Press/Bio
Joe Deninzon has been hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin,” because of his innovative style on the “Viper” seven-string electric violin.
Most recently, he became electric violinist/backup vocalist/rhythm guitarist for the legendary rock band, Kansas. Joe is also the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius, which has just released their 6th album, “Behind the Curtain (Live at ProgStock) to critical acclaim.
Joe has performed and/or recorded with the Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Skolnick, Smokey Robinson, Les Paul, Peter Criss (KISS), Michael Sadler (Saga), Renaissance with Annie Haslam, Kurt Elling, and as a soloist with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the New York City Ballet.
He can be heard on over a hundred albums and jingles as a violinist and string arranger. A BMI Composer’s Grant recipient and winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, he has composed solo and chamber works for violinist Rachel Barton Pine, and in 2015, premiered his Electric Violin Concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.
Joe has also worked with the Sweet Plantain String Quartet, which combines Latin Jazz with hip-hop and Classical music, and has toured throughout Europe and the U.S.
Joe has made annual appearances performing at the Grand Canyon Music Festival with renowned harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio.
A passionate educator, in 2007, Joe co-founded the Grand Canyon School of Rock, an annual music program for local high school students in Northern Arizona. Joe is a faculty member at the New Jersey City University Multi-Style Strings Program. He travels worldwide as a clinician and has contributed articles to Strings Magazine, Downbeat, American String Teachers Journal, and Making Music Magazine. In 2012, Mel Bay published Joe’s book, “Plugging In.” Joe has taught at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, Mark O’Connor String Camp, “Strings Without Boundaries,” and “Fiddle Hell,” and has presented multiple workshops at the American String Teachers National Conference.
Chris Haigh’s book, “Discovering Rock Violin,” lists one of Joe’s recorded solos among the “Top 20 greatest rock violin solos of all time.”
Joe holds a Bachelors degree in Violin Performance from Indiana University and a Masters in Jazz Violin From Manhattan School of music.
He resides in New Jersey with his wife Yulia Ziskel, violinist with the New York Philharmonic, and their two children, Max and Arianna.
Photo by Adam Brett Schnee
Press Contact
Management/Publicity: Anne Leighton
anneleighton.com
anne@anneleighton.com
718-881-8183
P.O. Box 670922
Bronx, New York 10467
U.S.A
To book Joe for a residency, clinic, masterclass or performance, please email info@joedeninzon.com.
Press Clippings
Joe Deninzon interview for Learn Violin/ Progressive Rock Central
<a href="http://learnviolin.biz/1402/stratospheric-violins-progressive-rock-central-com-learn-violin/">http://learnviolin.biz/1402/stratospheric-violins-progressive-rock-central-com-learn-violin/</a> Stratospheric Violins | Progressive Rock Central.com |...
Joe Deninzon interview for New York Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/article/q-a-with-joe-deninzon-of-stratospheerius by Suzanne Rothberg You might not have heard of the band Stratospheerius. It’s a rather unusual name for a rock ‘n’ roll band. But if you’reJoe Deninzon who has led an interesting life as the...
The Next World review by John Wilcox for Progsheet.com
John Wilcox Progsheet review The Next World 5/11/12 http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/cdrz.html Stratospheerius - The Next World... (Fiddlefunk Music) Take violinist / vocalist Joe Deninzon, add guitarist Aurelien Budynek, bassist Jamie Bishop, and...
The Next World review by Angel Romero for Progressiverockcentral.com
http://progressiverockcentral.com/2012/05/04/a-superbly-gifted-violinist/ A Superbly Gifted Violinist BY ANGEL ROMERO – MAY 4, 2012POSTED IN: CD REVIEWS Stratospheerius - The Next World Stratospheerius The Next World (Digital Nations, 2012) A...
"Electrifying Your Violin!" Article for Making Music Magazine by Joe Deninzon
Electrify Your Violin Plug In, Rock Out, and Expand Your Horizons! by Joe Deninzon A few years ago, I was asked to teach intermediate violin and beginning improvisation in the continuing education department at the New School University in New York City. Many of the...
The Next World Review: LET IT ROCK – DME Music Site
Have you ever been to electric violin land? A master of four-string wonder crystallizes his vision Over the five years that have passed since Joe Deninzon carved a personal niche in the rock domain with his band's debut, "Headspace", he made forays into jazz territory...