I am proud to announce the world premier of my “Dream Diary: Concerto for Seven-String Electric Violin and Orchestra” with Muncie Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 19th at 4 PM!
I will give a pre-concert talk about the piece at 3:00.
This performance takes place at Sursa Hall on the campus of Ball State University, 2000 W. University Ave., in Muncie, IN.
Tickets are $30 advance and $35 at door. They are $5 for students from Kindergarden through Senior High ages.
For more information, please call 800-382-8540 and 765-289-1241.
DREAM DIARY: CONCERTO FOR 7-STRING ELECTRIC VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA
Growing up as a classically trained violinist, I fell in love with rock and jazz at the age of 12, and my musical tree sprung new branches. While continuing my violin studies, I took up guitar and electric bass. In the late ’80s/early ’90s, the guitar hero reigned supreme in the rock world. Virtuosos such as Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, and Eric Johnson were highly revered. Every band had a guitarist who could “shred” and for one of the rare times in history, instrumental rock albums were on the Billboard charts. These guitar virtuosos influenced the way I approach the violin and were one of the reasons I started playing the electric violin. Dreams were a recurring theme in their music; Joe Satriani had a popular instrumental rock album titled “Flying in a Blue Dream, and Steve Vai’s “Passion and Warfare” was a huge influence.
In interviews, I read that Steve Vai kept a dream diary, writing down his dreams while they were still vivid when he woke up. He allowed those dreams to influence his compositions. Through my observations as a composer and songwriter, the best and easiest creations have come to me in my sleep or during a daydream, times when I was not fully conscious, as if someone or something was channeling them through me. I started a musical “dream diary” to write down melodies and themes that spontaneously came to me.
The DREAM DIARY concerto has a great deal of surreal imagery and is very dream-like. I researched the cycles of sleep, and thought it would be interesting to write a musical composition that loosely follows these different cycles. When you first fall asleep, you experience vivid sensations known as hypnagogic hallucinations. You are straddling the line between the real world and the dream world. There are sudden jerks of wakefulness followed by sensations of falling and/or flying. Hence the first movement is titled “Falling and Flying.” This movement is truly a tribute to the rock guitar albums of my youth.
The second movement, “Delta Waves,” represents a deeper stage of sleep where you are less likely to respond to outside noises and stimuli. The third is titled “Rapid Eye Movement,” the stage where most dreams occur, and the fourth is “Waking Dream,” when you are having the most vivid dreams, the ones that stay in your memory after you wake up. Although the music is loosely programatic, I leave the interpretation of the dreams being represented to the listener.
There have been some amazing concertos written for the electric violin, but I wanted to feature different effects and sonic textures I developed over the years while performing with my band, Stratospheerius, and show the rich palette of colors this instrument is capable of. I do this by incorporating distortion pedals, way, delay, loops, synths, whammies, and covering the range of the 7-string violin, who’s lowest note is a whole tone below cello range. The soloist plays in bass, alto, and treble clef.
Let me add that the opportunity to write and perform this concerto is a dream come true for me. If you are in or near Munice, IN on September 19th, and I hope to see you at the performance!
Joe Deninzon (www.joedeninzon.com) will be playing a seven-string “Viper” electric violin with the orchestra. Hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin” because of his innovative style on acoustic and electric seven-string violin, Joe transcends many genres. A 14-time BMI Jazz Composer’s grant recipient and winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, he recently was commissioned to write a solo piece for violinist Rachel Barton Pine that was premiered at Interlochen, MI. in June of 2015.
Joe is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock group Stratospheerius, which had its fifth album, THE NEXT WORLD released on Steve Vai’s Digital Nations. Joe is also a member of the Latin classical hip-hop string quartet, Sweet Plantain. His work as a violinist and string arranger can be heard on over 100 CDs and jingles. He has worked with Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Robert Bonfiglio, Les Paul and many other projects.
As an educator, Joe has taught rock violin at Mark O’Connor’s String Camp and Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp. In 2012, Mel Bay Publications released his book/CD/DVD, “PLUGGING IN” about electric violin technique and improvisation. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Violin Performance and Jazz Violin from Indiana University and a Master’s in Jazz/Commercial violin from Manhattan School of Music.
