Jordan Rudess interview (excerpt)

You said you take the Kronos out live with Dream Theater. What else do you take on the road with you?

The Kronos is the centerpiece of it. Over 90% of what you hear is coming out of the Kronos. I also have a [ROLI] Seaboard Rise, which is connected to an Apple computer. And I use a software that ROLI makes called Equator. But I also use their audio modeling software for some sounds, like their amazing saxophone, which I feature in a song called “Another Day,” off Images and Words. And in addition to that, I use my iPad, because that’s what I run GeoShred on.

I use GeoShred in a couple of ways. One is on my rotating stand. But I also have a keytar, which has the name of the Zen Riffer. Recently, my tech Keith Wexler put an iPad Pro in there. So there’s always a moment in the show where I’ll come out and I’ll play what we now call “The Eye Riffer,” so I can get in front of the audience and wail on GeoShred.

Tell me more about that keytar. It’s definitely a unique instrument.

A very talented friend of mine named Charles Tentindo was making these instruments called Zen Riffers. I met him and was really inspired by his design. And you know, playing keytar in a metal or a prog metal outfit is a little risky, because usually the rocker guitarists and drummers look down upon keytars. But when I came out and showed them this really ultra-cool-looking instrument with this amazing sound, they were all blown away.

Even with your focus on future technologies, you still have a passion for the piano. You’re even about to embark on a solo piano tour, From Bach to Rock.

Yes. From Bach to Rock is a total solo piano adventure where I basically take people on a journey through my musical life. From my beginnings when I was a Juilliard student learning classical music, through my improvisations that I used to have to run into a practice room at Juilliard and keep secret, to discovering synthesizers and rock music and leaving Juilliard to go my own way. Everywhere from literally playing Bach to improvising to playing some of my favorite cover tunes to Liquid Tension Experiment to Dream Theater to original material. And while I’m doing that, I tell the story of my journey.

With so many interests outside of the band, what is it about Dream Theater that has kept you such an active member for so long?

Great question. I’m very lucky to have joined a band of such high-caliber musicians. One of the great things about being a musician is being able to interact and play with other musicians. And I feel really lucky in my life that the musicians that I work with are so dedicated and are so inspiring. For example, I talk to Mike Mangini all the time about rhythm and how to really stay steady and grounded and locked, because that’s one of his masteries. John Petrucci and I will talk about playing riffs and really being able to play very cleanly and clearly. It’s a great environment for a musician to be in. I really appreciate it. And it’s fun to do what we do.

You guys recently completed a couple of massive tours and an album cycle. What’s next for the band?

We are going to get back into writing music and recording a new album around May or June. We’ve just been talking in the camp about all the logistics of that now. Everyone’s out doing their own thing for a while. Mike Mangini and Petrucci are out playing with G3. I think they have another tour in Europe coming up. I’ve been out at Stanford University at the CCRMA division as an artist in residence for three months. I’m having a wonderful time here in California. And of course, I have my month in Europe and coming out for Keyfest. And then after that, we’re going to get into the Dream Theater mode and make that happen.