Joe Deninzon interview with Pete Devine from Pete’s Rock News & Views


https://joedeninzonstratospheerius.bandcamp.com/album/guilty-of-innocence-lp

Photo by Adam Brett Schnee
GREETINGS!
JD here getting back in the swing of things. Hope you’r summer was fulfilling and full of beauty and discovery.
I’ve had a whirlwind summer! Here are some highlights:
-June 28th: Performing with legendary rapper 50 Cent at Radio City Music Hall in June for the Season 5 premier of his show, Power.
-July 9-16: Returning once again to a place that never ceases to inspire me as an artist and teacher; the Mark Wood Rock Rock Orchestra Camp Music Festival in Olathe, KS, followed by another clinic/performance at Vance Music in Wichita. Thanks to Mark Wood, Laura Kaye, all my colleagues, Rex, Marissa, and the whole Vance family.
-July 22: Performing once again at Vail Jazz Festival in Vail, CO with the amazingly talented Mark Diamond-bass, Dru Heller-drums, and Justin Allison-guitar. Thank you to Roger Stone for having me back!
-August: Returning for the 18th year to the Grand Canyon Music Festival teaching at School of Rock and performing with renowned harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio and my partner in crime, guitarist Steve Benson. Thanks to local musicians Brian Stone on drums, and bassist John Vail and our dear friend Bentley Monk for being essential to the School of Rock Program.

Photo by Heather Cobb Isbell

Melodic Revolution Records is pleased to announce that Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius will release the LP of their highly acclaimed fifth album “Guilty of Innocence” a year after the official CD release via Melodic Revolution Records. The ten-track LP will include a download card of the album and will join the already released CD and Digital album.
Pre-Orders of the Guilty of Innocence LP are exclusively available via the Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Bandcamp https://joedeninzonstratospheerius.bandcamp.com/…/guilty-of… Along with the CD and Digital album.

We will be celebrating our Vinyl release/kicking off the PROGSTOCK weekend on Thursday, October 4th with a SONC VOYAGES show at the SHRINE with 3 incredible bands: Ryche Chlanda and Flying Dreams, 2 Birds Band, and Book of Harmony!
https://www.facebook.com/events/292911334631639/
Stratospheerius is honored and thrilled performing a very special midnight party at ProgStock Festival, North America’s newest Progressive Rock Festival.

ProgStock 2018 is a 3-day music festival that takes place October 5-7, 2018.
It starts at 3 PM on October 5, and runs through 11 PM October 7 at the Union County Performing Arts Center Rahway, NJ.
Music and astounding performances will grace the stage for three days. World-class musicians and fans hailing from many countries throughout the world will gather to play and enjoy time with one another. Located near Newark Int’l Airport and New York City, it’s a quick train ride right into Rahway on NJ Transit from Penn Station or the airport!
Visit ProgStock.com for all the details you could ever need!
ProgStock 3-Day Pass: Enjoy ProgStock 2018 for all 3 days from one of the best seats in the house! Choose your favorite seat within our amazing theater at an unbelievably low price…and act fast, because these 3-day passes will only be available until September 11, 2018!
$195 for orchestra/loge, $165 for mezzanine.
On September 11, 2018 at 12PM, single-day passes will become available.
Ticket URL: http://www.progstock.com/2018/tickets-donations/
https://www.facebook.com/events/164321484245827/
STRATOSPHERERIUS is:
Joe Deninzon-electric violin/lead vocals
Jason Gianni-drums
Michaelangelo Quirinale-guitar
Paul Ranieri-bass

This past April, I had the pleasure of doing a residency/solo live looping performance at the University of Champaign Urbana, on the invitation of professor Rudolph Haken, who is an incredible Viper player/composer in his own right. I am honored that Mr. Hacken is taking the time to learn my 30-minute “Dream Diary” Electric Violin concerto, and will be performing it on Thursday, October 25th at a solo recital on the Intrepid in NYC! Here is a link with all the info about the concert, below which is a highlights reel from the world premier of the concert in 2015 with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra user the baton of Maestro Douglas Droste.
https://with.illinois.edu/new-york-city-with-illinois-campaign-celebration/


Sweet Plantain is excited to once again join the legendary Annie Haslam and Renaissance for a Symphonic Journey on Saturday, Nov 17th at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.
315 White Horse Pike. Collingswood, NJ
https://www.facebook.com/events/495233144213222/
Look for the upcoming LIVE DVD release of our performance at Keswick Theater last year, available soon at: http://renaissancetouring.com
Sweet Plantain is:
Joe Deninzon/Eddie venegas-violin
Orlando Wells-viola
Leo Grinhauz-cello

