Keyboard battle : Kevin moore vs Jordan Rudess

[@rezzaakbar7236]

Technically, Jordan is number 1. Nobody is better than Jordan today in my opinion. But Kevin has something else in him. His musicality is so soulful and emotional. You can have thousands of great technical and skillful musicians but only a soulful musician who can give the soul to the songs. And this is irreplaceable by everyone else. That is the essence of music or art in general I believe.

[@sean8470]

well said; couldn't agree more

[@Jabez_Clarke]

agree totally

[@rjordist4925]

rezza akbar yeah and if we based on guitarist,jordan rudess is ritchie blackmore while kevin moore is jeff beck.

[@jamiemacmillan4056]

Rj Ordist that's a really bad comparison considering that by today's standards blackmore isn't really that technical and many would consider him very soulful including myself, yngwie malmsteen to Jeff beck is a better way of putting it

[@zakariahlafreniere8347]

Vitalij Kuprij Tony MacAlpine Kevin Moore

[@kipblass2131]

kevin moore vs. jordan rudess; both playing solos written by Kevin Moore of songs... written by Kevin Moore

[@blankvoidsea]

Without means to disrespect, Moore played as a primary ingredient for Dream Theater. He blended well with the band's playing. Tbh, Rudess always feels like an accessory to the band, despite the technicality. He's more like a filler and the-one-guy-if-I-need-a-cool-solo. In other words, I can listen to modern DT without Rudess, but I can't imagine listening to old DT without Moore.

[@lachose00]

You can't listen to modern DT without Rudess because he is writhing most of the songs along with JP

[@robloxboy7720]

Dont be rude to jr like that

[@josetomaspavez7052]

Without Kevin Moore, learning to live wouldnt exist, the chord progression of wait for sleep is one of the best things i've ever listened to.

[@zarroncello1]

Probably go favourite dt's song.

[@Zakariah1971]

Without Moore the band would never have a major label deal. Just facts.

[@teeple1877]

Learning to live is my favorite DT song ever.. at this time anyway.

[@rossfinazzo]

Kevin Moore through his music created new worlds, sometimes dark, cold and dystopic, sometimes bright warm and joyful. Technique, sound and composition were all functional to delivering what came from his imagination. Jordan Rudess just plays scales and arpeggios.

[@MetalproF1]

Jordan is a virtuoso, Kevin a genius and the essential piece for DT. I&W and Awake changed my life forever. I still miss that DT, who totally changed when Kevin left the band. A fan since 90..

[@orvcharl1]

Anybody else think its ironic that the opening solo is Derek Sherinian?

[@michaelbugliosi735]

It's probably because Derek is the king of keys and this is a battle for second place.

[@pagedown6310]

@@michaelbugliosi735 heavy is the head that wears the crown... he was too good for DT so Mike fired him...

[@Keyzkiller]

Me

[@Jeffkingson]

Derek Sherinian and his monster lead sounds are unforgettable.

[@agmonser]

Moore, one and only... He was a soul of DT. Songs like "Pull Me Under", "Surrounded" , "Wait for Sleep", "6:00", "Lie", "A Mind Beside Itself", "Space Dye-Vest" and even "A Change of Seasons" (in which composing he actively participated) would never exist with such beautiful lyrics and keyboard solos.

[@wonbh]

agmonser where is erotomania that has great melody line?

[@Axisjampa]

원병희 it's part of A Mind besides itself. So, yeah, it's included.

[@wiggy009]

Jordan rudess, pretty much the entirety of metropolis 2 awesome synth parts in the count of Tuscany and octavarium. Plus all of liquid tension experiment. They are both incredible muiscans

[@robloxboy7720]

Derek sherinian plays in a change of seasons

[@Joe-oq5kd]

Kevin Moore has such a good use of pinch bending.

[@joeyhardin5903]

He used it a lot because his keyboard didn't have a portamento feature - his solos were always on polyphonic synths

[@cronicasyleyendasdetolkien]

Kevin Moore= Poeta Jordan Rudess= Show Man

[@rizz7604]

Wow, I'm surprised that the Rudess fanboys aren't flooding the comments section. Having said that, I'm all for Kevin Moore's tastefulness. You could say that less is Moore...har har.

[@bookie484]

Jon Rizzo Oh yeah, when you prefer Rudess you're a fanboy, but when it's Moore, you're an old school musician, that knows everything better than everyone. It's a matter of taste, like Portnoy/Mangini. Moore was a very interesting player in these Dream Theater albums, but I still prefer Rudess because he gives me an ELP vibe, he is, and has always been more prog than Moore. He is more technical than Moore (even though that doesn't really matter), a better showman, has this incredible level of musical joy in his playing, and just searches everything he does by himself. That's a matter of opinion, there's no "truth" here

[@AriochStarr]

Hardy har har, you should be my baker.

