Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist, composer, and software developer. He is best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive metal supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment. He has been voted “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine and has won a Grammy Award with Dream Theater for their song “The Alien” in 2022.
Rudess was born in New York City in 1956 and began playing piano at the age of 7. He entered the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division at the age of 9, where he studied classical piano. However, he became increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music in his teens and turned away from classical piano to pursue a career in progressive rock.
Rudess joined Dream Theater in 1994 and has since appeared on all of their albums. He is known for his virtuosic keyboard playing, which incorporates elements of classical, jazz, and progressive rock. He is also a pioneer in the use of electronic keyboards in rock music. In addition to his work with Dream Theater, Rudess has released several solo albums and has collaborated with a number of other artists, including David Bowie, Tony Levin, Tony Williams, Steven Wilson, and the Dixie Dregs. He is also the author of two keyboard technique books, “Total Keyboard Wizardry” and “Exploring the Keyboard”.
Rudess is a highly respected musician and Technologist and is considered to be one of the most technically proficient keyboard players in the world. He is a true pioneer in the field of progressive rock and electronic music, and his work has influenced countless other musicians.
You can hear more about Jordan’s first-hand experiences and guitar journey with his .strandberg* instruments in this exclusive 2022 interview.
View artist profile“Strandberg Guitars have effectively changed my life. The combination of ergonomics, quality, playability, weight and sound have brought me on a unique and fairly unexpected journey into the realm of guitar playing. My Strandberg has been a constant traveling companion on multiple tours and is with me in every hotel room, dressing room and virtually every means of travel. To say I’m passionate about them is an understatement.” – Jordan Rudess
Aggressive and sophisticated with the distinctive .strandberg* sonic character
Boden Prog NX 7 Twilight Purple
Aggressive and sophisticated, the Prog NX models are an extension of the Original model design with the new EGS Pro Rev7 Tremolo System and the smooth and slick-playing Richlite fretboard. With a more cutting tone than the Original, the Prog models are ideal for modern progressive and metal players using high-gain amplification systems. The versatile Fishman pickups and switching system provide a wide range of sounds for virtually any playing style and musical genre.
View product"Jordan Rudess is a true artist. His playing is both technically proficient and emotionally engaging."