“Dream Diary: Concerto for Seven String Electric Violin and Orchestra,” was inspired, in part, by Joe’s roots in studying classical music and falling in love with ‘80s/‘90s guitar virtuosos such as Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt. Joe observes, “Dreams were a recurring theme in their music; Joe Satriani had a popular instrumental rock album titled ‘Flying in a Blue Dream.’”
Joe was further inspired by Steve Vai’s “Passion and Warfare” and the guitarist’s mention that he kept a dream diary, “writing down his dreams while they were still vivid when he woke up. He allowed those dreams to influence his compositions.”
Stating his best ideas come to him when he dreams (including daydreams), Joe’s “Dream Diary” concerto offers surreal imagery and is “very dream-like.” In the concerto, Joe also uses rock guitar effects on his violin such as distortion, delay, whammies, wah-wah, and loops.
Here is a recent interview Joe did with International Musician, where he discuses his latest projects, including the Concerto:
The Muncie Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra established in 1948. The Orchestra was formed to build community connections through music while giving Ball State University faculty and students an outlet to pursue musical excellence in performance. Over the years the MSO evolved and consists of approximately 80 musicians, including resident BSU music faculty and student and professional freelance musicians performing in a variety of orchestras in the Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois Tristate area.
The MSO seeks to provide its audience with rewarding musical experiences and to promote social exchange among attendees of the musical events. As an organization that celebrates the cultural vibrancy of the local communities, the MSO uses music as a way to engage, educate, entertain, and enrich through traditional classical and pops concerts, children’s concert, chamber events, and community engagement programs.
Conducting the orchestra is artistic director/conductor Douglas Droste.
I hope you’re having some adventures this summer and making great memories. Summer is winding down, and it’s been an incredible ride for me so far! Some very special things brewing in late August and in the fall. Here’s a look at where I’ve been and where I’m going:
July found me returning again to the incredible electric rock string nerd wonderland that is the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp in Olathe, KS. This year has to have been one of the best so far, with my longtime friend Mazz Swift joining the faculty, as well as the incredible Haydn Vitera, who I call the “Carlos Santana of the electric violin”, being another addition to the family. I can’t say it enough, this camp really is a family; people who are primarily string players from all over the U.S. and other parts of the world, who have a deep passion for rock, electric strings, and pushing musical boundaries. It is always a beautiful experience, so much so that people stay in touch and come back year after year! Incredible camaraderie between the students and the faculty, which I am so blessed to be a part of. Here are some pics of me channeling Peter Gabriel while performing “Watcher of the Skies” with the incrombarable keyboardist/tech guru Matt Vanacoro, the great Laura Kaye and bassist Paul Ranieri as well as shots from my solo faculty performance. Hope to see you all next year! www.mwroc.com
The following week, I came home to Cleveland, where I grew up, but hadn’t performed in a few years, put together an incredible band of local musicians, and played to a full house at Nighttown! Thanks to everyone who came out: old friends, new friends, family, etc. Thank you to Nighttown, Jim Wadsworth for organizing the show, and my partners in crime, guitarist Dan Wilson, bassist Alferdo Gerierri, and drummer Billy Ransom. Here’s an excellent article that came out during the week leading up to the show from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
For 16 years now (holy shit!!), I have been coming back to one of the Seven wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, to take part in the Grand Canyon Music Festival. I started out just performing with its co-founder, world-renowned harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio. In 2006, my friend Chris Millateri and I had an idea to get the local community in Grand Canyon Village more connected to the festival. With the invaluable help of Rene Westbrook, who got the funding, The Grand Canyon School of Rock was born! This will be our 8th year!
This is truly a passion project of mine. I work alongside guitarist Steve Benson, the local high school music teacher Bentley Monk. Together, we work with kids from Grand Canyon HS, many of whom are novice musicians. We put a band together in 3 days, culminating in two 45-minute performances at the end of the week.
I can honestly say that in my professional life, the two weeks that I look forward to the most each year are MWROC and the Grand Canyon Music Festival.
This year, I am happy to announce that for the first time, my group Sweet Plantain will be taking part in both the Grand Canyon Music Festival and the NACAP (Native American Composers Apprentice Program). In addition to performing two concerts of our music, we will be traveling throughout the Navajo and Hopi reservations, where local kids spent time learning to write and notate music, and will be performing a free concert of their original works on Sunday August 6th.
