Dear friends,

Hello there! I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer so far. My apologies for not keeping you abreast of my goings on for so long. I’ve been in a transitional period with my newsletter person  and needed to revamp and restructure a few things. SO….. here’s what I’ve been up to and all the amazing things that lie ahead.

I recently had the privilege of playing at Katie Couric’s wedding at her posh Hamptons estate with my musical partner-in-crime, Steve Benson and an incredible young cellist named Greg Byers (www.gregbyersmusic.com). It was a fun mix of Beatles, Bach, Beach Boys, and plenty of standards. A real blast and her and her husband John were very particular with their musical requests and a really fun couple to play for. Congratulations to the newlyweds and wishing them best of luck!

Check out the website for more info and tickets:

This also marks the 8th annual School of Rock, a one-week workshop I co-founded where Steve and I teach local canyon kids how to form a band and rock out. We put together a full concert in merely 4 days and it is truly exhilarating!

Thursday, September 18th

Performing with Stratospheerius

Stratospheerius is:

Joe Deninzon-electric violin/lead vocals

Lucianna Padmore-drums

Aurelien Budynek-guitar

Jamie Bishop-bass

Ladies and gentlemen, Sweet Plantain welcomes our new cellist, Wayne Smith, and will be embarking on a 20-town tour of Sweden, followed by some dates in the Midwest in early November. Stay tuned and visit our website for updated information. here is everything we can tell you so far:

Date                     Time           Venue                                                        City

9-27                                  16.00                    Pingstkyrkan                                                                             Uddevalla

9-28                                   18.00                    Biblioteket                                                                                  Båstad

9-29                               19.00                    Dunkers Kulturhus                                                                    Helsingborg

9-30                                    19.00                    Artisten                                                                                      Göteborg

10-2                                    19.00                    Wallenbergssalen                                                                     Linköping

10-4                                  16.00                    Söderportkyrkan                                                                       Tingsryd

10-5                                   16.00                    Utvandrarnas hus                                                                     Växjö

10-6                                  t.b.c.                     Hall to be confirmed                                                                 Vänersborg

10-7                                    19.30                    Festsalen, Folkets hus                                                             Vänersborg

10-8                                   17.30-18.15         Musikskolan, Workshop                                                          Arboga

10-8                                  19.00                    Musikskolan, Concert                                                              Arboga

10-12                                16.00                    Nyköpings teater                                                                       Nyköping

10-15                                  19.00                    Svegs kyrka                                                                              Sveg

10-16                                t.b.c.                     Hall t.b.c., School concert                                                        Östersund

10-16                               19.00                    Gamla Teatern                                                                          Östersund

10-18                                  16.00                    Baptistkyrkan                                                                            Hudviksvall

10-19                                 t.b.c.                     Hall t.b.c. School concert                                                         Sandviken

10-21                                 19.00                    Musikverket, Kulturcentrum, Concert                                     Sandviken

10-22                                  19.00                    Västerås Konserthus, lilla salen                                              Västerås

 

Sweet PLantain is:

Joe Deninzon-violin/vocals/mandolin

Eddie Venegas-violin/trombone

Orlando Wells-viola

Wayne Smith-cello

Russian Band “Plan B” covers JD song “What’s That Thang?”

I Found this awesome Russian jazz group covering my song “What’s That Thang.” What a sweet surprise, and they kill it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Z4KLgg7fE

 

Enjoy the rest of your summer and I hope to see you all at a show in the near future.

 

Love and blessings,

-JD

176 Main St. Binghamton, NY

Binghamton, NY

607-723-2456

104 E. 2nd St. Jamestown, NY 14701

716-720-4621

2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.

New York, NY 10030

212-690-7807

With the Jeremy Beck Band (incredible singer/songwriter/organist/longtime friend and colleague)

118 North Main St.

Nyack, NY

With the Jeremy Beck Band

Are you a violinist who is curious about “going electric” but have no idea where to begin? This book will walk you through the process of choosing an electric violin, shopping for an amplifier, and using effects pedals. The book also covers improvisation in the genres of blues, rock, and funk. Chopping and other rhythmic techniques for bowed string instruments are explored, as well as playing in a band, rock string arranging and working with DJs. “Plugging In” will open new worlds of creativity for you as a string player and help you find your own voice in this brave new world!

Order your copy today at:

Check out and share our new video on Youtube!

