Also see: Dixie Dregs ~ Dream Theater
From: Andrew James Moag <>
Just read your post. Re. your mention of Jordan Rudess and his potential to match Emo,
check out his cd with drummer Rod Morgenstein (Rudess Morgenstein Project). This is MUCH
better than his two solo cds and dare I say, blows away ELP efforts since Works I.
From: Mark Fonda <>
Artist Shop notes:
> A very impressive instrumental project that manages to produce so many different
sounds from just drums and synthesisers. Both musicians are technically amazing and it's
quite outstanding what just two guys can produce.
> Track Listing: Don't Look Down, Sloth, Drop the Puck, Crossing Over, Never Again,
Tailspin, Odd Man Out, Masada, Cartoon, Parade, Over the Edge.
From: Gary Davis <>
Well, allow me to interject a bit of depressing news here. The Rudess/Morgenstein Project
is now officially OUT OF PRINT! This was released on the Domo Records label at a time when
they were still figuring the direction they were going. Well, eventually their direction
became totally new age and world music. Because they used distributors that specialized in
that, they were unable to move the Rudess Morgenstein Project - great music on the totally
wrong label. The irony for me is that the Rudess Morgenstein Project was the biggest
selling title on my Domo page. After Domo shipped me their last batch of them, I couldn't
see the point of maintaining the Domo page anymore and took it down. At present I have
just one copy left. I hope Jordan has a good stock of them.
From: "Jeff Marx" <>
> I just visited this page and I was not aware of Rudess' solo releases
"Listen" and "Secret of the Muse" nor the "Jupiter
Project". I have "Rudess/Morgenstein Project" and like it a lot and I just
ordered LTE. How does his solo stuff compare?
Well, I can only vouch for "Listen," which I picked up at a
BlockbusterMusic in '94, about 2 years before I discovered that the prog world was alive
and prospering on the internet. I was blown away by his dexterity and nimbleness on
the keys, especially as I had few other artists to compare him to at the time besides
Wakeman, Emerson, and Fritz. These days it suffers in comparison to efforts by Empire,
Lindh, Gerard, Mastro and others, mainly because of the addition of rather limp pop-rock
vocals by Rudess and Barbara Bock. I just don't think it holds up to his latter,
more instrumentally-oriented work with RMP and LTE. I can't speak for "Secret
of the Muse," but I may give "Jupiter Project" a gamble.
From: "upnsm0ke" <>
That reminds me, back in '93 I purchased a (now seemingly-OP) disc of Jordan's called
"Across The Sky" at Tower Records. Having first heard Jordan's shredding on
Vinnie Moore's 'Time Odyssey' album (Jordan's on the whole album, not just a guest, and he
matches Vinnie's fretsturbating note-for-note, blow-for-blow), I purchased it and hopped
out like one happy kangaroo. "Across The Sky" is terrible. As Jeff put it,
"limp pop-rock" with a decidedly lounge/new-age feel to it. Good riffing is
audible, but chord progressions that would appeal only to Streisand dominate the
arrangements. ONE instrumental only, a pretty kick-butt, two-minute number, just Jordan on
piano and his drummer. The rest stunk. Jeff, let us know how "Jupiter Project"
is, if you get it :)
From: "David Carrillo"
<> Subject: New Rudess album
Oh my God!!! According to the updated Jordan Rudess web site his new album will
have as guest artist, check this out: Terry Bozzio in drums, John Petrucci-guitar
and Mark Wood-violin. No release date yet. This is scarry.
From: samfoxunited@yahoo.com Subject: JORDAN RUDESS/ROD MORGENSTEIN NEWS!!!! Rudess Morgenstein Project : The Official Bootleg is now available at www.takeoutstore.com , this CD features various live tracks from European tour with Dream Theater in 98 and one never been released studio track, Rudess Morgenstein Project is a prog rock power duo, Rod Morgenstein on Drums (Dixie Dregs, Winger, Platypus) and Jordan Rudess on Keyboards (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension, Dixie Dregs) We are giving away 5 pairs of Rod Morgenstein autographed drum sticks on the site too. www.takeoutstore.com Check it out!!!!!
From:
"Bryan" <> Subject: Jordan Rudess's
Feeding The Wheel!!!
Alrighty folks, Jordan Rudess, keyboardist of Dream Theater, is releasing yet
another solo-cd. This time it is through Magna Carta Records, home of many of DT
member's side projects including James Labrie's Mullmuzzler projects (VERY GOOD
STUFF) and Liquid Tension Experiment (INCREDIBLE STUFF)!!! Jordan's disc is
being released October 23rd, and features fellow DT bandmate John Petrucci, and
various other notable guest artists: Terry Bozio, Steve Morse, Eugene Friesen,
Mark Wood, and bassist extraordinaire Billy Sheehan. This disc itself sounds
incredible. Very interesting blend of prog- metal/classical/jazz stylings...
very reminiscent of his work with Liquid Tension Experiment. All-in-all a very
enjoyable listen!!! This is great stuff!!!! Keyboard prog at it's BEST!!!!!!
Check out http://www.jordanrudess.com
--- you can order the CD from their music store and if it's ordered in October,
it will be autographed by the man himself!!!
From: David Carrillo <>
Subject: Feed the wheel
My computer went down for over a month so I'm not sure if the subject of Jordan
Rudess's new album has come up on this list, but here it goes:
This album is great, if you liked Rudess-Morgenstein Project then this album is
for you. If you like keyboard based prog, this album is for you. If you liked
Liquid Tension Experiment but can live without Petruchi, Portnoy and Levin, this
album is for you. It is in no a way prog-metal album although it has some very
powerful tracks, and amazing riffs and solos. Don't expect to hear vintage
synths and organs sounds, as JR puts it, he would like to see keyboard prog move
on, and that's what he does, it's like a full orchestra of tibres, but they all
have Rudess's signature, and yes, that mean lead sound is everywhere.
Wish list: When I first listened to Metropolis Pt.2 I thought that the drum
levels where to much. Well, It back fired on me this time. With Terry Bozzio's
impressive drumming I wish he was more up front. And, ahw man, Billy Sheehan
(bass) is just on one track. Mark Wood (violin)? cant find him. If it's not for
the track listing I would've swore he was just on ONE track, but no he play on 4
of them. All though there is a very awesome original solo piano track it would
been cool if he'd included a major classical piece like Tony Macalpine and
Vitalij Kuprij do, but I understand it would've taken the whole album concept
way off.
I guess that's about it, now go out and buy that CD, it's worth every penny.
From: "Jerry Keller"
<> Subject: RE: Feed the wheel
agreed. this is a really nice cd. the LTE influences is definitely there but
this is a wiiddddde ranging album. classical/rock/ rock-fusion/jazz. its all
here. btw, i'd like to know where mark wood is too. he's a fantastic violinist
and i would have liked to have heard more of him. billy sheehan too. i've just
gotten into niacin and this guy is the real deal. mark wood has a couple of
solos out. i have voodoo violince and it kicks ass. he also puts out his own
line of electric violins.