God that pipe organ part from Close to the Edge blew me when i first heard it and still gives goosebump : a real masterpiece

@babylemonade2868

Жыл бұрын

Me too then that organ solo just tops it off. Still blows me away

@heinhein54

Жыл бұрын

@@babylemonade2868 Right, then another unexpected break comes in. That was some crazy prog stuff in the early 70's

@valhallacoldwind3362

Жыл бұрын

It certainly is & also Rick's performance on the Going For The One album with 2 songs, Awaken & Parallels are the real deal. Parallels is recorded live at the St Martin's Church in Vevey Switzerland & straight into the desk at Mountain studios 4 miles away via the telephone line with the band playing live along with Wakeman, from what we have heard.! A colossal sound it is. Awaken's parts were recorded & overdubbed onto the studio tracks later. Classic Rick & Yes.

@silgen

Жыл бұрын

Me too. I've been listening to it for 50 years and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

@heinhein54

Жыл бұрын

@@silgen Wish i wasn't bald to feel the same 😁

What a nice young man. I'm sure his band will be a great success.

@AndyHeimerl

Жыл бұрын

Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Well said 🙂

@maximummatt73

Жыл бұрын

Fool. DT is one of the most successful bands of all time.

@Cestariarts

Жыл бұрын

@@maximummatt73 oh my god, you don't know what a joke is? You're a joke

@AndyHeimerl

Жыл бұрын

@@maximummatt73 Well Matt, what do you make of the metaphor "tongue in cheek"?

@maximummatt73

Жыл бұрын

@@AndyHeimerl goes alongside "not even slightly humorous". *mic drop*

I was standing in long line at security waiting to fly out of LAX about 5 or 6 years back not exactly enjoying myself when I heard a very talented individual skillfully and tastefully tickling the keys of a white Grand Piano that is for some reason stationed on second floor landing overlooking the international departures airline ticket offices. The pianist played a number of renditions of popular music from 70s-90s along with some classical shorts. He stopped a couple times between pieces and was greeted by rounds of applause from the mass humanity moving past him at the piano. As a huge DT fan from the release of their very first single "Pull Me Under" in the 90s I almost immediately thought I recognized the fluid technique and his distinctive crescendos and dynamic tempo changes. Of course, it was the greatest Rock and Progressive Metal keyboardist of all time; Jordan Rudess.

@CompleteProducer84

Жыл бұрын

That's incredible you got to see him there! I remember hearing him talk about performing at airports in the past and always thought how cool it would be to see

@cuevable

Жыл бұрын

Greatest of all time? Cmon man.. The dude can play, unfortunately he hasn't put out a decent record in quite a while

@billrigakos1627

Жыл бұрын

⅜

@rtrooperw8115

Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Met him a few times, class act each and every time.

@JK-js2td

Жыл бұрын

@@cuevable Mr. Vairo...id sure love to hear a quality record you put out?

Keith Emerson was heavier than a lot of metal guitarists.

@arnaldotabosa1680

Жыл бұрын

Fact !

@lylesmith3506

Жыл бұрын

ELP were considered Heavy metal before it was associated with guitar bands.

@waverlyking6045

Жыл бұрын

@@lylesmith3506 Before Billy Joel became famous, he had a “heavy metal” band named Attila. He tried to do with keyboards what Jimi Hendrix did with the guitar.

@mr198221

Жыл бұрын

@@lylesmith3506 Really

@mikereiss4216

Жыл бұрын

He's the first one to come to mind for me when I saw the title for this video.

One of the greatest keyboardists of our time!

I'd like to honorably mention Tom Scholz on keyboards on Boston's Foreplay / Long Time. The first 90 seconds is pretty heavy and I must've listened to it hundreds of times.

@BlackDeej

6 ай бұрын

+1, defo agree

@falloutfan2502

4 ай бұрын

Absolutely!

@retohofmann5878

4 ай бұрын

Yes, just thought the same one week ago when I was listening to the 1st Boston LP!

@brandonshuttleworth8374

2 ай бұрын

What makes that song so amazing is how popular it is for how progressive rocket is. Maybe one of the greatest rock openings of all time, next to funeral for a friend, which also deserves an honorable mention.

That organ section in Close to the Edge, I remember listening to the Yessongs version on mushrooms when I was 17 or so. I felt like those chords were ripping my body apart. Such an intense part juxtaposed to the soft moody vocals of Jon. I love Yes so much. So glad Jordan chose this particular section.

I'm so glad that he chose Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Bach.

