Rudess, Jordan - Feeding The Wheel


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA-9055-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:26:00

Jordan Rudess has the distinctive honor of not only being sought out for his remarkable status as a keyboard player, but for being a student at the Julliard School of Music at the tender age of 9. Besides being the full time keyboard player for Dream Theater he has also played with Steve Morse and the Dixie Dregs, David Bowie, Annie Haslam, Liquid Tension Experiment, and Vinnie Moore (among others). His resume is quite impressive and it continues to grow with ambitious solo projects such as his most recent release Feeding The Wheel.

Several well-known artists join Rudess in this lively atmospheric session. John Petrucci (guitar), Terry Bozzio (drums), and Steve Morse (guitar) are some of the luminaries found offering their vast experience and studio techniques to this solo tour de force of keyboard genius. I have found it increasingly difficult to highlight particular songs on an album when the entire recording from start to finish impresses me so much; this release falls squarely into that category.

Progressive rock experiences some defining moments as Rudess takes you on a private journey through his surreal rock, classical, and fusion soundtracks. The effect of the music is not unlike an exciting movie soundtrack. When he goes off on a classical jaunt he also manages to venture into a different sounding ragtime old-time-movie exodus through his keyboards. I could envision the Keystone Cops chasing someone down the street while listening. It may seem odd that you would hear this kind of music on a progressive rock album, but it's a reality and it works very well. I found it most entertaining and fascinating that Rudess was able to impress upon me so many sights and sounds through his music. It's surely a gift to be able to put a person through so many emotions, pictures, and thoughts in one song. I really loved every second of this album, and you will too. Not only does it Feeding The Wheel, it feeds your head.


Tracklisting:
The Voice (Intro) (0:19) / Quantum Soup (11:02) / Shifting Sands (6:00) / Dreaming in Titanium (4:08) / Ucan Icon (5:41) / Center of the Sphere (1:37) / Crack the Meter (6:13) / Headspace (3:58) / Revolving Door (8:33) / Interstices (4:03) / Feed the Wheel (10:12)

Musicians:
Jordan Rudess - keyboards; guitar (3)
John Petrucci - guitar (2, 5, 9, 11)
Terry Bozzio - drums, percussion
Steve Morse - guitar solos (2, 7)
Eugene Friesen - cello and voice (2, 4, 8, 9)
Billy Sheehan - bass (7)
Mark Wood - electric 7 string Viper violin (2, 5, 9, 11)
Barry Carl - The Voice
Peter Ernst - nylon string guitar (3)
Bert Baldwin - keyboard strings (5)

Discography:
Speedway Blvd. - Speedway Blvd. (1981)
Arrival (1988)
Vinnie Moore - Time Odyssey (1988)
Tom Coster - Did Jah Miss Me? (1989)
Listen (1993)
Annie Haslem - Blessing In Disguise (1994)
Various - Romscape (1995)
Noirin Ni Riain - Celtic Soul (1996)
Various - Steinway To Heaven (1996)
Kip Winger - This Conversation Seems Like A Dream (1997)
Secrets Of The Muse (1997)
Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment (1998)
Jupiter Lee - Jupiter Project (1998)
Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2 (1999)
A Christmas Carol (1999)
Rudess/Morgenstein Project - Rudess/Morgenstein Project (1999)
Resonance (1999)
Rhonda Larson - Free As A Bird (1999)
Various - Encores, Legends & Paradox - A Tribute To ELP (1999)
Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory (2000)
Paul Winter And The Earth Band - Journey With The Sun (2000)
Feeding The Wheel (2001)
John Petrucci And Jordan Rudess - An Evening With John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess (2001/2004)
Rudess/Morgenstein Project - The Official Bootleg (2001)
Dream Theater - Live Scenes From New York (2001)
McGill/Manring/Stevens - Addition By Subtraction (2001)
Prefab Sprout - The Gunman And Other Stories (2001)
John Bollenberg Experience - If Only Stones Could Speak (2001)
4NYC (2002)
Dream Theater - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2002)
Christmas Sky (2002) (from website only)
Dream Theater - Train Of Thought (2003)
Dream Theater - Live At Budokan (2004)
Rhythm Of Time (2004)
Dream Theater - Octavarium (2005)
Dream Theater - Score (2006)
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos (2007)
The Road Home (2007)
Dream Theater - Greatest Hit (...And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) (2008)
Notes On A Dream (2009)
Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009)
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events (2011)
Dream Theater - Dream Theater (2013)
Dream Theater - Live At Luna Park (2013)
All That Is Now (2013)
Explorations For Keyboard & Orchestra (2014)
Dream Theater - Breaking The Fourth Wall - Live From The Boston Opera House (2014)
The Unforgotten Path (2015)
Dream Theater - The Astonishing (2016)
Dream Theater - Distance Over Time (2019)
Wired For Madness (2019)

Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York (DVD) (2001)
Live At Budokan (DVD) (2004)
Score (DVD) (2006)
Chaos In Motion (DVD) (2008)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: November 25th 2001
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website: www.jordanrudess.com
Hits: 2265
Language: english

  

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