That magical time is upon us! Get ready to be bombarded with Christmas and Channukah carols everywhere you go, rig the lights and run up the electric bill, shop tip you drop, and most importantly…spread love and music throughout the world!

I’ve made some great memories in the past month and I have a lot to be thankful for. Here’s the latest and the greatest…

I was recently the guest artist at the first annual Michigan Alternative Styles day at McDonald High School in East Lansing, MI. The kids performed my string orchestra of Stratospheerius’s “One Foot in the Next World”, “Ballad for Ding Bang,” “Gutterpunk Blues,” Guns N Roses “Sweet Child of Mine,” and “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix. It was a blast teaching the kids how to rock out and forcing some brave volunteers to take improvised solos in public for the first time in their lives! I also got to meet some incredible local musician who collaborated in our concert (guitarist Elvan Kelly, drummer Fred Knapp, bassist Dave Rosin, and conductor Bryan Kolk). Thanks also to Amy Feldcamp Marr and INgrid Dyckman for bringing me there. I looove doing these education clinics/residencies. Few things in life are more rewarding to me!

Sweet Plantain  had successful performances in Lafayette, LA, Lubbock, TX, and Troy, NY. We debuted our new cellist, Rubin Kodheli, who did in incredible job tackling some challenging music. The whole tour was bittersweet, as our dear friend and founding member David Gotay is fighting kidney cancer and this was the first time he missed a Sweet Plantain performance. Our prayers go out to him and his family.

Please take advantage of this limited time offer and give your friends some stocking stuffers!

Joe Deninzzon-electric violin/vocals

Lucianna Padmore-drums

Aurelien Budyneck-guitar

Jamie Bishop-bass

7:30 P.M.

$5 cover

With Ten Foot Tall Band

601 Main St, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
(732) 775-9144

For the fourth year in a row, I will be returning as an instructor at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp in Olathe, KS.

If you are a string player (performer or educator), or singer/keyboardist/guitarist/bassist REGARDLESS OF AGE who is interested in expanding musical horizons and experience a week of mind-blowing performances and unforgettable life experiences, REGIRSTER TODAAY at WWW.MWROC.COM

This camp is great for novice students with little or no improvisation experience, teachers who want to incorporate elements of rock, jazz, or blues into their school orchestras or private instruction, advance/professional players looking to be challenged and expand their musical palette.

Other renowned instructors include founder and president, violinist/composer Mark Wood, Tracy Silverman, Rachel Barton Pine, David Wallace, Bridgid Bibbens, Sean Grissom, Lucas Shorgren, and Daniel Bernard Romaine.

Joe Deninzon Plugging in from Mel Bay Publications

Read the latest review from American String Teachers Journal!

Check out and share our new video on Youtube!

Folks,

Hope you’re having a great fall season! August and September were jam-packed! I taught and performed for my 13th year at the Grand Canyon Music Festival, with guitarist Steve Benson and Robert Bonfiglio. We had an incredible fundraiser on September 26th at one of our favorite venues, the Shrine in NYC. First of all, I want to thank all the musicians, volunteers, staff,  and people who came out to support our dear friend David Gotay in his battle with Cancer. We raised over $2000 in one night! It was an evening full of love and great music. Performing alongside Stratospheeius were Sound Liberation Erbium, Resolution 15, and Dapp Theory.  Here are some photos from the event:

If you still want to donate , please visit www.paypal.com and make direct payments to davefightscancer@gotayproductions.com

Also visit www.facebook.com/davefightscancer 

105 Grape St.

Philadelphia, PA

19127

215-930-0321

7:30 P.M. Mazzmuse

8:30 P.M. Stratospheerius

9:30 P.M. New Retro Strings

We are launching a new concert series in NYC featuring bands lead by innovative string players. This night features the music of the incredible singer/songwriter/violinist Mazz Swift, my ban Stratospheerius, and New Retro Strings with violin goddess Claudia Chopek. (Www.claudiachopek.com)

Sweet Plantain is back with three performances in November! Filling in for our cellist, David Gotay, who is ill (see above), will be the incredible cellist/composer Rubin Kodheli (www.rubinkodheli.com)

1373 S. College Rd. Lafayette, LA 70503-2909

Texas Tech University

Arlington, TX

$18 General Admission TTU Students-1 free ticket with valid ID at the SUB Allen Theatre information desk Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at TTU $12.00 General Admission ticket with valid OLLI ID at the Select-A-Seat Civic Center box office Select-A-Seat: (806) 770-2000