[@rizz7604]

Bookie Hmm, interesting that I haven't seen your comment until now. I don't recall asserting any "truths" as far as one keyboardist being "superior" to another. It's really okay if you prefer Rudess. I think that KM is more tasteful, but obviously that's just my opinion.

[@rizz7604]

AriochStarr I dunno what to bake for you. It seems like you're bakin' up some puns yourself, given your current name.

[@moon_joust7368]

Lmao, good one mate

[@manifestgtr]

When I was in high school, Rudess was the alpha and the omega of keyboard players to me. What else could you want? I didn’t yet fully understand how deeply Kevin’s contributions shaped I&W and Awake. His taste for atmosphere and composition really catapulted Dream Theater from a great prog band to a legendary prog band…from a musical standpoint, at least. Rudess is the technical master who’s easy to work with…Kevin is the uncompromising musical intellectual…

[@zakariahlafreniere1332]

No contest. Moore is a genius of unrivaled talent.

[@DT2BLZ]

Man, FYI, under a glass moon is from the album "images and words". Dude, Moore didnt even record falling into infinity lol

[@jamespyngrope77]

Yes.. Definitely Moore.. he has such a great taste in playing music..

[@pratishray]

John Petrucci wins!

[@edwinmclean6775]

I miss Kevin and Portnoy so much! #tearsdown

[@jamiemacmillan4056]

Moore by a country mile. He might not have had the same technical ability as Rudess but he applied his playing to the music more effectively than anyone else can and could. He added an atmospheric layer that Jordan rarely manages to match and when playing keys or piano in a metal band that's the most important element of their role. For the most part Jordan's fast, elongated solos just don't work for me

[@88rudess]

Why we should compare them ? They have a different style. Its like Malmsteen and Satriani. Both of them are genius. Kevin was a phenomenal with the Ytse Jam solo and then Jordan with The Dance of Eternity solo.

[@prateemlahkar7622]

I think its more to do with just the solos...

[@text-alignryousuke2607]

Aaaah shadap-u

[@sub-zero-Brasil]

absurd that JORDAN, so musically technical, is unable to reproduce KEVIN's solos with equality, respect and mastery. DEREK SHERINIAN played KEVIN's solos just like he recorded them. I think this could be a bit of JORDAN's pride and musical arrogance!

[@Ykharus]

Kevin Moore, Period.

[@doomsday8448]

Kevin Moore is my favorite musician to date.

[@abohsukampret]

Jordan is a musician. Kevin is an artist.

[@siccbastard4580]

Whats the song in the beginning???

[@kevinorbis9586]

Burning my soul

[@siccbastard4580]

@@kevinorbis9586 THANKS!,

[@stefanoalessandrini4457]

KEVIN MOORE = MUSIC , the chosen notes are the best ones

[@Irockman1]

There's no doubt Rudess is a technically great keyboard player, but when he solos, it often sounds like he's emphasizing the wrong notes at the wrong times. Moore's solos were expressive and fit well with the rest of the music.

[@OBZ]

Both are fantastic keyboard players. This comparison isn't too fair, since Moore wrote both of those keyboard solos. Thing is, Moore and Rudess have their own individual strengths and both strongly impacted the sound of Dream Theater. They are both f$#@ing awesome. Listen to the keyboard performances in Erotomania and The Dance of Eternity and you'll see that they can't simply be compared to one another because they write differently (but awesomely).

[@joeakaradej8666]

Kevin moore = Note expert

[@nebilm8947]

Thats jordan

[@nebilm8947]

But he is music-mage

[@tysonleslie]

I love how nearly every comment is for Kevin. That guy is absolutely magnificent and clever and so creative and melodic beyond anyone else I’ve heard. It helped me so much with my soloing and understanding how you can really rock out a keyboard solo the way Paul Gilbert or Vai would do on a guitar. He has to have inspired countless keyboard players on how to solo better. Fluidity is only matched by guys like Chic Corea or any famously accurate classical players who play with great feel and emotion. #teamkevin

[@kyizin5160]

Anyone,what's the name of the song at the beginning of the video?

[@andrewman12]

Kevein Moore pulverized Rudess with Awake and Images and Words. Falling Into Infinity would have been amazing with Kevin. Possibly their best. Kevin is calculated to the number that is why his playing is so legendary.

