AN EVENING WITH JOHN PETRUCCI AND JORDAN RUDESS

First off, I'm a huge fan of instrumental music, but I'm not too fond of live music (at least when I'm not there in person). That being said, this is just a superb album for me. I think it will be for you too, if you are prepared for what to expect. In essence, this is two extraordinarily talented musicians who demonstrate excellent interplay. We all knew about Rudess' and Petrucci's dexterity from Dream Theater, but here they show a delicateness and flair that I don't hear in DT albums.

I won't go into each track, but suffice it to say that they all are quite excellent, though if you aren't into a guitar/piano duet, then they may seem incredibly similar to each other. I can't say enough about how Petrucci and Rudess are excellent musicians, and here they manage to show their virtuosity without jamming into your face, as in some DT albums. Petrucci moves effortlessly between guitar sustains and flamenco/shred style, and Rudess shows that he is an amazing pianist: just because you have the capability to play a synth lead (as in DT), you don't have to beat it to death. Keys are best as background most of the time, coming to the front for the occasional killer melody or refrain, as expertly demonstrated here.

Again, I'm not usually into live albums, as I think they usually represent a way for bands to make easy money; however, I'm thrilled to have a glimpse as to what Petrucci and Rudess attempted here. If you get irritated by the excesses of Dream Theater, but also wish to hear these two musicians cut loose (without fear of being drowned out by Portnoy or Labrie), then this is the album for you!