It all happens at the Shrine of the Ages. South Rim, Grand Canyon Village. Here’s the schedule:
“Dream Diary: Concerto for 7-String Electric Violin and Orchestra”
Hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin,” Joe Deninzon will be performing his seven-string electric violin concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 19, at 4:00PM. This performance takes place in Sursa Hall on the campus of Ball State University. Sursa Hall is located at 1809 W. Riverside Ave., in Muncie, IN.
For ticket info, please call the Emens Box Office at 765-285-1539.
A 14-time BMI Jazz Composer’s grant recipient and winner of the John Lennon Songwriting contest, Joe is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock group Stratospheerius, which had its fifth album, THE NEXT WORLD released on Steve Vai’s Digital Nations. Joe is also a member of the Latin classical hip hop string quartet, Sweet Plantain. His work as a violinist and string arranger can be heard on over 100 CDs and jingles. Mr. Deninzon has worked with Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and dozens of other projects.
As an educator, Joe has taught rock violin at Mark O’Connor’s String Camp and Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp. Mel Bay Publications released his book, PLUGGING IN on electric violin technique. Joe holds Bachelor’s degrees in Violin Performance and Jazz Violin from Indiana University and a Master’s in Jazz/Commercial violin from Manhattan School of Music.
“Dream Diary” was inspired, in part, by Joe’s roots in studying classical music and falling in love with ‘80s/’90s guitar virtuosos such as Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt.
Stating his best ideas come to him when he dreams, Joe’s “Dream Diary” concerto offers surreal imagery and is “very dream-like.” In the concerto, Joe also uses rock guitar effects on his violin such as distortion, delay, whammies, wah-wah, and loops.
Appreciating his style and passion, MSO Artistic Director / conductor, Douglas Droste, approached Deninzon with an idea for a concerto for rock violin and orchestra. “I cannot wait to bring this concerto to Muncie, with the hopes that it will attract new audiences and give our long-time concertgoers a new twist on an old genre.”
Also on the program are Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide Overture” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.” As part of the 3:00PM pre-concert talk, Mr. Deninzon will share more about his work.
About Muncie Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1948, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra seeks to provide its audience with rewarding musical experiences and to promote social exchange among attendees of the musical events. As an organization that celebrates the cultural vibrancy of East Central Indiana, the MSO uses music as a way to engage, educate, entertain and enrich through traditional classical and pops concerts, children’s concert, chamber events, and community engagement programs.
Sweet Plantain performs at David Gotay Memorial Concert
On April 3rd, 2015, our dear friend and colleague, cellist/composer David Gotay, lost his battle with kidney cancer. He was an incredible talent and beautiful soul who can never be replaced. Not a day goes by that we don’t remember David. On September 22nd, there will be a Memorial Concert for David Gotay, featuring Gene Pritzger’s Sound Liberation, Sweet Plantain, , and many other artists. Here’s all the info:
Check out 3 of the latest songs from Stratospheerius! Our last single, “Take Your Medicine,” is getting rave responses and trending on Reverbnation.com
Hope you folks are ready for the great outdoors, BBQ’s, beach bumming, and most importantly….LIVE MUSIC, which must be supported and celebrated.
Just got off The first ever Sonic Voyages Mini-Tour. Stratospheerius joined forces with two incredible bands, Circuline and Shadow Eden to create a traveling progressive rock festival. Check out this review of our first show on 5/22 at Sully’s in Hartford, CT: http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/concertreviews5.html
It’s always busy busy busy in the DeninZoo. Many major events, concerts, residencies planned for this summer.
Always trying to soak up the sun, but so much to do, so little time…
Here’s what’s going down:
Stratospheerius New Single, ‘TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.”
Have you ever been ripped off, scammed, deceived, stepped out, put out, put down, ignored, held back, short changed, short shifted, diluted, looted? This song is a fantasy of vindication, revenge, bringing your nemesis to their knees! The lyrics are angry and empowering. No apologies. No compromise. Dig in!
Featuring Joe Deninzon-lead vocals/electric violin
Lucianna Padmore-drums
Aurelien Budynek-guitar
Jamie Bishop-bass
Recorded by Rave Tesar
Mixed by Alex Salzman
Mastered by Rave Tesar
Music and Lyrics by Joe Deninzon
Produced by Joe Deninzon
Saturday, June 20th 7:00 P.M.
