Jordan Rudess to release new Prog album

**Dan Roth** · 12-28-2018

In this new interview with Jordan, he talks about first discovering Patrick Moraz in Refugee and Tomita. He also talks about his forthcoming new prog album:

So there’s a lot of things going on these days – actually just yesterday I was in the studio, the final day of mixing my new solo album which is coming out on ‘Mascot Records’ in April. We’re not quite at the point where I’m announcing to name and all the details of the album but I am saying that it’s that I have a new solo album, it’s in the progressive rock vibe and I’m very excited about it – It has all kinds of cool guests playing on it.

Today my engineer is delivering the final CD to check everything about it, but I haven’t done one like this in a while, the last album I did that was related was probably the one called ‘The Road Home’, which was a collection of my favorite progressive rock tunes that I re-did, re-arranged. Before that I had an album called ‘Rhythm of Time’ which was also very progressive. So this is kind of like a follow-up along those lines, some years later but It’s the big work. There’s actually a thirty-three minute song on it, so it’s really ‘proggy’. I also did some singing on the album too, and there’s a progressive-kind of blues track on it, with a very special guest who will be announced soon.

I'm excited for this...loved both The Road Home and Rhythm of Time.

Full interview here: https://8dio.com/2018/12/23/intervie...jordan-rudess/

**Flightwave** · 12-29-2018

Awesome I love his work 👍👍

**interbellum** · 12-29-2018

I discovered him with the album "Listen" from 1993.
Nice making of:

**arabicadabra** · 12-29-2018

Rhythm Of Time is the one of his I go back to the most. Insectsamongus is a masterpiece.

**Dan Roth** · 02-12-2019

Music video from the new album:

Rudess is joined on the record by his Dream Theater colleagues James LaBrie and John Petrucci, while Marco Minnemann, Vinnie Moore, Guthrie Govan, Joe Bonamassa, Rod Morgenstein and Elijah Wood also feature.

Rudess says: “It is not a concept album, however the title track does have a story that I was envisioning while writing it.

“The idea was about a guy who wanted to go about a transformational process involving becoming partially computerised and robotic.

“His functionality as a human was noticeably diminishing and he takes advantage of a modern medical procedure to ‘upgrade’ and extend his physical and mental capabilities.

"Through the course – or curse – of this process he becomes more and more separated from the outside ‘normal’ world, allowing the computer front end to take over much of his day to day tasks and decisions.

“This leaves his mind free to travel between madness and spiritual enlightenment. After an angel visited him, the listener is left wondering whether he is experiencing true enlightenment or if he is moving out of the physical world to the next dimension.”

Rudess also reveals that “there’s even some blues” on the album and adds: “Just Can’t Win is a dirty blues song. The Dream Theater guys call me Blues Man because, at 8am, after sleeping on the tour bus, I sound like a reincarnation of an old blues man soul.

“I called in Joe Bonamassa and a full brass section to help make this song really happen. For my prog fans, this is Jordan Rudess in an alternate universe!”

**JKL2000** · 02-12-2019

I always like to mention this nugget of info about Rudess: in an early issue of Progression magazine he mentioned in an interview that there were plans for him to be involved in a reformation of Happy the Man. But that particular reformation never happened. Always thought that was just an interesting thing.

**Top Cat** · 02-12-2019

I like it, and I'm happy it's not an all instrumental album. The vocals while not groundbreaking gave the song what it needed. I kept waiting for him to break into a James Labrie run, but alas it was not to be.
I might even consider picking this up, and I'm not a huge Rudess fan.
Thanks for the info Dan, and for posting this video.

**interbellum** · 02-13-2019

Originally Posted by JKL2000

I always like to mention this nugget of info about Rudess: in an early issue of Progression magazine he mentioned in an interview that there were plans for him to be involved in a reformation of Happy the Man. But that particular reformation never happened. Always thought that was just an interesting thing.

Nice to know. That would have been interesting indeed. Luckily in later years they found Dave Rosenthal (from Red Dawn, Infinity, Vai, Joel, etc.) who studied Kit's parts in the extreme.

**calyx** · 02-14-2019

I seem to remember the HTM-related project in 1984 only involved Rick Kennell and Ron Riddle of the old HTM. It was going to be a trio...

**Progatron** · 02-14-2019

My most-played Rudess solo album is Explorations, an absolutely fantastic album he did with an orchestra. Not many seem to know about it, but I spin this disc often. Here's the opening three-part suite entitled Explorations For Keyboard And Orchestra.

Looking forward to the new rock album as well!

**Scrotum Scissor** · 02-15-2019

Originally Posted by JKL2000

there were plans for him to be involved in a reformation of Happy the Man. But that particular reformation never happened.

If only 1/10 of Rudess' usual followers would take the time to at least check out what/who HtM were/are.

**ytserush** · 03-03-2019

Already pre-ordered. The guy has never disappointed me though I can't say I listen (oops!) to his first album a lot.

**aith01** · 03-03-2019

Originally Posted by Scrotum Scissor

If only 1/10 of Rudess' usual followers would take the time to at least check out what/who HtM were/are.

Yes, if only.

**Finch Platte** · 03-04-2019

I've got an extra copy of his Feeding The Wheel CD if anyone wants it. It's got some weird mottling on the CD surface, but seems to play ok.

PM me if you want it.

**Dan Roth** · 03-19-2019

Lyric video for the full 12-minute title track. Rudess says: “The title track Wired For Madness Pt. 1 originally came into existence as an audio experience meant to take the listener on a musical journey. Now with video from the imagination of Wayne Joyner, it has evolved into a full on eye and ear extravaganza.”

**Gizmotron** · 03-19-2019

Originally Posted by Scrotum Scissor

If only 1/10 of Rudess' usual followers would take the time to at least check out what/who HtM were/are.

Absolutely.
Happy the Man were simply brilliant.

**ThomasKDye** · 03-22-2019

Originally Posted by Dan Roth

Lyric video for the full 12-minute title track. Rudess says: “The title track Wired For Madness Pt. 1 originally came into existence as an audio experience meant to take the listener on a musical journey. Now with video from the imagination of Wayne Joyner, it has evolved into a full on eye and ear extravaganza.”

Sounds just as excellent of "Rhythm of Time." The vocal section reminds me of classic Bowie! I can't wait to hear the rest of it!

**Dan Roth** · 04-12-2019

Speaking about Why I Dream, Rudess says: “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. Also joining me on this track are Brothers Page on background vocals, Rod Morgenstein on drums. Alek Darson on bass.

“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 theatre. Enjoy!”

**ThomasKDye** · 04-12-2019

Originally Posted by Dan Roth

I really liked that. I especially loved the Keith Emerson-y piano solo in the middle, really tasty stuff. Can't wait for this whole album, the bits I've heard have been very exciting.