“…all of the music is highly melodic, and just so damn enjoyable to listen to. It is polished, it is powerful, and I find it impossible to listen to it without moving some part of my body. This is infectious, with no cure in sight. The arrangements are tight, everyone bounces off each other, and is one of the most poptastic progressive album one is likely to come across.”
“Guilty of Innocence is an album that should please fans of hard and heavy jazz-funk, but the enthusiastic progressive rock fan should also find much to enjoy in it too.”
“Being called the Jimi Hendrix of the electric violin is something Deninzon can be very proud of and he showcases this and more of his talent on his latest release onGuilty of Innocence. The sheer mastery of the instruments and in particular the violin of Deninzon himself is remarkable!”
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/2018-023

I am proud to announce that I recently signed a deal with the wonderful Lynne Latham and Ludwig Masters, which will be publishing my sheet music. Here are the first two offerings: old warhorses from the early days of Stratospheerius, adapted for solo violin and string quartet.

A hard-rockin’ solo for violin and accompaniment CD. Accessible to advanced intermediate students who want to escape the classical box, but has plenty of pedagogical points too!
CD features Jason Gianni on drums, Aurelien Budynek on guitar, and Jamie Bishop on bass
If you buy the video and play it, please post photo/video/audio on social media with #playshocktherapy
Here’s a video of Stratospheerius playing an excerpt of the song:

This one is not for the meek, but will certainly impress your audience! In a “swunk” style, a combination of swing and funk, the quartet is featured individually with written out solos for all (of course you can improvise your own, with changes in the parts).
If you buy the video and play it, please post photo/video/audio on social media with #playthatthang!
You can hear Sweet Plantain performing it at 7:20 in this video:
Peace and love,
-JD
www.joedeninzon.com
www.stratospheerius.com
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Photo by Adam Brett Schnee
I’ve been fortunate to have some incredible experiences over the past few months, and I’m excited about all the great things cooking up this summer!
In March, I presented two clinics at the annual National ASTA (American String teachers Association) Conference in Atlanta: The first was called “Finding the Hook: What’s in a Riff” with my illustrious colleagues Dave Wallace (Head of String Dept at Berklee), and cellist Sean Grissom. The second was a repeat performance of my “Stomp box sound design/sonic architecture” class, titled “3D ROCK!”
In April, I travelled to the University of Champagne Urbana under the invitation of Professor Rudolf Haken, to give a masterclass and lecture on alternative techniques and career opportunities for electric/improvising string players. The day finished off with a 90 minute solo performance at the Krannert Center. This was my first 90-minute solo show, featuring some of my own compositions as well as music by Tracy Silverman, Mark O’Connor, David Wallace, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, The Police, Chick Corea, and more! Thanks to D’Addario Strings for co-sponsoring the residency.
You can see the whole performance here:
Late April-May saw some amazing Stratospheerius performances at DROM in NYC, Olive’s in Nyack, NY, Sherlock’s in Erie, PA, Mojo’s in Jamestown, NY, and Gold Sound in Bushwick, NY, along side some killer bands like 2Birds, Edensong, Liquid Nixon, Eric Brewer, Thrilldriver, and Book of Harmony!

In May, Sweet Plantain once again joined forces with the legendary singer/artist Annie Haslam and Renaissance for their Symphonic Live Show at NJPAC! Look for the upcoming DVD release “Renaissance: A Symphonic Journey” LIVE at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA. For more info, visit: WWW.RENAISSANCETOURING.COM
We will be back with Renaissance on November 17th at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, NJ.
https://www.facebook.com/events/495233144213222/
Stratospheerius is psyched to announce that our latest album, “Behind the Curtain,” has climbed to #4 on the RELIX National Jamband Charts, right above Willie Nelson!
http://www.jambands.com/radio-charts/2018/05/29/roots-of-creation-returns-to-1
The latest video/single,”Behind the Curtain,” HAs just debuted at #72 on the European Indy Top 200!
http://www.euro200.net/IndieChart.htm
In addition, the album is on heavy rotation in over 140 stations nationwide and continues to garner rave reviews internationally! Here are a few of the latest:
“Some great ”wall of sound” guitars, dynamic bass and drums in evidence, fantastic soloing and great lead vocals!” https://www.proggnosis.com/Release/51090
“The sheer mastery of the instruments and in particular the violin of Deninzon himself is remarkable!”
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/2018-023
“This might very well be the best Stratospheerius album. The songs do such a great job of combining a real classic progressive rock ethos with sounds from other places in the musical spectrum!”
http://stringsmagazine.com/review-joe-deninzon-stratospheerius-guilty-of-innocence
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, GET YOUR COPY TODAY on MELODIC REVOLUTION RECORDS WEBSITE!!
We also have t-shirts and other merch available at https://stratospheerius.bandcamp.com/merch
We are honored to be included on the roster for the premier progressive rock festival in the Northeast, alongside a roster that includes such luminaries as Eddie Jobson, Dave Kerzner’s In Continuum, Enchant, and Tom Brislin!
See full schedule and buy your tickets HERE!
Stratospheerius is:
Joe Deninzon-electric violin/lead voclals/mandolin
Michaelangelo Quirinale-guitar
Randy McStine/Paul Ranieri-bass
Jason Gianni-drums

