Fort Wayne, IN – Sweetwater, the No. 1 online retail destination for music gear in the U.S., will host Jordan Rudess's fourth annual Keyfest from Thursday, May 30, to Saturday, June 1 at their
Fort Wayne, IN – Sweetwater, the No. 1 online retail destination for music gear in the U.S., will host Jordan Rudess's fourth annual Keyfest from Thursday, May 30, to Saturday, June 1 at their campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The event features keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Rudess (Dream Theater) as well as special guest artists David Rosenthal (Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Rainbow) and Latin jazz pianist Otmaro Ruiz (John McLaughlin, John Patitucci).
During the three-day interactive gathering, participants will attend workshops led by Rudess, Rosenthal, and Ruiz on essential skills ranging from the art of soloing, keyboard technique, sound design, music apps, improvisation and more. Evenings will include intimate concerts, instructor-led jams and master classes.
“Besides all of the learning that happens during the workshops, the best part of the past three KeyFests was just having the chance to hang out with other keyboardists, share our musical ideas and geek out together,” Rudess said. “Sweetwater is the ultimate musical instrument store, so it’s the perfect setting for the ultimate keyboard gathering.”
Sweetwater Presents Prodigious Talent
Jordan Rudess is best for known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist for the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated prog rock band, Dream Theater. Voted "Best Keyboardist of All Time" by Music Radar magazine, Rudess got his start in music as a child prodigy when he attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music at age nine. As a teenager, Rudess switched from piano to synthesizers, and by 1994 he was voted "Best New Talent" by readers of Keyboard magazine. Renowned for his unique fusion of classical technique and influences with rock sensibilities, Rudess has since earned his ranking amongst prog-rock keyboard royalty.
In addition to Dream Theater, Rudess has also worked with a wide range of artists, including David Bowie, Enrique Iglesias, Liquid Tension Experiment, Steven Wilson, and