Stratospheerius returns to Starks, Maine for Harry’s Hoedown @ Harry Brown’s Farm! https://www.facebook.com/events/1389471904703357/
For tickets, visit http://harryshill.net
This is a very special place we’ve been fortunate to come back to for 7 years now as regular performers. Come, campout, and celebrate!
Stratospheerius is usually:
Joe Deninzon-lead vocals/electric violin/mandolin
Aurelien Budynek-guitar
Lucianna Padmore-drums
Jamie Bishop-bass
Joining us on this tour will be
Paul Ranieri-bass
Michelangelo Quirenale-guitar
We are proud to announce that for the first time this year, Sweet Plantain will be performing at the Grand Canyon Music Festival. We are also honored to be invited to participate in the NACAP program (Native American Composers Apprentice Project). This is an outreach program involving residencies at high schools throughout Navajo and Hopi reservations. We will be teaching the students how to compose and notate their own string quartets, culminating with a concert of their music at the Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The program was pioneered by the renowned string band Ethel (link), and won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities.
On a personal note, I will be returning for the 15th year (!!) to the Grand Canyon to perform with world-renowned harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio, and also teach at the 8th annual Grand Canyon School of Rock, a program I co-founded which involves putting a band together from scratch with local high school kids and two performances taking place at the end of the week. Here’s the schedule:
Thursday, September 3rd. 7 PM
Robert Bonfiglio Group with Steve Benson-guitar and Joe Deninzon-violin/mandolin
Shrine of the Ages, South Rim
Friday, September 4th: School of Rock performance, 5 PM
Shrine of the Ages, South Rim
Saturday, September 5th: Sweet Plantain performance, 7 PM
Shrine of the Ages, South Rim
Sunday, September 6th, Sweet Plantain/NACAp Performance, 7 PM
Shrine of the Ages, South Rim
Tuesday, September 8th: Sweet Plantain/NACAP performance at the HEARD museum in Phoenix, AZ. www.heard.org
Joe Deninzon returns to Nighttown/Cleveland
I am beyond excited to return to my hometown of Cleveland after a long hiatus, to play a jazz gig with some incredible local musicians. Here’s the info:
I am honored that world-renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine will be performing the world premier of my solo violin piece, “The Electric Lake of Soul” At the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan on Monday, June 20th.
Rachel is my good friend, and I can honestly say, is not of this earth. She’s doing a full one-hr all request Paganini Caprice concert for the Interlochen students, and including my piece as an encore! The kids can request any Caprice they want to hear. Trust me, this ain’t Freebird.
Now the chops necessary to play Paganinni Caprices are about as intense as violin-playing gets, let alone to be able to play any of the 24 at the drop of a hat requires an insane amount of practicing and dedication to one’s craft. I am beyond excited to hear this piece played live, and humbled to be alongside the immortal Paganinni in the program.
On another note…
JOE DENINZON CONCERTO FOR 7-STRING ELECTRIC VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA WORLD PREMIER SEPTEMBER 19TH!
It’s official. I will be premiering my electric violin concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 19th!
One year ago, Douglas Droste, the Musical Director of the Muncie Symphony, commissioned me to write and premier an Electric Violin Concertoe with his orchestra.
It’s a 4-movement piece running approx 25 minutes. The concept is a intense dream sequence, and the music is loosely based around the cycles of sleep. The first movement is called “Falling Dream,” the second is “Delta Waves,” the third is “Rapid Eye Movement,” and the fourth is “Waking Dream.”
I hope those of you within driving range of Muncie, Indiana will be able to come to the concert, and I hope those not in that area will get to hear the piece in the future.
It’s time to prog out with your frog out! you can hear me as a guest on two new excellent prog rock releases:
I had the pleasure of appearing as a guest electric violin soloist on the song “Silence Revealed,” on the debut album by the awesome new prog band, Circuline.
This past Memorial Day Weekend, we played our first Sonic Voyages Festival mini-tour with Stratospheerius , Circuline (link), and Shadow Eden (link). The tour was a huge success and we had a blast sharing the stage with these incredible musicians.
I am also featured on the new release by the Detroit-based band, Fractured Dimension, titled Galaxy Mechanics. Appropriately enough, they got me, a Russian violinist, for a song called “Bolshevikian Mythological Creature.”