@6sentient

Жыл бұрын

chopin,beethoven,rach and liszt are IMO the big 4 of classic piano

@moritzvanhees4729

Жыл бұрын

@Sgrofolo and don’t forget the griegster

@TheCyberMantis

Жыл бұрын

The influences of Miyako from LOVEBITES. 🤘🏻🐺🤘🏻

@WalyB01

Жыл бұрын

Mussorgsky pictures at a exhibition is my opinion the first metal

@WalyB01

Жыл бұрын

Although K141 Scarlatti might beat the punch

When it comes to Jon Lord, the opening to "Perfect Strangers" is heavy personified Remember: D minor is the saddest key of them all

@awaken77

Жыл бұрын

when he said "heaviest organ riff" I immediately thought about Perfect Strangers. also Dream Theater's own 6:00 intro

@JK-js2td

Жыл бұрын

Todd...i was waiting to hear some Mach...Lick my Lovepump 🤣

@chrisross1703

Жыл бұрын

There are at least 2 live versions which are better than the studio version.

@theguywhoisaustralian1465

23 күн бұрын

Lick my Love Pump.

I’m almost 40 years younger than him, and Tarkus blew my mind too.

RIP Jon Lord - he was the GOAT 🐐

Two really pieces that come to my mind are Perfect Strangers and Mr. Crowley

@JK-js2td

Жыл бұрын

Forgot about Mr Crowley

@brandonshuttleworth8374

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, good call on Crowley, fantastic open.

Chopin's 'Funeral March' = death metal, man is that some good irony right there - plus some great music too 🙂

Grieg, Stravinski, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin. My mom was a concert pianist and had performed in Canada a number of times as she was considered comparable to Gould, so I listened to Chopin being played more than anyone and love his works to this day.

I have always loved the grinding B3 tones and textures of Steppenwolf. "The Pusher" and "Born to be Wild".

Tarkus is constantly playing in my head, Keith Emerson was a genius !

@valhallacoldwind3362

Жыл бұрын

Agree totally, Emerson was from another world it seems, well at certain times.

fantastic list! Love the back and forth with Classical and Prog.

Awesome picks. When it comes to heaviness in classical music I really dig the opening section in Tchaikovksy's piano concerto no 1.

@victormontielpiano

Жыл бұрын

But that's in major! Not enough heaviness for me. Try Prokofiev 2, that's heavy and proggy as hell

@trackost39

Жыл бұрын

Which was adopted into their Illumination Theory main theme

@emanuel_soundtrack

Жыл бұрын

@@victormontielpiano major keys are essential still in many famous metal songs, like in afraid to shoot strangers , megalomania , crazy train, etc. To not say that , if i-VI-VII is such a common progression, the majority of chords of Iron Maiden are in major, but the key is minor.

@joaogarcia6170

Жыл бұрын

Galneryus has a song, angel of salvation it's called, and it's basically a rearrangement of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto (don't remember the exact concerto).

So glad he mentioned Grieg. Lots of people forget how genius he was!

I always wondered just how prodigious Rudess was as a child, and I didn't know he was in a commercial as a kid. I guess that's my answer - that's generational talent.

@falloutfan2502

4 ай бұрын

I read he went to Julliard at 9 and graduated at 19?

Absolutely epic list, thanks Jordan!

Tarkus is in 10/8 or5/4 !! Love that KE is up there with Beethoven- love your work Jordon. Keep the fires burning

A lot if keyboard work by John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin is amazing. Such as the parts from the song Friends, Misty Mountain Top, Kashmir, etc

@MisterMunkki

Жыл бұрын

No Quarter :D

@awaken77

Жыл бұрын

@@MisterMunkki indeed! electric piano played through phaser effect, sounds like underwater

@brandonshuttleworth8374

2 ай бұрын

I did not appreciate Led Zeppelin until I heard no quarter, because I was brought up, listening to all the overplayed classic rock songs and honestly the hits really aren’t even Zepplin‘s best music. thank you, and your time is gonna come! All great keyboard.

Awesome picks! Like the mix of classical and prog, and also forgot about Frankenstein, THAT song is really awesome and heavy

Loved that! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Need some Tommy Rogers in here. BTBAM has some truly heavy keyboard riffs.

Love this video! Thanks for sharing!

I’m shocked, when I looked at the title, only one song came to mind, Boston - Foreplay. I was surprised it wasn’t on the list. That song blew me away and was my inspiration to start playing.

