![Adventures of Stratospheerius: All-Music Guide [2003]](https://joedeninzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/allmusic1.jpg)
by Joe Deninzon | Mar 29, 2003 | Adventures of Stratospheerius, Reviews
Released under the name of Joe Deninzon, this album is by the same group who released Electric Blue under the moniker of Stratospheerius. The group of musicians on the album are Deninzon (who quite capably handles multiple duties, the most prominent of which are violin and vocals), Scott Chasolen, Grisha Alexiev, Rufus Philpot, DJ Big Wiz, and guitarist Alex Skolnick (Attention Deficit, Testament). In Adventures in the Stratospheerius, they have produced a very intriguing album that combines some quite disparate musical styles. The group’s music includes elements of fusion, jam rock, and even down-home hoe-down Southern rock. While that combination sounds pretty odd on paper, it really makes for an exciting album and a great listening experience. ~ Gary Hill, All Music Guide
![Adventures of Stratospheerius: All About Jazz [2002]](https://joedeninzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/all_about_jazz.jpg)
by Joe Deninzon | Nov 1, 2002 | Adventures of Stratospheerius, Reviews
The Adventures Of Stratospheerius
By Glenn Astarita
Violinist Joe Deninzon boasts some impressive credentials! He’s performed with soul/pop icon Smokey Robinson, rock/pop diva Sheryl Crow, and others of note. This Russian born, Cleveland Ohio bred artist displays hearty doses of flair and dazzle throughout this somewhat asymmetrical outing. Featuring electric guitar maestro Alex Skolnick and a strong backing band, the violinist launches the proceedings with a snappy, jazz-fusion motif on the opening number, “What’s That Thang?” The musicians also explore balladry and funk-grooves in concert with Skolnick’s crunch chords and a few folksy movements. At times, notions of the Mahavishnu Orchestra emerge. A passable vocalist, Deninzon’s expressiveness provides a rock-crooner style edge to several tracks.
No doubt, Mr. Deninzon possesses monster chops, whereas many of these pieces feature tricky rhythmic maneuvers amid his electrifying violin passages. But, the overly compressed sonic qualities elicit a rather dated or perhaps antiquated sound. Otherwise, Deninzon possesses the compulsory goods to become a major force in the progressive rock and jazz-fusion arenas.
Track Listing: 1.What’s That Thang? 2.Pleasurepain 3.Peppermint Patty 4.Hindsight 5.Hope Alive 6.StoryTime 7.Sun Goes Down 8.Contusion 9.Ants In The Pants 10.Rise 11.Nefertiti 12.Chunga Changa
Personnel: Joe Deninzon: electric & acoustic violin, vocals, mandolin – Alex Skolnick: guitar – Scott Chasolen: keyboards – Rufus Philpot: electric bass – DJ Big Wiz: turntables – Dave Archer: keyboards – Chris Karlic: bass clarinet, baritone saxophone – Grisha Alexiev: drums – Annette Argentine Aguillar: percussion – Jann Klose: backup vocals – Joe Tomino: drums – Matt Murphy: backup vocals – Daniel Sadownick: percussion
Style: Fusion/Progressive Rock
![Cleveland Scene [August 2002]](https://joedeninzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2002/08/Cleveland_Scene_logo_-_no_tagline.gif)
by Joe Deninzon | Aug 29, 2002 | Articles
Roll Over Beethoven: Violinist Joe Deninzon spikes classical sounds with raucous rock and roll. Quick: Name three rock violinists. If you’re a ’60s person, you might remember Jerry Goodman of the Flock, and Jean-Luc Ponty is an obvious choice (though he’s more jazz than rock). But who else is there?
![Toledo Blade [April 2002]](https://joedeninzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2002/04/blade1.jpg)
by Joe Deninzon | Apr 27, 2002 | Articles
Joe Deninzon, who has been hailed as the “Jimi Hendrix of the electric violin,” brings his unique musical vision to Mickey Finn’s on Saturday in support of his latest release, The Adventures of Stratospheerius…
![Electric/Blue: Cadence Magazine [1998]](https://joedeninzon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cadence.jpg)
by Joe Deninzon | Dec 29, 1998 | Electric/Blue, Reviews
Electrification of instruments is hardly unusual, although not many play the electric 6-string violin as JOE DENINZON does. His album Electric Blue (Wilbert’s Blues records) is a mixture of jazz, rock, fusion, and numerous other styles, although there is ample improvisation to tilt the scale towards jazz. His duet to sextet groupings revolve around Joe Hunter, keyboard; Mark Gonder, drums; Jeremy Bleich, bass; Dallas Coffey, bass; Ricardo Flores, percussion; Kenny Anderson, tenor sax; Winton Reynolds, piano, Erik Unsworth, bass; Ryan Brown, drums, Tony Pulizzi, guitar. With the exception of a Monk piece, Deninzon wrote all the selections, and all are amplified and spirited tunes (Shock Therapy/In Stride/Well You Needn’t/Bluzak/Acid Rabbits/The Dark Frontier/ An Evening Nap in the Afternoon Sun/Oasis. 51:55). Hunter appears on almost all selections. His keyboard romps are typically wild and wooly, which is just the ticket to keep up with Deninzon. Together, they fan most of the flames of these hotly played tunes. The music touches all bases, infusing swing, Gypsy, Latin, and several Jazz periods with rock-based riffs. It truly is a fusion of multiple music types. Although Zappa and Hendrix made Deninzon’s hero list, so did Beethoven, Coltrane, Grappelli, and Stuff Smith. You will hear the influences of all these guys, so you see why his music is a quilt of many colors. He is not suffering from an identity crisis. He simply wants to be different.
