KeyFest 2004 Review

[Ael]

Alright, so it's over, I met a lot of cool people last night and tonight...

The Forum Gathering - the full transcribing crew was there, the guy in charge of OC, Dani (JRs assistant), Bakerman in the flesh, Scrap, and a ton of other people who were selected to perform tonight and also other members of the forum I had the honor to speak with. The dinner was great, it felt like everyone knew each other, and of course Bert was great in his own right. Not much to say, we ate, took pictures, shot video footage, and chatted with the legendary Jordan Rudess.

The KeyFest -

All I can say is the master class was so helpful and mad props to those who performed including Over The Edge, because your song was really beautiful, not to say others weren't, but your song was very well prepared and felt like a song with a clear melody and the whole 9 yards. The information given by Rudess was priceless and he even took the opportunity to write down the full chordal progressions to some people's compositions to help them on their writing aspect.

The CONCERT --

FILMED FOR A DVD RELEASE! Can you say amazing? Totally improvised, along with the "Time Crunch", "Screaming Head", and "Ra" from Rhythm of Time and then he played SoC and ITNOG in their entereity and then he improvised the rest of his 6 or so piano songs and synth songs. Truely amazing, he came back for an encore of "twinkle twinkle" for like 5 minutes that makes "Lamb Chops on 4NYC" look less impressive...great performance.

And, I got my Keyboard Anthology book signed by Chris Romero, Bakerman, and Rudess ;)

A bitching weekend.

Thank you Jordan, it was an HONOR and pleasure to be able to meet you these two days and share some words. Thank you for having this.

Emeric

[hyeok]

Here's my experience:

My parents couldn't get me a ride to the Keyfest. After calling just about anyone I could think of to get a ride, I finally was forced to take a call taxi, which cost me $70. More expensive than the ticket ($50)!
http://img70.exs.cx/img70/7555/tickets1.jpg
I had expected to be blown away by his godly piano and keyboard wizardry, but little did I realize that I would actually get to meet him!
http://img70.exs.cx/img70/5782/jrandmaxx.jpg
He came out into the audience after the master class, which had a very small attendance, and hung out with us for a while! I was literally shaking with nervousness. We got to talk, take pictures, and get autographs. It was the most surreal experience ever! I was standing right there, next to him, and he was showing me fingerings for songs and telling me about playing. I could've fainted right there. The concert afterwards was of course, amazing. My favorite was his rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, which was down right awesome.
http://img70.exs.cx/img70/868/jr.jpg
I bought him a copy of Piano for Dummies as a joke, and wrote to him in the inside cover. I hope I get to meet him again.
http://img70.exs.cx/img70/1441/pfordummies.jpg
Thank you Jordan for making this happen!

[Ael]

Haha, you were standing right next to me in line after the masterclass, I was the one with the two keyboard wizardry books.

[DaniKoesterich]

wut is rite clik?

[Bakerman]

danny- u can use it 2 record 2 mp3 or wit da firewire interface

ps. Keyfest was awesome, it was great to meet everyone and see some copies of the Keyboard Anthology selling (although a screwup by WB caused my name to get left out of it). I played a few songs at a gig with Dani's band on Thurs. night and they're one of the best sounding bands I've heard. The Sat. dinner was really nice too- thanks to JR and everyone else for making this happen! This was my first time meeting Tabs, Chris, and Anthony from Progressive Transcriptions as well as a bunch of others I've known online to some degree (including Dan whose house I'm at now, he went to the events but doesn't post here much).

pps. I played the gtr JP gave to JR at Dani's gig: OMG AWSEOM!!!
http://s93147954.onlinehome.us/Dani_Baker2.jpg

[Rodkorn]

I find it simply amazing, I'd love to have the opportunity of going to a Keyfest like that...

when is this going to happen down here in Chile?? hehe.

Cya!! bye!!

[Enigma™]

wut is rite clik?

heh- mac users ;)

[Cary]

A bitching weekend.

Thank you Jordan, it was an HONOR and pleasure to be able to meet you these two days and share some words. Thank you for having this.

Emeric

Ditto here. Had a great time. I also want to thank Emeric for starting the ball rolling on the gathering. Sorry I didn't get to speak with you.

Master class was very helpful and everyone that played I think contributed uniquely to the class. So cool.