@awaken77

Жыл бұрын

that organ part is iconic. I learned it from RushYesKansas tutorial on youtube

@ChristianJoannes

Жыл бұрын

I guess that’s a common issue with the ‘10 best ..’ videos there are probably thousands of keyboard cadenzas which are epic . So whenever a video is made on ‘10 best whatever…’ it is only the 10 preferred songs or songs’ parts , of the KZread publisher . A more appropriate title would be . my top 10 keyboards cadenzas .

@JK-js2td

Жыл бұрын

Yeah Foreplay is killer...but if you start thinking of songs...theres always epic ones you missed or forgot about. I will name one which DT covered in fact...Elton Johns Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

@ericrenegonzalez437

Жыл бұрын

The Boston band ( superbe ) is too recent wuth respect to the others , too recent to be a reference for him . Just my thought .

Great choice, can’t wait for the next #11 heaviest tunes! ☺️

Great Pics Sir, LOVE that commercial !

This video made me nerd out so hard. To hear him articulate most of the things I just think in my head when I listen to this music that so many people don’t appreciate. And to hear him also articulated in the words that I can’t quite put it into, but just grab a hold of that emotion for several of these songs, and also educate me on the nuances of certain pieces I haven’t spent as much time with. Love it! Love dream theater.

Great selections! Jordan's such a class act 👍

Very clever to put a constantly heavy metal music on background while jordan talking about other songs and while we are listening to them. It helps a lot

A great selection of music ! Thanks for sharing the clip of the commercial... made my day (LOL)

Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!! for this list, I totally agree with you!

Emerson Lake and Palmer, were great. when Powell came in and brought in Touch and Go, that blew me away!

Was so hoping he'd mention the outro riff for Camel's Nimrodel - Medley. I love that riff

@dac2007

Жыл бұрын

Lady Fantasy has some crazy heavy keyboard riffs too

@trigeminalnerve9496

Жыл бұрын

@@dac2007 agreed! That is pretty kick ass! The Nimrodel outro just gets my blood moving every time. Man! Camel are amazing, aren't they!

@dac2007

Жыл бұрын

@@trigeminalnerve9496 yep, very underrated band

Great video Jordan! I remember seeing Yes at Radio City Music Hall some years back, and Rik Wakeman did an awesome keyboard solo, at one point he popped out of the side of the stage playing on the massive house organ! I can't remember specifically, but I'm sure it must have been that section from Closer to the Edge. It was an impressive moment!

Jordan brought the wisdom of a scholar. Awesome 💯🤘

This was very enjoyable to watch, Particularly for his thoughts on the classical music choices. You rarely hear people like Bach, Beethoven, and others mentioned this way. In like, a "rock" context. It's always approached academically, or theoretically. It actually made it simpler to understand what's happening in the pieces Jordan selected. My vote is always going to be for the keyboard intro riff for Loverboy's "Take Me to the Top." It's one of the best synth sounds I've ever heard outside of Isao Tomita, and it kicks ass.

Was diggin' on all of those--sweet!

Atilla - Billy Joel's psychedelic metal band from 1969... Some of the craziest organ playing ever. They only made one album.

@gingataff

Жыл бұрын

I was going to suggest that. California Flash has a great riff.

@Jaageful

Жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/fmunmrKBnqa6d6w.html

Space Dimentia is the first one that comes to mind, one of the heaviest songs I’ve heard and it’s completely lead by the piano, incredible stuff

@paolofurlanis3122

Жыл бұрын

Great tune. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2 (which where Space Dementia's riff comes from) is really a masterpiece

I recommend the end of White Hammer at 6:23 by Van Der Graaf Generator, as heavy as early black sabbath imo

@beeveli

Жыл бұрын

As heavy as heavy can be! And the section just keeps building the heaviness until everything explodes

A great list!

Merci for this. Jordan did a video about voicings and it's helped me since I'm at that stage in my musical journey.

Glad the mighty Jon Lord made an appearance on this list although I'm a tad surprised Hush was chosen rather than the intro to Lazy 🥰

@IowaJay

Жыл бұрын

I was expecting Space Truckin.

@Alessandro-B

8 ай бұрын

@@IowaJay Or the solo in Highway Star, maybe the dissonant, distorted notes in Hard Loving Man, and even the underrated Rat Bat Blue in Who Do We Think We Are. And should I mention Pictures Of Home?

Wow. Great list

Freaking great list.

Awesome set of keyboard tracks!

Video: A person's opinions on a thing. The comment section: Why didn't you put in MY opinion?!