[@meropolis]

I agree with almost all comments here. Moore has always carried a nice sense of melody, but Jordan just sounds like he is playing for the sake of being fast and technical but it ends up sounding like garbage. Not to mention he plays the Images and Words keyboard parts tasteless, carelessly, bland and without feel. The sounds he uses suck too by the way lol.

[@meropolis]

***** He isn't a bad musician. I just straight don't like how he replicates Moore's sound. It is like he doesn't try at all. Pretty much disrespecting Moore's sound and style and trying to make his stuff sound better. I think when you play in a band and replace a member you should do your best to stay true to the original sound in albums you were not part of. Keeping integrity of the old albums and still kick ass on the new material is AWESOME. But he didn't execute that :( Rudess is still good keyboard player.

[@Karthik-nv6ry]

Jordan rudess worst sounds Kevin Moore note by note Sherinian master of synthzier All three are gods of keyboards

[@mohammadradzmanidris4220]

i like kevin moore original solo.....

[@jeffz4911]

Kevin Moore, of course. More structured, respectful and emotional

[@diasspeed]

Kevin Moore sounds better for some reason. More emotional, I dont know how to explain it. Also he looks cooler :D . JR on the other hand has some amazing compositions like DoE.

[@rnm8658]

Jordan said, in the drummer documentary, that drummers must play MP parts as they are, because of their fans. So, why does he won't play Kevin's parts as they are...

[@arancedisicilia75]

Of course it's a matter of taste, but I agree with most here, and I prefer Kevin Moore, by far. What I think is also that he was the best overall musician in DT, and Petrucci was musically influenced by him, the same way he' s now influenced by Rudess, which has mande him worst, in my opinion.

[@Chefkey]

Never more prevalent of how much the sound of this band misses Kevin Moore's prowess is in the Images tracks. Jordan is a terrific keyboard player and in many ways more proficient than Kevin but Kevin just had the ear. He grasped tonality in it's totality more than Jordan ever will. There was a fluid, organic touch to everything Kevin did that Jordan just can't seem to reproduce. For such a great talent that Jordan is I am surprised to hear some of his patch choices. All the great equipment Jordan has to use but he does not layer and add voicing to many of his patches and they come out sounding tonally dry. His solo patch on pull me under is way too round, he should have added more sawtooth to the wavelength. I'm not sure why he doesn't hear this himself but many of his patches are much too rounded at least as far as the Kevin patches go. Then I know that is a real Sax solo but with all the great patches I know he has why didn't he layer it or even better, just find a better sample? The sax patch he used just sounds fake. Most telling of all for me though is the solo in "Take the time". In what could be considered by some to be the best solo Kevin ever wrote Jordan does not come even close. He meanders through the solo missing key parts of the melody that made the solo so special. Add in the missing timbre in his sound design and it just leaves you wanting moore.

[@radiantaudio944]

Right. Would have been better Rudess just play Moore's solo note for note, since he could sight read music notes.

[@brianmcguire5175]

Love that the video intro is one of my fave keyboard solos but by Sherinian and not by the featured contenders in the video topic haha

[@MrFrattocchia]

Jordan improvising and Kevin Moore composing (almost singing) are two totally different and excellent experiences...but yes, i would have loved to continue having KM on Dream Theater, and JR on Liquid Tension...I was listening to LTE1, LTE2, Images and Words and Awake like crazy at that time

[@ivano142]

Moore wins easily. Not in tecnique but in composition and emotional component

[@dhanipianist]

I still don't understand why many people makes technique is a god

[@awaken77]

While Rudess is probably the most technically accomplished player, I prefer DT circa Kevin Moore due to his songwriter abilities. In Awake songs were just "right" , no more no less . During Rudess era, DT turned to write long (and sometimes boring) albums with 12-15 min long compositions flooded with pointless solos. Kevin Moore to me resembles Rick Wright in Pink Floyd. Calm, intelligent, and keen on melody, more focused on creating song mood and textures rather than flashy solos

[@ricardocastro1135]

Intro solo by Derek Sherinian, though hehehe

[@jb-rm2ds]

Kevin Moore suited DT more, he created some truly unique and original atmospheres for the band especially on the Awake album, and I do prefer him as a person to Jordan as well as a musician but I have to be honest, if we're talking theory knowledge and playing ability, Rudess absolutely annhialates Moore in every way, tbh I can't think of a better keys player that Rudess

[@marcuso.424]

The reason why Kevin is incomparable is the same why Marty Friedman is the unforgetable and irrepleaceble Megadeth’s guitar player. Although Kevin and Marty have good skils, Jordan, Kiko and others are one step above, but technique is not even close the main tool of a gifted musician. No matter the amount of notes you spread, on the end of the day what makes difference are the good ones.

