Joe Deninzon-acoustic violin, electric 6-string violin, "Viper" fretted electric 7-string violin, vocals, mandolin, guitar.
Influences
Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen, the NY Mets, Yulia Ziskel, Bob Dylan, Igor Stravinsky, Maxim Vengerov, Led Zeppelin, Oz Noy, Screaming Headless Torsos, Dmitri Shostakovich, Dave Matthews, Steve Vai, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Radiohead, Yes, Prince, Kanye West, Queen, John Coltrane, Mack Price, Brazztree, Jann Klose, Rave Tesar, Zbignew Siefert, Didier Lockwood, Jean Luc Ponty, Stephane Grappelli, Mark Wood, System of a Down, Jon Mayer, Frank Sinatra, Simon Shahin, Stevie Wonder, The Police, Beethoven, Barack Obama, and all of my students.
Sounds Like
Jean Luc Ponty, Frank Zappa, Dave Matthews Band, Didier Lockwood, Screaming Headless Torsos, Oz Noy, Stephane Grappelli
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"HEADSPACE":
THE
NEW STUDIO ALBUM BY STRATOSPHEERIUS AVAILABLE
NOW
at these fine locations: GUITARNINE.COMWWW.HOMEGROWNMUSIC.NETWWW.CDBABY.COM www.stratospheerius.comwww.myspace.com/stratospheeriusHEADSPACE (2007)
Lead by electric violinist/vocalist/mandolinist Joe Deninzon,
Stratospheerius unleash their fourth collection of songs. Hot on the
heals of their acclaimed CD, "Live Wires", "Headspace" brings
their live
energy into the studio. Vocal rock anthems like "New Material, "Old
Ghosts", and "Today is Tomorrow", shout alongside ripping
instrumentals. From the bluegrass punk of "Gutterpunk Blues", to the
psychedelic roller
coaster ride of "Mental Floss", and the bigger and louder sequel to the
Heavy Metal Hora "Heavy Shtettle II". The disc also features a unique
cover of The Police "Driven to Tears". This CD is filled with
memorable
hooks alongside the death-defying instrumental jams the group has built
its reputation on. Influences range from Mahavishnu, Zappa and
Zeppelin, to Dave Matthews, Radiohead, Jeff Beck, and Bela Fleck.
"Fleshing out the Stratospheerius sound are: Out-of-this-world strings,
sultry guitar, rumbling basslines, frantic drumming, and
celebratory vocals that enunciate lyrical outlines of life. The songs
are gripping and energetic. Insistent melodies are made
compelling by the violin passion. Fevered solos are cradled
between
lyrical passages that tremble with breakout rock stamina. A Bayou
flavor lurks in several tracks, creating a strange fusion of bluesy
funk and progressive tendencies. The result is goodtime music that will
get you
dancing."
-Matt Howarth (Soniccuriosity.com)
Joe Deninzon
(WWW.JOEDENINZON.COM)
has established himself as a versatile, on-demand electric and acoustic violinist, mandolinist, guitarist, singer and composer. A musician who transcends many genres, he has recorded and performed with a variety of artists including Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Matthis, Les Paul, Phoebe Snow, Jane Monheit, and Robert Bonfiglio. He has appeared in Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist program, as a soloist with the New York Chamber Ensembles, has performed on MTV and at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and has played for former President Clinton. Joseph was a recent winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition with a song he contributed to the soundtrack for the film, What’s Up Scarlet (open City Entertainment). His music has been featured on CMT, VH1, ABC, Comedy Central Showbiz Show with David Spade, the Travel Channel, Food network, and National Geographic.
Mr. Deninzon has been hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin”, because of his innovative style on the electric six and seven-string violin and his compositions combining jazz, rock, and world music. He has been interviewed in hundreds of publications including Jazziz, Downbeat, and Relix magazine. Joe and his band, Stratospheerius (www.stratospheerius.com), have released four CD’s to international acclaim, and were named “Best Jam Band” in the Musician’s Atlas Independent Music Awards. The group has toured extensively and has developed a reputation for their explosive live performances.
