Joe I: Hey Jordan, welcome to Synthogy Artist Spotlight. Can you share a bit about what you’ve been up to recently?

Jordan: Sure! I’ve been in the studio with Dream Theater quite a bit recording a new album… should be released before the summer of ’07. After that we’ll begin our next world tour.

Joe I: Considering all of the recording and touring you do with DT, plus all the other things you’re involved in, it’s a wonder that you find time for your solo records. Is there another in the works?

Jordan: Yes, I got a good start on a new solo album a few months ago. I'm looking forward to completing my tracks on the new Dream Theater album so I can get back to work on it! I'm revisiting my progressive roots and it has been a whole lot of fun!

Joe I: You’ve been very kind to provide us with a new video medley of JR performances. What is this piece and how did it come about?

Jordan: My buddy Chris Monahan started a company recently called “Your Story”. He has been a great fan of my work as well as being a very talented guy and he was inspired to put this video together for me. He did a great job finding many of the musical keyboard highlights of my career.

Joe I: Your first recorded use of Ivory was on DT’s “Octavarium” album. I was wondering if you might share a bit about the use of the instrument on that recording.

Jordan: When I got Ivory into my computer and started to use it, the sound was so beautiful that there was no question that this would be the piano sound of “Octavarium". That album mostly features the Steinway sound. So far on the new Dream Theater album that we are currently recording, I have been using the Yamaha Studio Grand because it is a more aggressive sound that fits the intensity of what we are doing.

When I got Ivory into my computer
and started to use it, the sound was
so beautiful that there was no question
that this would be the piano sound of
“Octavarium".








Joe I: Okay now for the fun stuff… What is your earliest musical memory?

Jordan: Accompanying my second grade class in the Star Spangled Banner.

Joe I: What is the greatest live performance you’ve ever witnessed? (well okay, you can name more than one…)

Jordan: That's a tough one. There was this Robin Trower concert I attended many years ago and it was one of the most intense experiences I can remember. I saw Yes back in the 70's playing “Close to the Edge” outdoors and it pretty much blew my mind. Gentle Giant was always a highlight in my concert life as well!

Joe I: Gentle Giant! Those guys were incredible. To this day I don't think I've ever seen a group play so many different instruments on stage. Were you also struck by that?

Jordan: Gentle Giant was one of the most unique bands I have ever known. The syncopated rhythms and counterpoint that they created inspired more than words can describe! I had never heard anything like that before. I was convinced that those guys must have practiced 10 hours a day to do that. I still wonder!

In addition to the music they had this whole royal court kinda vibe on stage, wearing robes and such that added a nice touch. The fact that each guy seemed to play at least a few instruments was a bonus as well. You would blink your eyes and look up and all of a sudden they would be playing violin and cello, vibes and recorder! Very bizarre and very cool.

Joe I: I know you also play a number of other instruments yourself. Care to tell us about that?

Jordan: Personally I got inspired over the last couple of years to stretch out a bit and learn the Lap Steel guitar and the Continuum fingerboard. It's a journey into the fretless world! I had been dreaming for years about a design of a keyboard where I could play a note and then simply slide my finger smoothly to another note. It got to a point where I was talking to engineers I know in Asia about creating a custom instrument for me.

One day my technical guru, Richard Lainhart, gave me a buzz and told me to open my Keyboard Magazine and read an article about the Haken Continuum. On the second read, I realized that I had to check this out. I called up Lippold Haken, the inventor and arranged to get one of these new instruments. Since then I have become very involved with the instrument and it really is a dream come true for me. I've been lucky enough to work with Lippold on the development of the Continuum and perform on this instrument around the world!

One of my favorite sounds has always been Steve Howe's Lap Steel playing, where he plays the glory melodies with that soaring classic sound. Check out YES' "Close to the Edge" album and the song "And You and I" for a great example of what I am talking about. Dream Theater was lucky enough to tour with Yes a few summers ago and at that point I befriended Steve Howe and got some great personal tips on Lap Steel playing! I couldn't ask for more than that!

When I got home from the tour, I went right downtown to a guitar shop in NYC and bought a vintage 1953 Fender Lap Steel. Although that is a classic instrument, I ended up having Industrial Guitars build me some awesome custom instruments which have the sound and the road worthy construction I needed for recording and touring

Joe I: What were the last 5 things you listened to? (…NOT your all time favorites, I want to know literally the last 5 things in your iPod or CD player!)

Jordan: These days here’s what I have been listening to in my iPod.
Boards of Canada – the Campfire Headphase
Brian Eno- Another Green World
Murcof- Remembranza
John Foxx – Metamatic
Radiohead- The Bends

Joe I: Very cool man! Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us!

Jordan: My pleasure!

photos by Paul Undersinger | paulworks.com