I left the concert speechless. If you listened very closely you could hear Jordan humming while he was improvising. Sometimes I think he might have been humming a 3rd part to the imrov(or maybe the root notes under the arps?). The Triton-conrtolled setup sounded great.

[Ael]

Yea, I heard it, I was in hte FIRST row, it was like "huh what is going on here", but he was definitely humming the melody out like he told us earlier in the masterclass to do when improvising.

[axlhog]

Greetings all!!! Doug here, one of the people that played the masterclass, and I FINALLY joined the forum, don't ask why it took so long, who knows, but now I'm here!

At the moment all I will do is echo the general consensus that being in the presence of a superhuman HUMAN is an honor of the highest degree, and to have that take place all weekend was ....well......hmm ok I have no words for such fortune...

There is an infinite stream of information that one can learn from such greats, and I was lucky enough to get one on one time with playing and coaching, but also I must comment that the amount of time he spends with his fans, just chatting, is unprecedented, ESPECIALLY for a "rock star" hehe. Of course, he is much more than that. He is very human and couldn't have been nicer to donate so much of his knowledge from his head to ours. I had a great time and all of you rock! It was very refreshing to be in the company of other fellow keyboard wizards and let's make sure that this is only the beginning of these sorts of events!

Rock and Roll will never die

[Ael]

Doug !! you joined !! awesome, IM me on AIM sometime, great job on ur composition btw again.

[pmarafio]

What an inspirational weekend! So much good music...so much talent...and so much preparation by everyone. I'm really proud to have been one of the performers and share the stage with a room full of talented keyboard players.

As for Jordan, he was the ultimate host, teacher, and friend throughout. Extraordinarily approachable and he listens with enormous ears! From following his DT work for years, I was already aware of his enormous talents in the electronic keyboard arena, what totally blew me away last night was his work at the Steinway. Not since Keith Jarrett have I ever seen such improvisational command and creativity on the acoustic piano.

Jordan, we can't thank you enough for hosting us. And thanks to Danielle also.

It was great meeting everyone - I can't wait for the next one.

By the way, I recorded about two hours of the Keyfest until my minidisc filled up. I'll be pulling out the audio from the performances if anyone wants a copy of their work. Just let me know. I already posted a clip of my tune on my website.

[aibohphobia]

This was a purely surreal weekend. The idea of not only meeting my idol, but spending 4 hours at a restaurant with him, chatting with him about all sorts of musical topics, working with him onstage in a masterclass, and then seeing him in a singularly mind-blowing concert afterwards, well I am without words.

So many thanks to Jordan, who is the first famous musician I have encountered who took the time to do more than just meet his fans. I feel like I actually got to know him a bit. When I said goodbye to him after it was over, I felt like I was saying goodbye to someone who had become a friend over the weekend. He told me to keep in touch, and I intend to do just that. Truly a cool thing.

I learned so much from the master class (I've been doing all those finger exercises during my breaks at work, not to mention while stuck in traffic), and I have trouble tearing myself from the piano as I keep trying more of the techniques he showed. Besides being an awesome display of musicianship, I found it to be an inspiration to try harder. The whole weekend seemed geared more towards improving the keyboardists present rather than simply wowing them (although both definitely took place). I appreciated that to a great extent.

Jordan, you have provided us with an event unlike anything other stars put together. The concert established you once more as the ultimate master of the 88 keys, and you showed an unprecedented amount of attention to your fans, and for that we are eternally grateful!

[Tabs]

It was very cool meeting everyone who was there, finally seeing the Keyboard Anthology get sold etc - thanks everyone for a great time! We have some cool OC updates coming for you all real soon by the way...

Ryan

[Ael]

I can't wait for the updates, I heard some "insider" info from Jordan and Danielle Saturday/Sunday evening as to what might be going up there soon.

Alright, here are some of my pics:

This is a shot of Jordan's leftover food at the Pappa Razzi, I figured I'd auction it off on ebay...the actual plate of food is sitting right next to me ;) Opening bid: $200.00 USD.

http://emeric.hytekhosting.com/pics/food.JPG

This is a picture of Jordan, me, and my friend Steve. I'm on the left side, and my friend Steve is to the right (obviously lol).

http://emeric.hytekhosting.com/pics/group.JPG

This is a picture of just my friend Steve and Jordan together clowning around.

http://emeric.hytekhosting.com/pics/stevejordan.JPG

Last but not least, me and the machine - Jordan Rudess.

http://emeric.hytekhosting.com/pics/mejordan.JPG

All in all, a very enjoyable evening on both nights. I want you all to let me know about the food...maybe I should start a separate thread for bids?