Troy, NY

Joe Deninzon-violin/mandolin/vocals

Eddie Venegas-violin/trombone

Earl Maneein-violin

Orlando Wells-viola

David Gotay/Rubin Kodheli-cello

CATHEDRAL OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE /St. James Chapel1047 AMSTERDAM AVENUE (112Th Street)New York City, tickets: $25Visit us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/373168859452916/

 

will be performing with renowned pianist Alexander Kobrin (http://www.alexkobrinpianist.com) and other members of the Philharmonic

at the NY Phil Merkin Concert Hall series.

They will be performing Brahms Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor.

Sunday, October 20th.

3:00 P.M.

129 W. 67th Street
New York, NY 10023
212 501 3300

For tickets, please visit

Education Station

Joe Deninzon to teach/perform at Michigan Alternative Styles day

Joe Deninzon’s “PLUGGING IN” Book/CD/DVD from Mel Bay Publications

Joe recently recorded on two tracks with the renowned Orthodox Jewish singer

 Avraham Fried on his laters CD, “Ah Mechayeh and other Yiddish Songs.”

Joe recently contributed some electric and acoustic violin to the song “Road to Bonnaroo” Ten Foot Tall Band. Check it out here:

One Foot in the Next World video

Stratospheerius’ first official video has been in heavy rotation in video outlets throughout the U.S. and getting great feedback!  Check it out HERE !

 

Reviews of Stratospheerius’ “The Next World”

Our latest CD, “The Next World,” reached number 10 on the national Jamband charts and has been continuously receiving nationwide airplay and rave reviews.

Here is what other critics have been saying about the “The Next World”:

“(Stratospheerius) once again shows the world that Russians and Americans can make beautiful and exciting music together …A thrilling array of songs that run the gamut from complex prog tunes to simple ballads. “The Next World” is an electrifying album, guaranteed to take you into the stratosphere and beyond…”
-Wildman Steve
Read more…  http://stratospheerius.com/category/press/reviews/

“You just can’t go wrong with this outfit. Nor can you assume what you are going to hear when they release a new disc. While the fusion elements of previous releases are still present, this one has more pure rock in it, too. Frankly, this might be the best Stratospheerius disc yet!”
-G.W Hill

“Every member plays with passion and invention. Budynek is tight and bright in rhythm mode and soars when the song calls for it. Bishop is a flat out low-end monster and perfectly matched with the fiery Padmore. She is that drummer every musician wants in their ensemble: a player that can blow your mind one moment, then tenderly hold your hand the next. As for Deninzon – the sounds he gets out of that violin are inhuman. His speed, precision, color, and character are just off the charts!”
-Jon Wilcox
Read more… http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/cdrz.html

“A leading contender for the best rock album of 2012… Joe Deninzon’s dazzling violin solos, creative loops and effects areclearly spectacular and demonstrate that he is one of the most talented instrumentalists in the current rock scene. ”
-Angel Romero
Read more… http://progressiverockcentral.com/2012/05/04/a-superbly-gifted-violinist/  

“Tightly crafted studio pieces including intricately produced vocal articulations, electronic effects, and multi-tracked instrumentation…It’s an album with bright, vibrant tones from four players who aren’t competing, but rather congealing.”
-Wessley Britton
Read more… http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-Joe-Deninzon-Stratospheerius-3477902.php

“It’s in STRATOSPHEERIUS that the violinist holds the richest palette to take colors from….a fabulous vibe goes down the listener’s spine.”
Read more… LET IT ROCK
http://dmme.net/reviews/reviews49.html#spheer12

Visit The Next World homepage on the Digital Nations website (Digital Nations logo)
http://www.digital-nations.com/artists/premier-dn-artists/joe-deninzon-stratospheerius/  

 

Listen to samples and download it on itunes.
 http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-next-world…/id501158622  

 

Buy it on CDbaby.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joedeninzonstratospheeri  

 

Buy it on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076T21XM/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1328726471&sr=8-3 

 

Buy it on
abstractlogix.com
http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=25506&cat=0&page=1  

 

Purchase “The Next World…” ,  other Joe Deninzon/Stratospheerius music, and STRATOSPHEERIUS T-SHIRTS 

at
 www.stratospheerius.bandcamp.com  www.joedeninzon.bandcamp.com