[@user-ge2vc3rl1n]

Kiko to Jordan is a bad comparison, he's actually an absolute master musician. Marty friedman plays metal, maybe you could say prog rock/metal. Kiko plays legimately any genre with a guitar. He's essentially a watered down guthrie govan with more a way stronger rock influence. Jordan on the other hand is kind of a robot machine that you can program massive difficult streaks of music for it to play and it will do it, but the musicality is just lost in translation.

[@simoneroselli3923]

Impossible comparison, they are simply 2 different keyboard players who affected in different ways the band´s composition process. Where is the cut in Dream Theater´s history? In SFAM, where Rudess starts his spell. What´s before is before, what´s after is a slightly different Dream Theater era, with no overall continuity.

[@monozen8418]

1 kevin, 2 derek, 3 jordan....with the greatest respect for the three, excellent musicians, I'm not referring to the technique, but to the taste they put into each song.

[@mohammadbaidowi3964]

Definitely Kevin win the battle as he plays with his soul

[@ogsegasteve9430]

I was friendly with Howard Portnoy (Mike's dad). I would see him a couple times a year for about a 5 year window of my life. He knew i was a BIG DT fan and i had dropped in to say hello to Howard a few years after Kevin walked. We spoke of this and he mentioned that Mike had recently given him a tape of new music that Kevin had given him and asked if i would be interested in having it (because as Howard said, "what am i going to do with it?"). That tape blew my mind. it was SO different from anything heard on DT albums up through Awake, but clearly Kevin...atmospheric, emotional and experimental. I say this as those are traits i have never ascribed to Jordan. Jordan is very good but i never felt MOVED by his material (at all) while Kevin's always hits me on an emotional level. Guess thats the difference between form and function.

[@arth7122]

Kevin Moore!

[@lebrato6779]

Don´t forget taht Moore made OSI. Fantastic project.

[@rodolfotheviking]

The winner is: Kevin Moore \m/

[@NobunagaHyde]

KEVIN MOORE

[@rjordist4925]

where is kevin moore now? what's the name of his band now?

[@rizz7604]

OSI

[@flintwolf3951]

chroma key, OSI is a project he did with jim mattheos from fates warning

[@rawalshadab3812]

I prefer Kevin's stuff to current-era Dream Theater to be honest. It's got more heart to it. And I'm talking about OSI, Kevin Moore solo stuff and Chroma Key

[@prateemlahkar7622]

One's an artist by nature, the other is a music consultant by nature. Both awesome in their own right. When it comes to Dream Theater, its always gonna be Moore for me. Sadly he left

[@DM-st5mo]

For me it is Keving best ... Because technique and speed do not make the music better.

[@abhijitlamsoge]

Kevin Moore. This is no battle. It pretty clear.

[@CaseyMoo1]

I love Jordan. I think Derek really had some nice subtle melodic ideas that I really enjoyed a bit more this go around though. I would like to hear Cory Henry take a stab at this.

[@igorsoares9206]

Mister Jordan Rudess

[@stephen_lamonica_bass_covers]

No competition at all. Kevin Moore wins both. Much more melodic and soulful. Jordan is so stiff and robotic and just tries to cram too much/be way too flashy whereas Kevin carefully picked every note and phrasing

[@rbeforme]

Rudess can literally accomplish anything and deliver an amazing product musically with his instrument, 100% of the time. And, he's LOYAL, to boot. It doesn't get better than Jordan Rudess. He's the best keyboard player in rock, of all time. Not even an opinion.

[@siccbastard4580]

Hey man can you do me a favor and tell me the name of the song in the beggining??

[@johnanthonyp]

I would argue Keith Emerson was the best. His hand independence, compositional skills and complexity was second to none in rock. Watch his left hand playing in any footage on youtube.

[@leonardovmusic]

Again, both genius. But if I have to choose, I would go with Jordan.

[@carlorossetti86]

Kevin has written Space Dye Vest. Stop.

[@viktornei]

And now what?

[@santyrush]

I love all, but my prefer is Derek Sherinian...he is amazing playing..

[@dhanipianist]

With blown mind monster lead, he is totally rock

[@yuda160493]

both are genius, rudess for the complicated melodies, moore for the fulfill feeling melodies

[@David22232]

Kevin Moore the best for me👍👍

[@ArisAlamanos]

Burning My Soul is with Sherinian for fuck's sake...

[@michaelbugliosi735]

that's the point. might as well include the middle man in the music between the battles!

[@dhanipianist]

Kevin moore for sure. I come to listen the music, not to see circus.