In addition to his many diverse projects, Joe Deninzon has recently made his debut with the New York City Ballet performing “Red Angels”, based on “Maxwell’s Demon”; a piece for solo electric violin and dancers written by Richard Einhorn. Other highlights include annual performances at the Grand Canyon Music Festival, a live broadcast for CBC Radio from the Glenn Gould Theatre, and a performance at New York’s Symphony Space with legendary percussionists Jamie Hadaad (Paul Simon/Dave Liebman), Gordon Gottleib (Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder), and Allessandra Belloni.
The son of classical musicians, Joe was born in St. Petersburgh, Russia. His family emigrated to the United states when he was 4 years old and settled in Cleveland, OH, where his father took a job as a violinist with the renowned Cleveland Orchestra. Crowing up in Cleveland from the age of 5, Joe studied classical violin with his father and at the Cleveland Institute of Music. At age 12, he became obsessed with the music of Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, U2, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Steve Vai. Joe taught himself guitar and bass and started playing and singing with various bands in the Cleveland area.
At age 16, Joe saw Miles Davis on his final tour and was inspired to study jazz improvisation. His life was transformed when he first heard recordings of Stephane Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Around this time, local singer/songwriter Michael Stanley had seen Joe perform and asked him to join him onstage the legendary Front Row Theatre in Cleveland. Having only improvised on guitar and bass while keeping a strictly classical repertoire on the violin, Joe found that translating the musical language of jazz and rock to the violin came easy to him. The concert was a critically-acclaimed success, and set him on his path in life.
Joe received a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz and Classical violin at Indiana University, where he studied with the legendary violinist Josef Gingold (who also taught Joshua Bell, among other famous violinists) and jazz guru David Baker, and met his future wife Yulia Ziskel (www.yuliaziskel.com), who now plays with the New York Philharmonic.
In 1997, Joe moved to New York to pursue a Masters degree in Jazz at Manhattan School of Music.
Having scoured the sea of talent that exists in New York City, Joe assembled a world-class group of musicians to form Stratospheerius, which combines his diverse influences of jazz, funk, classical, and World Music, with his main passion; rock n roll.
He currently lives in Dumont, New Jersey with his wife and keeps a busy schedule as a session musician performer, teacher, and composer.
“As at home in the world of Grappelli and O'Connor as he is in the world of Steve Vai and Jimi Hendrix, Joe Deninzon may very well be our next national violin treasure.”
-Jedd Beaudoin (seaoftranquility.com)
We are very excited about playing at such an awesome jazz club. We have some great sets lined up for you, so don't miss it. Friday and Saturday November 20th and 21st, 5:00-8:30p at Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago
Aaron Koppel -Guitar, Matt Nelson; (Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Santos) -Keyboard, Graham Czach; (Chicago Afrobeat Project) -bass, Robert Tucker (Matthew Santos) -drums
If you have a band and would like to work in western central Massachusetts, I may be able to help book you. I started NC Booking back in '89 when I was booking a few bands from Scotland and Ireland. Now, 20 years later, I'm still booking great roots music acts. To find out more, visit http://northamptoncommunity.ning.com where you can REGISTER. Thanks!
Joe, it's been a while, hope things are fine, but I have a favor to ask you: I don’t know how this happened but I somehow got nominated for this... how metal - I know, but here ya go anyways, feel like voting for this metalhead? hehe (intructions on how are on my Profile) ...and - if you could mobilize & rev up some of your fellow VOTER forces, that would be way cool, cuz I gotta win! (2nd place is not good!) :) Thanx a bunch! PS. in case you'd be interesed - check it out, I finally gave in ...you can follow me around on www.Twitter.com/ArmandVio7 Ciao for now, - Armand
Hey, I'm going on tour this summer and was wondering if you could possibly help me book a show in your area. Such as venues or clubs in your area. Just trying to get it all set up now.
Joe, thank you for the gig info - I'll have to dig my teeth into that and I hear what you are saying - seems like nothing's changed - Motley Crew and Poison were running around with Staple guns... so, unless we don't wanna keep up those band habits like living in doors and eating at least 1x a day... - better get paid LOL ...Ciao, stay in touch, - Armand
