9. July 2025
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Jordan Rudess – Permission To Fly

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Jordan Rudess - Permission To Fly

Jordan Rudess - Permission To Fly
3.9

Rating

 3.9/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Great instrumental performance
  • Very intense, atmospheric songs

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Some tracks feel to long

Jordan Rudess is looking back to an amazing musical career (so far). The US-American artist, originally from New York City, released a new album on 6th September 2024. Here is my review of Permission To Fly.

 

Jordan Rudess – About The Artist

Jordan Charles Rudess was born on 4th November 1956. He is majorly known as member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Rudess is also part of the instrumental supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment. However, he is also doing classical and new age music as a keyboardist and composer. The list of his solo releases is rather long, starting with his 1988 album Arrival. In 2023, he released his last studio album so far, Piano & Orchestra. He also appeared in a large number of releases as a guest musician.

 

Jordan Rudess – Permission To Fly – Track by Track

The nine track album lasts 55 minutes. There is also a version with two additional bonus tracks.

1. The Final Threshold

Permission To Fly kicks off with The Final Threshold. There is no slow start, Rudess, is hitting the keys in fast melodic lines and thus shows his instrumental excellence. The first minute of this four minute song feels rather bombastic, before the sound breaks down and the opener turns into a fine, dreaming melody with fine, almost kitschy vocals.

2. Into The Lair

By the way, the four minute opener has been one of the “shorties” of that album. The second song already comes with a very different “caliber”. Into The Lair is a 9:32 minute listen. A fine piece of progressive rock, which of course has a lot of time to play with different styles and present a nice dramatic plot. Just when the virtuous instrumental parts feel a bit too long, he is adding a vocal section. This leads to a very elaborate and entertaining time with this song.

3 .Haunted Reverie

They keyboard, which sounds more like an ordinary piano in here, leads into the Haunted Reverie. That Joe Payne, who is taking over the vocal duties on the album, feels warm and emotional in the slow parts, but also adds some adrenaline in the faster sections. The song has a nice flow, but here and there, it could be a bit more crisp as well.

4 .The Alchemist

With over eight and a half minutes, The Alchemist is the second epic track of the album. It also opens a set of three songs, which fans were able to listen to already. The track nicely shows that Payne is an excellent choice for the microphone part, he is creating a lot of the ease of the listen. The song is leaning towards being a bit too virtuous, too heavy. However, if you love instrumental music and especially love complex keyboard lines, Jordan Rudess and his performance will be a treaty by itself for you.

5 .Embers

The first part of the fifth track rather leans towards a ballad. However, it does strike with rather fast moving melodic lines and present drumming. The vocal part is just adding a lot of this emotional touch. Just when the instruments feel to become too romantic, the guitars (by Steve Dadaian and Bastian Martinez) take some of their claim. Nonetheless, enjoy your emotions in here for four minutes!

6. Shadow of the Moon

Shadow of the Moon feels rather dramatic in the first 30 seconds. Thereafter, though, the song rather leans towards a rock ballad. As you just started being emotional with the predecessor track, you may continue with that. You might also miss that the song could be a bit more compact. However, the chorus is one of the best of the album – so you might this one as well.

7. Eternal

The guitar riff intro of the nine minute track Eternal rather reminds of Rudess’ metal years. However, the synth-alike keyboard lines adds a certain level of playfulness and ease. Unfortunately, some part of that instrumental collaboration feel to get slightly out of control. If you wait for Payne’s voice, you may skip the first 2:30 minutes. With the introduction of the vocal part, the song also gains a more interesting listening experience.

8. Footstep in the Snow

Footstep in the Snow is a four minute long, rather slow track. I have to state that I enjoy listening to it, without really getting into the song. It is nice, fine, but also not catching enough to give it full attention.

9. Dreamer

Dreamer is the last track of the “ordinary” Permission To Fly album (without bonus tracks). With fundamental string sounds at the beginning, the song definitely has a stronger catch than its predecessor. A very atmospheric and hymnic finale.

 

Jordan Rudess – Permission To Fly – Spotify

Hree is Permission To Fly on Spotify:

 

Jordan Rudess – Permission To Fly – My View

You just cannot deny instrumental excellence and strong, atmospheric listens in Permission To Fly. However, Jordan Rudess and his band mates pushed a bit too much for it in multiple occasions. Thus, the average listener might go for the skip button here and there, which is a shame.

Favorite Song: Into The Lair

 

Dream Theater – 40th Anniversary Tour

I haven’t found any Jordan Rudess solo gigs in Europe, but Dream Theater are just about to set sails and play their anniversary tour:

Su 20.10.2024 London (United Kingdom) – The O2
Tu 22.10.2024 Berlin (Germany) – Uber Eats Music Hall
We 23.10.2024 Cologne – Palladium
Fr 25.10.2024 Milan (Italy) – Unipol Forum
Sa 26.10.2024 Rome – Palazzo Dello Sport
Mo 28.10.2024 Munich (Germany) – Zenith
Tu 29.10.2024 Zagreb (Croatia) – Arena Zagreb
We 30.10.2024 Bratislava (Slovakia) – Incheba Expo Arena
Fr 01.11.2024 Budapest (Hungary) – Budapest Arena
Sa 02.11.2024 Prague (Czechia) – Fortuna Arena
Su 03.11.2024 Lodz (Poland) – Atlas Arena
We 06.11.2024 Espoo (Finland) – Espoo Metro Arena
Fr 08.11.2024 Stockholm (Sweden) – Waterfront Congress Center Sold out
Sa 09.11.2024 Oslo (Norway) – Spektrum
Su 10.11.2024 Copenhagen (Denmark) – Poolen
Tu 12.11.2024 Esch-Sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) – Rockhal
We 13.11.2024 Zurich (Switzerland) – The Hall
Th 14.11.2024 Lyon (France) – Halle Tony Garnier
Sa 16.11.2024 Lisbon (Portugal) – Meo Arena
Su 17.11.2024 Madrid (Spain) – La Cubierta de Leganes
We 20.11.2024 Stuttgart (Germany) – Liederhalle
Th 21.11.2024 Frankfurt – Jahrhunderthalle
Sa 23.11.2024 Paris (France) – Adidas Arena
Su 24.11.2024 Amsterdam (Netherlands) – AFAS Live

 

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