Great list, so many favorites there - My personal two would be The Barbarian from the 1st ELP album, and the big B major section in the Liszt B minor sonata, so much fun to play Tarkus is in 10 but I'm sure Jordan knows that :)

Was ne geile Nummer. Hammer Marti. Wie so oft. Wünsche dir eine erholsame Auszeit. Genies die Zeit.

Thanks for this great list Mr. Rudess, but you’re too humble. Dream Theater deserves one or two spots in here :-)

When Bach played the pipe organ, it was literally heavy metal.

@christiandeuer2425

Жыл бұрын

Bach has invented Symphonic Black Metal.

@wherehouseedm

Жыл бұрын

@@christiandeuer2425 also, pipe organs are so heavy no one can lift them, and made of metal.

I like smoke and lightnin' HEAVY METAL thunder Racing with the wind And the feeling that I'm under

This is an excellent list! If I were to pick a next in line classical piece, I'd have to go with Prokofiev's Toccata op. 11, which - I looked it up to confirm, and yep - is also in D minor.

Thanks so much for share

Beautiful! All of them.

My favorite keyboard player is Don Airey. His keyboard solo on Rainbow's Spotlight Kid has some very heavy riffs. He's trading riffs with Mr. Blackmore during the solo... it's amazing. Also his playing on Colloseum II's Electric Savage album is AWESOME on every tune!

@TerrapinTrader

8 ай бұрын

Saw that set live in London, killer!

Great picks, Jordan! 💪😎👍

Good choices ! Hush is my favorite organ riff, Rachs Prelude in C# Min is sooo moving.

The best episode of this series so far.

I agree 100% Everything you mentioned is on a playlist or another of mine.

As a Norwegian I particulary love The choice of Grieg☺️👍

@valhallacoldwind3362

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, a classic choice that is!

@jeffreyhanc1711

Жыл бұрын

As a clueless little American kid studying classical piano, I first learned of the existence of a country called Norway via Grieg lol. I remember thinking: this place sounds dark and mystical and cool, and full of trolls… 👍

Love you Jordan ❤️ I would add to the list the Wilde Jagd etude by Liszt and the cadenza of Prokofiev's 2nd piano concerto. Classical piano music is full of metal moments 🤘

The first part of Liszt's totentanz is arguably the first heavy metal song. Heavy banging on the lowest keys of the keyboard while the Dies Irae plays, also in the lowest register, followed by some piano flourishes that rival anything else I've heard. The "storm" part of the Raindrop Prelude by Chopin is also quite heavy. Alkan - Etude Op.27 "Le Chemin de fer" has some pretty heavy parts to represent trains

Subdivisions from Rush, for me, #12 :)

@jimmycoleman5853

Жыл бұрын

My fav Rush tune!

Beethoven Op. 111 Sonata opening riff - it ain't just heavy brother, it's doomsday!

Excelentes escolhas !!

The true successor of all those great keyboardists and pianists. They should've included some Dream Theater stuff, from Jordan era and pre-Jordan era as well.... There are plenty of them though, Lines In The Sand, Dance of Eternity, Erotomania, A Change of Seasons, and a lot of stuff from Train of Thought.

Bartok's 1st and 3rd piano concertos definitely belong on a list of heavy keyboard riffs. Italian prog is loaded with keyboard riffs easily as heavy as anything on this list. Il Balletto di Bronzo - YS, is wall to wall keyboard heaviness. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra, also has some pretty heavy riffs.

@lxathu

7 ай бұрын

Allegro barbaro by Bartok is simply a metal piece itself with its riff variation after riff structure.

Great choices Jordan. I expected super complex stuff and was pleased to find memorable melody lines which I think are more important than complexity. I would have added some of the stuff Lyle Mays did.

Love this man! Ha! Much respect sir, you make me play keyboard, I don’t know much theory, but you inspire me to just try and creat stuff.

Thanx Champ, love your work. Had the pleasure of meeting n time with Keith E

Great assortment of accompaniments.

HAHA. I remember the Band Aid commercial from childhood! I'm about the same age. Mind-blown to learn that was you!

Good list! I'd add the great Eddie Jobson with UK with "Alaska", the CS-80 parts set the mood, then that Hammond part really brings the hammer!

Very interesting selection. I would have included Thijs van Leer of Focus and the main theme from The Hamburger Concerto.

@tomtrana3449

Жыл бұрын

Good choice!

@quentinlargcoie

Жыл бұрын

Isn't the main theme lifted from a classical piece?

