orchestration, horns, strings, etc. – literally everything! Lots of fun to listen to, though.
Off the Ground sports a lovely piano intro. It is a medium-tempo AOR piece of prog. It also features some lead guitar pyrotechnics at the 3-minute mark. Drop Twist features a funky FX intro and some weird vocal FX. It is mainly just an instrumental jam! Perpetual Shine is another funky number. It is also an instrumental JAM with a showcase for synths and other keys thrown in to boot.
Just Can’t Win almost channels Z.Z. Top vocally, and is a ‘dirty blues song’, according to Rudess. It features Joe Bonamassa on guitar and a brass section from hell. There is a beautiful piano solo about three minutes in, and a gorgeous closing bit as well. There is some serious soloing from both Joe and Jordan on this one.
Just For Today has more pretty piano and plaintive vocals. This one is a bit depressing, oddly enough. There are inspirational vocals at times – sort of a ballad, this one. Why I Dream is the closer, and it is an uptempo rocker that clocks in at about 6 minutes. There is a vocal FX intro, followed by some vigorous bass playing, a lead guitar solo at the 4-minute mark, and is another all-out jam for the most part. Bass, piano, and the synths between 3 and 4 minutes are just fun jamming!
According to Rudess, this is ‘not a concept album‘. Whether you believe that or not is your own business. Go out and get Wired For Madness now. You will NOT be disappointed!
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Mascot Label Group Signs American virtuoso keyboardist Jordan Rudess
Mascot Label Group is pleased to announce the signing of Jordan Rudess, the virtuoso
American keyboardist voted “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine.
He is best known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire for platinum-
selling Grammy– nominated prog rock band, Dream Theater.
Rudess’ remarkable career began at the age of nine, when he entered the Juilliard
School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training. By his late teens he
had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music, and
against the counsel of his parents and tutors, he turned away from classical piano and
tried his hand as a solo progressive rock keyboardist. After performing in various groups
during the 1980s, he was invited to join The Dixie Dregs, with whom he performed until
joining Dream Theater in January 1999.
Rudess has been the full-time keyboardist with Dream Theater since the recording of
1999’s Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, and he has recorded seven other studio
albums with the group. He has pursued numerous collaborations and solo projects
throughout his career, beginning with his solo debut Listen, released in 1993. A relentless
innovator, Rudess released All That Is Now in 2013, a solo acoustic piano recording which
works interactively with his app, “Jordan Rudess Explores” and his orchestral album,
“Explorations” which features a 50 piece orchestra. In 2015, he released The Unforgotten
Pathwhich was a collection of original tracks as well as a collection of acoustic piano
covers of songs that have inspired his musical life.
Rudess’ interest in state of the art keyboard controllers is another area of his career in
which he has achieved success. He owns the successful App development company
Wizdom Music, which has developed numerous award-winning apps. He is also Chief Music
Officer at CME Music, creators of the acclaimed XKey mobile keyboard, as well as the Director
of Music Experience for the London-based technology company, Roli Labs, creators of the
Seaboard and is an active Artist in Residence at Stanford University’s CCRMA (Center for
Computer Research in Music and Acoustics).
“With the Mascot Label Group I have found the perfect home for myself and my music,”
Rudess said.
“The Mascot Team are bright, dedicated, inspired and are clearly passionate
about music and the industry. They create a climate of respect and support for the artist and
I couldn’t be more excited about becoming a Mascot artist.”
]]>“Jordan is an incredible virtuoso performer and artist,” said Mascot Label Group owner
Ed Van Zijl.
“I have admired him for a long time and we go back years. He is an exceptional
and forward thinking musician and I am very happy that he is putting his faith in us with his
new solo album, which will be released on our Music Theories brand.”