Friday, June 29th. 8 PM
TARANTATA-SPIDER DANCE!
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave. NYC
For more info, please visit: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10298656

I am looking forward to returning once again to teach and perform at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp Music Festival at MIdAmerica Nazarene university in Olathe, KS. Mark Wood is the inventor and designer of my weapon of choice, the 7-string “Viper” Electric Violin. he is a trailblazer in the world of electric strings, both as a player and builder of instruments. This camp is the only one in the world focused on the performance and gear of electric bowed stringed instruments! All vocalists/instrumentalists are welcome! I cannot express the love and camaraderie that exists among the students, my fellow faculty, and myself. It is truly an extended family. Come and be a part of this very special week!!
REGISTER NOW at WWW.MWROC.COM!!!
To Give you a taste of the magic of this week, here are two videos from recent years: One of me performing “Black Hole Sun” with Haydn Vitera, and a phenominal rendition of Metallica’s “To Live is TO Die” with a Viper String Section lead by Chuck Bontrager and Dave Wallace.
I am excited to be returning once again to Wichita, KS to do an improv workshop and give a one-hr solo performance for local aspiring musicians.
Sunday, July 15th, 2018M
Mt. Vernon Presbytarean Church
3700 E Mount Vernon St, Wichita, KS 67218
For more information, please visit: www.vancemusic.com
I am honored to be invited by the Vail Jazz Society to perform at this awesome weekly series in downtown Vail, CO with three of Colorado’s greatest jazz musicians!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THIS LINK: https://www.vailjazz.org/vail-jazz-festival/vail-jazz-at-the-market/

For the 18th year,I will once again be returning to one of my favorite places on Earth, the Grand Canyon, for the annual Grand Canyon Music Festival. Performing at Shrine of the Ages (South Rim) with legendary harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio, with Steve Benson on Guitar. Friday, August 31st and Saturday, Sept 1st. 7:30 P.M.
For more information, visit: www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org
I also have the pleasure of working with Steve on the Grand Canyon School of Rock program I co-founded in 2006, where we put a band together and do 1 40 minute program with local high school kids. Truly one of the highlights of my year!

I am proud to announce that I recently signed a deal with the wonderful Lynne Latham and Ludwig Masters, which will be publishing my sheet music. Here are the first two offerings: old warhorses from the early days of Stratospheerius, adapted for solo violin and string quartet.

A hard-rockin’ solo for violin and accompaniment CD. Accessible to advanced intermediate students who want to escape the classical box, but has plenty of pedagogical points too!
CD features Jason Gianni on drums, Aurelien Budynek on guitar, and Jamie Bishop on bass
If you buy the video and play it, please post photo/video/audio on social media with #playshocktherapy
Here’s a video of Stratospheerius playing an excerpt of the song:

This one is not for the meek, but will certainly impress your audience! In a “swunk” style, a combination of swing and funk, the quartet is featured individually with written out solos for all (of course you can improvise your own, with changes in the parts).
If you buy the video and play it, please post photo/video/audio on social media with #playthatthang!
You can hear Sweet Plantain performing it at 7:20 in this video:

Seeing as one of my biggest missions in life is to teach string players how to groove, my friend and colleague, electric violin genius/composer/teacher Tracy Silverman has written an incredible book that dives into this topic and doesn’t come up for air! If you’re a string player, buy STRUM BOWING today! I was honored to have contributed a 2-page mini lesson to the book, along with my friend violinist/composer Earl Maneein and a bunch of other very cool people!

In May 0f 2016, I had the honor of sitting in as a guest artists with the awesome prog band Circuline at ROSfest at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, PA. Their new DVD, “LIVE MAJESTIK,” is now available! Order your copy HERE!
Peace and love,
-JD