Being roughly the same age as Jordan and having a similar musical background (but I didn't become a rock star LOL) I wasn't surprised by this excellent choices. IMHO #12 should be Modest Mussorgski. Think of Baba-Yaga's Hut (Pictures at an Exhibition), heavy as can be...

@joeyhardin5903

Жыл бұрын

What about that slow menacing tritone riff from The Gnome? That gives off doom metal vibes and is really cool

The hard organ opening to "Point Of Know Return" by Kansas sends shivers down my spine every time. ELP's "Fanfare for the Common Man" (cover of Arron Copland) of course is so iconic that it is instantly recognized -- Just three notes, followed by three more, and the rest is history. just mentioning it makes it play in your head. "Blue Collar Man" by Styx deserves honorable mention, as does Jonathon Cain's Power keyboard riffs in "Separate Ways" by Journey. Maybe it's a bit obscure, but "In Ancient Days" by Black Widow has just this wicked keyboard intro that starts out spooky and descends into demonic chaos before the guitar part picks it up from floor of the dark pit and they start grooving and rocking out. kzread.info/dash/bejne/o4uDlKlum9OZiJM.html

When you mentioned Genesis, I was waiting for "Watcher of the Skies"... 😀

@ricardoaraujo8741

4 ай бұрын

I was waiting for Firth of Fifth

@pedroalvespereira9100

4 ай бұрын

I was waiting for The Knife

Some other picks for me are Foreplay (Long Time) by Boston (which was done by guitarist Tom Scholz), Pink Floyd’s In The Flesh (still one of the coolest intros to an album, Richard Wright kills it on that song) and I’ll also throw in I Want You (She’s So Heavy) by The Beatles. The stuff Billy Preston is doing is just awesome

Hit the 3 I was looking for - Bach, Yes, Hush. Cannot disagree with any of the other choices - nicely done, completely agree

Space-Dye Vest = Chopin's Funeral March Lines in the Sand = Rach's Prelude in C#minor The Dance of Eternity = Bach's Toccata and Fugue

I totally agree!!

I’m Shocked there was no Muse on here!space dementia, butterflies and hurricanes, and hoodoo are super heavy

What a well-balanced list!

Excellent choices, Jordan. The only selection I could think of in the moment is the opening organ solo for Chest Fever by Three Dog Night. very heavy for it's day.

Bernie Worrell's organ on Seven Laws of Woo by Praxis. Doesn't hurt to have Buckethead doubling the line on guitar either. Intro is super sweet too! Rich the Ancient Metal Beast 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

Jordan, absolute killer list. Mad props for the modesty. I upvote outro to The Dark Eternal Night!

Great list. Man, when he mentioned Genesis and Tony Banks I was sure he would say "The Knife". LOL. Great list indeed,

I remember seeing Uriah Heep live and I while I do really remember Easy Livin', I have some big memories of Gypsy Queen. That shit knocked my socks off

Hi Jordan . Grew up a block from you on tidewater. We were in a group called the rubber band before you went off to the city. Love your picks all my favorites. Scott B. From K. P.

Awesome list. As a long-time Bach listener, if one has grown somewhat overly familiar with his T&F in D, might I recommend his Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C. Only Bach could start in C Major and take it to the end of the world. LTE Live in LA was awesome.

Great List, Great Mix between genres!! Uriah Heep! Back in the day I played Hammond with a beefed up Leslie that spit and screamed. Of course my band did Easy Livin' as well as alot of DP and Yes. I loved turning those rotors on and off! ha.

@valhallacoldwind3362

Жыл бұрын

I loved the mention of Ken Hensley, bless him. Some of his heavy organ sounds remind me of those old horror films. eerie & dark & wonderful.

@ronricherson6685

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I saw him once at a NAMM show in the 80's. He was a big dude; about 6"4" and man, was he wild! He was talking and his body was writhing around non-stop. He was wearing a very rock suede jacket and still had very long hair. I was literally right in front of him and wanted to talk to him, but he was really on another plane. LOL.

I’d like to mention Lucifer’s Friend, on their first couple of albums the great Peter Hecht plays all the keyboards along with the occasional French horn. Definitely check out their self-titled debut and their follow up “When The Groupies Killed The Blues”.

This was included on the song from Renaissance, called 'Kiev' (0:51)

Thank you for recognising Uriah Heep’s Easy Livin/Demons and Wizards. You might want to check out Morcambe and Wise’s Greig Piano concerto with help from Andre Previn.

Space Truckin?