Notes From A Dream Review
Hi all
I should have an update for you on the secnd edition of the Dream Theater book at some point in the next few weeks. We're aiming for a October (ish) release.
In the meantime, I've put together a review of Jordan Rudess' latest solo album, 'Notes From A Dream'. I really can't recommend this album enough. I hope the review doesn't read like a press release, as that wasn't the intention, but this album is simply stunning.
JORDAN RUDESS
"Notes From A Dream"
Jordan Rudess has released an album of his own piano interpretations of Dream Theater songs, and it's mightily impressive stuff. Sifting through the DT back-catalogue and selecting the more mellow tracks, he has re-arranged them and added his own startling flourishes to them. Probably the most notable feature of the album is that he has retained those instantly recognisable melodies from such tracks as 'Hollow Years', 'The Silent Man' and 'The Answer Lies Within' yet arranged them in such a way that they have almost taken on a new and mesmerising identity.
When Jordan is writing and perfoming with Dream Theater, his work is mind-blowing enough. But you have to remember that he is a classically trained performer. And although he unquetionably adores his DT "day job", he also clearly has a insatiable desire to continue to write and perform on the piano. Album's such as 'Notes From A Dream' are merely a reminder of that other half of his musical identity. The melding of the two facets of his work is simply stunning and one that deserves to be heard by a larger audience than just DT fans. Any lover of classical music, would, if they rise above any snobbery against a musician who has made his name in the prog rock field, see the virtues of his work. And there are plenty of comparisons that can be made in the classical world, with tracks like 'Through Her Eyes' having a style that can accurately be described as Dream Theater meets Rachmaninov. It really is that alluring. It would also be intriguing to see how the classical world would view his technique and creations, and I can only hope that a copy of his album has been sent to the likes of Gramophone or International Piano magazine for their appraisal. Such reviews could only be positive and would rightly allow a wider audience access to an album that is elegant, adventurous and the work of a modern day genius.
==
The album can be bought from Jordan directly at http://www.jordanrudess.com/jr/store.html
I should have an update for you on the secnd edition of the Dream Theater book at some point in the next few weeks. We're aiming for a October (ish) release.
In the meantime, I've put together a review of Jordan Rudess' latest solo album, 'Notes From A Dream'. I really can't recommend this album enough. I hope the review doesn't read like a press release, as that wasn't the intention, but this album is simply stunning.
JORDAN RUDESS
"Notes From A Dream"
Jordan Rudess has released an album of his own piano interpretations of Dream Theater songs, and it's mightily impressive stuff. Sifting through the DT back-catalogue and selecting the more mellow tracks, he has re-arranged them and added his own startling flourishes to them. Probably the most notable feature of the album is that he has retained those instantly recognisable melodies from such tracks as 'Hollow Years', 'The Silent Man' and 'The Answer Lies Within' yet arranged them in such a way that they have almost taken on a new and mesmerising identity.
When Jordan is writing and perfoming with Dream Theater, his work is mind-blowing enough. But you have to remember that he is a classically trained performer. And although he unquetionably adores his DT "day job", he also clearly has a insatiable desire to continue to write and perform on the piano. Album's such as 'Notes From A Dream' are merely a reminder of that other half of his musical identity. The melding of the two facets of his work is simply stunning and one that deserves to be heard by a larger audience than just DT fans. Any lover of classical music, would, if they rise above any snobbery against a musician who has made his name in the prog rock field, see the virtues of his work. And there are plenty of comparisons that can be made in the classical world, with tracks like 'Through Her Eyes' having a style that can accurately be described as Dream Theater meets Rachmaninov. It really is that alluring. It would also be intriguing to see how the classical world would view his technique and creations, and I can only hope that a copy of his album has been sent to the likes of Gramophone or International Piano magazine for their appraisal. Such reviews could only be positive and would rightly allow a wider audience access to an album that is elegant, adventurous and the work of a modern day genius.
==
The album can be bought from Jordan directly at http://www.jordanrudess.com/jr/store.html
posted by Rich Wilson at
12:13 pm
1 Comments:
I ordered it the minute that I heard about it. Having seen him play live opening for Blackfield, it's obvious to me DT uses only a small fraction of his musical talents. This is no doubt true for the rest of the guys. I'm not knocking DT but I'm with Rich: he's just an insanely talented man.
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