[King_Ellesar]

heh, just got home from NY today.

To JR: thanks so much for doing this for us, every part of it was amazing and it is an experience I will remember forever. you really made my trip up north worth it.

P.S. Nice playing! I may have told you, i was there with my cousin and his wife who is about 6months pregnant. during "screaming head" the baby was going nuts and kicking all over the place. she must have liked it...btw, it was rockin!

P.P.S. If your ever in the Tampa area in FL, like with a DT show or whatever, feel free to let me know and my family agrees that we would love to have you and whoever over for dinner or something :D my mom makes some killer pasta :wink: :D . i guess i will see you maybe the next time DT comes to Tampa (soon, i hope!). thanks again for such a great experience.

it was very cool to meet all you guys, although i wish i had more time to spend with you and get to hang out with you and stuff. but since i was staying with relatives and not on my own, my plans had to kind of work out with their schedules. but from what time i did spend with you, your all super cool people and i cant wait for another gathering. it would be cool if it could somehow last longer next time or something. i was just sad to see it end it was so fun. i also wish i got over my stupid "shyness" sooner and talked to more people, but hey, maybe next time.

the music rocked, i learned a lot, i ate a lot. btw: who agrees with me that it should be called White Hills instead of White Plains? a shortened version of the story of my journey there would say that i got lost on foot and ended up running with directions from a cop to get there on time i was goin up and down very steep hills, and it did a number on my legs and feet :x but i got there right in time for an awesome master class! 8)

also, nice choice in restaraunt, me and my relatives went back there the next night and the food was swell, unfortunately we didnt have the same waitress (wink wink, nod nod) but its all good.

[mtg7643]

Jordan's class was the first formal keyboard class I have ever taken. I've been playing for 18 years, but play by ear, and still can't read music. Jordan's showmanship, and the performers that performed during the class is something I will never forget. I truly felt like I knew nothing watching him interact with the students, and the students performances, but I then rationalized the skillset as being a result of years of training and reading music. I don't know if I will ever learn how to read music, but I will take some of the tips that Jordan passed on about performing, and overcoming nervousness to heart. He's the first guy I would even consider listening to in a formal class, and I'm so glad I had the chance to be in it.

[Ehren]

Hopefully this can become an annual thing, because I highly regret missing it. i couldn't get away from work and I had no means of transportation - Does anyone know if there's plans to do this again?

[hyeok]

I hope he does it again. I'll practice harder and wanna have the chance to even think about applying for the master class. Also, I hope to get to know all of you better!

[Ael]

I heard rumor from certain people that they might make this a "weekend getaway" like a keyfest thing that takes place somewhere over three days and we all hang out for those three days and study music together..just a rumor though.

But at least the forum gathering should be made annual...I think the keyfest, since it went so will, will happen again.

[Dan]

So I managed to sneak into that last photo of Ael's I'm the one in the bottom left hand corner. HEH. All in all it was a fun weekend got to hang with the transcribers and Baker and I tried to cause some trouble with one of the waitresses at Papa Razzi. It was good to catch up with everyone.

[Margaret]

danny- u can use it 2 record 2 mp3 or wit da firewire interface

ps. Keyfest was awesome, it was great to meet everyone and see some copies of the Keyboard Anthology selling (although a screwup by WB caused my name to get left out of it). I played a few songs at a gig with Dani's band on Thurs. night and they're one of the best sounding bands I've heard. The Sat. dinner was really nice too- thanks to JR and everyone else for making this happen! This was my first time meeting Tabs, Chris, and Anthony from Progressive Transcriptions as well as a bunch of others I've known online to some degree (including Dan whose house I'm at now, he went to the events but doesn't post here much).

pps. I played the gtr JP gave to JR at Dani's gig: OMG AWSEOM!!!
http://s93147954.onlinehome.us/Dani_Baker2.jpg

I remember you said the guitar was quite special in another topic, and I already had the feeling that it must've been the guitar that JR has in his studio, the one he got from JP, so that's why I asked why it was so special to ya!! Sounds very cool though! Keep on rocking 8)