This summer, I will be once again returning to teach at the incredible Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp.
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, Mazz Swift, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
HAPPY SPRING! Big announcements, projects, lots of shows, its gonna be H.O.T!
JOE DENINZON CONCERTO FOR 7-STRING ELECTRIC VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA WORLD PREMIER SEPTEMBER 19TH!
It’s official. I will be premiering my electric violin concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 19th!
One of the big things on my bucket list was to write and perform an electric violin concerto for orchestra. One year ago, Douglas Droste, the Musical Director of the Muncie Symphony, commissioned me to write and premier such a piece with his orchestra. It’s been a year of intensive work, and I’m still revising like crazy and working out the kinks, but this is HAPPENING! If all goes well, I hope to bring the piece to other orchestras and already have had interest from a few different places. Stay tuned…
To say I’m psyched is the understatement of the year! With this concerto, I want people to feel like they’ve been to a rock concert. It’s definitely got Zeppelin, Mahavishnu, and Stratospheerius all over it, and tons of “sonic architecture” from the electric violint. I’m pouring my heart and soul into one of the biggest projects I’ve ever done, and I feel I have learned a lot and grown in the process. Hope those of you within driving range of Muncie, IN will be able to come to the concert, and I hope those not in that area will get to hear the piece in the future.
The festival involves educational workshops for young musicians and music lovers in the afternoon, followed by performances by all three bands, as well as additional sets by local bands in each city.
Our maiden voyage is a tour of New England on Memorial Day Weekend. Here are the dates:
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Mazz Swift, Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
NEW STRATOSPHEERIUS SINGLE, “GUILTY OF INNOCENCE,” AVAILABLE NOW
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
Inspired by a recent stint in jury duty. A commentary on how we are all just trying to save ourselves and refuse to take responsibility for our actions, and look the other way when injustice is being committed.
The cover features the debut artwork of my 6-year old son, Max Deninzon.
It’s been a roller coaster ride of experiences and emotions so far this spring. Some wonderful performances and opportunities have opened up while I also lost a dear friend. Here is what coming up and what has come to pass:
R.I.P. David Gotay
The world has lost an incredible musician and a beautiful soul. It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend David Gotay after a long battle with kidney cancer. We are all in awe of the dignity and bravery with which he carried himself during his illness. He stopped his chemo a few weeks ago and spent his final days with no pain killers. When I last visited him, he hadn’t lost his sense of humor and we talked about life and music like we usually do, playing each other pieces we were both working on. For a moment, it felt like any other hang that we had in the past. We shared incredible moments on tour with Sweet Plantain, the group he founded and built up to huge success. He was the only cellist I knew who could rap and play cello at the same time. He was an incredible player and composer, who successfully merged his classical upbringing with his love of hip hop. He was and is loved by many people who’s lives he touched and enriched.
How do you say goodbye to someone for the last time? In our last meeting, I made a joke that he was gonna get to jam with Hendrix and Pablo Casals. “See you on the other side, my friend,” he said.
Rest in peace, Goat Burger.
Here is a performance Sweet Plantain did a few years ago at Severance Hall in my hometown of Cleveland. David plays a beautiful improvised cadenza at 1:24. Please enjoy!
Stratospheerius is proud to announce the launch of the Sonic Voyages Festival
Sonic Voyages is a traveling music festival involving three incredible bands, Stratospheerius (www.stratospheerius.com), Shadow Eden, and Circuline
The festival involves educational workshops for young musicians and music lovers in the afternoon, followed by performances by all three bands, as well as additional sets by local bands in each city.
Our maiden voyages is a tour of New England in May. Here are the dates:
I am honored to appear on “Galaxy Mechanics,” The sophomore effort from the incredible progressive band, Fractured Dimension. (https://www.facebook.com/thefractureddimension)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DPAYk7qaWs
NEW STRATOSPHEERIUS SINGLE, “GUILTY OF INNOCENCE,” AVAILABLE NOW
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
Inspired by a recent stint in jury duty. A commentary on how we are all just trying to save ourselves and refuse to take responsibility for our actions, and look the other way when injustice is being committed.
The cover features the debut artwork of my 6-year old son, Max Deninzon.
This summer, I will be once again returning to teach at the incredible Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp.
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Tracy Silverman, Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