[@text-alignryousuke2607]

Yeah... that's right 😂👍

[@josuasitinjak7820]

Kevin Moore...

[@barryadunn7551]

Kudos to Rudess, he does not play like a replacement. Having said that, Kevin Moore just fits the the earlier DT stuff better. I often compare him to John Lord. Not for the style, but for the way they each complimented the band they were in. I mean seriously, to be noticed for your keyboard skills in a band with Ritchie Blackmore or John Petrucci is astonishing.

[@MrJimboliya]

preffised with the Derek Sherinian intro.............nice touch lol

[@zakariahlafreniere1332]

“Rudess solo (shitting) on Ytsejam exposes his poor note choice (counterpoint) and lack of taste. Stay away from Juilliard.” -Kevin Moore

[@ayumustika8126]

It's not fair to compared jordan against moore solo writed by kevin moore...you should compare moore style in ytsejam vs jordan style in the dance of eternity....

[@JavierRodriguez-ou7yy]

Derek sherinian

[@viktornei]

Rudess' musical experience spreads wide for more than four decades by now, and honestly there's no wonder why he's blended so well with Dream Theater. The deliverance of his keyboard works on every Dream Theater album he's in are always solid, technically complete, and emotionally supported. The influence of Keith Emerson is also felt each time he plays. Kevin More on the other hand, was less proficient as a musician, had less instrumental facility, and was technically incomplete. However, he was a good composer for the band, wrote the lyrics for Light Fuse and Get Away, Pull Me Under, Only a Matter of Time, wrote by himself songs like Wait for Sleep, Surrounded, 6:00, and Space-Dye Vest. As mych as I appreciate Kevin Moore's musical contribution but in general Ruddess is a no brainer to me. In the spectrum of musical emotions I think Rudess is way more various than Moore. If you listen to Moore's keyboards phrases you may hear that they're always pretty sullen, even if these are supposed to be fast and aggressive keyboard solos, More is weirdly soft and careful as if he's scared to make a mistake. So I will pick Rudess.

[@hablom1977]

Dream Theater was so cool in the 90's.. no youtube back then. I bought all the cd's I could get.

[@leonardomaurizio]

Absolutely Rudess, come on. His keytar solos are just unbeliavable, he's technically number one

[@RedShiftingTheOcean]

moore wins hands down! much more feeling, groove and better sounds.

[@ainulhafidzah5380]

What you hope/expect JR? he just play ambulance and vorijer effect. Kevin Moore very more junior(jr)

[@nebilm8947]

We dont say that here

[@somemass472]

In Itse Jam, I liked Rudess' interpretation better, but hated his tone. Coulda been the mixer though.

[@josephkhawlhring2134]

Jordan is wizard in today world.. The most influential solo from DT is from Moore..

[@Zakariah1971]

Opening solo is Derek shittingagain duh

[@jimbometal1734]

definitely, one of them has hair ....

[@David22232]

Moore👍👍

[@Mahavishnu80]

DT missed melody and harmony since Kevin left. They tried to replace it with technique and heaviness and sucked.

[@iser1974]

Kevin Moore!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@iser1974]

Kevin Moore!!!!!

[@klebermathias122]

A vinheta de início é o Sherinian

[@virtueorvice]

This video is a good example of the way Jordan Rudess ruins Kevin Moore solos. Disrespecting of him to be such a jerk when playing Kevin Moore solos.

[@garycast]

haha, I love this, checking the comments, obviously there is not way to compare two of them but I will have to say I like more the Idea of Moore and the sounds but I have a huge respect for Mr Rudess, the fact I love is that Sherinian is not in the map, I don't like dream while this guy, and I like better the old DT, thanks for the post

[@peterohlsson7604]

Kevin Moore all the way! Jordan was great on Scenes from New York, then he got his own will and screwed up every solo he haven’t written him self.

[@alajononon]

There's some variables that make the comparison biased. They were a bigger outfit post K-Mo. JR fits in great with their new balls out technical stuff but Kev can do so much more with less as evidenced by the video. Having said that, technical keys just don't seem to be his thing, anymore. His editing and beat making has been awesome in his newer stuff, though. Some of the newer OSI songs have this chill falling rain beat to them.

[@baskill0982]

Kevin for me!

[@danielmoreira4981]

Moore is for Rudess, just as Portnoy is for Mangini

[@herinhoherao7775]

Kevin Moore

[@RajuAhmed-jk7ub]

Kevin Moore is Awsome

[@David22232]

Forever Moore👍

[@emanuele-tolomei]

kevin is the best keyboard composer of all time. stop

[@高小贱]

pleas，no.1 song is Derek play