Greetings! I took a few months off from the newsletter. Been cooking up a few things and preparing for what’s next. It’s great to speak to all of you again. Wishing you a beautiful remainder of the spring and a summer full of good music, fun in the sun, and no crazy devastating hurricanes. Here’s the latest:
Meet Arianna Margaret Deninzon
My wife Yulia and I are pleased to announce the birth of our daughter, Arianna Margaret Deninzon on April 14th, 2013 at 11:11 A.M. Weighing 8 lbs 8 oz.
It feels great to be a father of two, and having both a son and a daughter. Words cannot express how overjoyed we are at Arianna’s arrival into this world and we are happy share this news with all of you!
Much more to juggle in my life now, but I’m so happy and overwhelmed. Who needs sleep??
Tarantella Spider Dance—is a mystical and sensual music/theater/dance spectacular about the history of the Tarantella, the Southern Italian myth of the bite of the tarantula, birth of the Spider Woman, and celebration of the wild ecstatic rites of Dyonisus. A cross cultural musical that blends Southern Italian drumming and dance rituals with Afro-Brazilian & Cuban Yoruba ceremonies for Yemanja/Aphrodites. Featuring aerial, fire and stilt dancers, acrobats and a techno Tarantella trance dance.
I am excited to be returning as a faculty member at Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp. Mark Wood was the designer of the 7-string fretted Viper Electric violin that I play. He is a legendary performer who has played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dee Snyder, and Billy Joel, to name a few. He is also a true revolutionary in the world of electric violin and string education. Camp is open to all ages and levels from intermediate to advanced/professional. I remember being a misfit violin nerd in high school with a deep passion for rock n roll and no role models on my instrument for the genre I was interested in. Growing up in the late 80’s in Cleveland, there were no jazz or rock violin teachers in my town, and very few in the mainstream music community who I could look up to. I had to trust my instincts and find my own path. I am grateful to Mark for creating an environment where string players can let their freak flag fly, exploring alternative styles of playing with an emphasis on rock and metal. I wish this camp existed when I was 17! The camp will take place at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS from July 14-20, 2012.
I guess fourth time’s the charm. After 3 unsuccessful attempts to film at Bethlehem Steelstax (the first due to liability insurance issues, and the second two due to bad weather), all the stars aligned for us on March 26th and we were finally able to realize our vision and film our video! We had a blast filming in this beautiful surreal industrial landscape and both the cast and crew, although freezing our asses off most of the time, still enjoyed the process and got some amazing footage. The following day, we all assembled at the Hoboken, NJ Loft of our videographer, Bill Hamilton, to film the fire dancer and green screen footage that will accompany the Steelstax footage in the final edit. You can see some photos of our shoot here:
Our thanks to the following people who participated in the production of this video:
Bill Hamilton (director/videographer), Chris Hanson (lighting), Travis Tomlinson (Crue), Joseph Brancatto (crew), Patrick Scullen (crew), Susana Perks (hair and makeup), Dave Silver (Silverpro Entertainment)), Julia and Elana Royter (Phoenix Entertainment), Sylviya (fire dancer). Also Mark Demko and Susan Drexinger at Artsquest for letting us use Steelstax and providing the green room, and Julia Corwin from the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA. We hope you have all received and are enjoying your prizes and thank you once again for your support. We have started editing and hope to have this video finished by June. Please check our website for updates.
“PLUGGING IN” by Joe Deninzon
If you are a string player interested in going electric and exploring the world of improvisation for the first time, buy this book today!
Stratospheerius is proud to finally have the opportunity to take the fashion industry by storm!
Our super soft and comfortable shirt feature artwork from our latest CD, “The Next World.” Comes in 2 varieties: With and without ringers. Available in M, L, XL, XXL. Order your shirt today and be the envy of all your friends! Any order Includes immediate download of our song The Prism in your choice of MP3 320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire!
JOE DENINZON TRIO APPEARING ON RADIOHEAD TRIBUTE ALBUM
My jazz trio’s version of Radiohead’s classic, “The Tourist,” from our 2010 “Exuberance” CD has been featured on a compilation album of Radiohead covers, released on ESC records. We are honored to be included alongside some incredible artists. To order or download the CD, please visit the links below:
I had the privilege of laying down some electric violin tracks on the new release, “Chalk Lines,” by guitarist/vocalist Randy McStine and his band, LoFi Resistance. Randy is an incredibly talented musician who has been subbing with Stratospheerius and recently joined us on our Midwest tour Dec 13-15. The new album also features the bass playing of Dug Pinnick from one of my all-time favorite bands, “Kings X” (http://www.kingsxrocks.com).
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 the latest from the prog rock website www.seaoftranquility.org
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…”
“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!”
“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!”
“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.”
Hope you’re all staying warm and managing to get out and hear some live music every once in a while. January was an incredible month. I was honored to perform orchestral arrangements of some of my/Stratospheerius songs with the Oklahoma all-state honors high school orchestra at Oklahoma State University. Thanks to my friend Christian Howes (www.christianhowes.com) and director Douglas Droste for giving me the opportunity. These education residencies are a great source of inspiration for me and I hope to be able to do more of them in the future. Stratospheerius and Sweet Plantain had some amazing shows as well, and there’s a lot more to come in the next few months…
Here’s what’s happening in February and March:
Sweet Plantain will be presenting our first clinic at the annual American String Teacher’s Association Conference in Providence, RI on Saturday, March 2nd.
The clinic, titled “The Laptop as a 5th Member of the String Quartet,” will explore incorporating electronic music, programming beats, etc into an acoustic string quartet setting. Sweet Plantain will demonstrate these techniques performing original compositions like “Excursions,” (Incorporating samples from A Tribe Called Quest) and “Concerto for Nation” (Mixing Vivaldi double Cello Concerto with hip hop beats and lyrics).
Sweet Plantain would like to thank D’Addario Strings for sponsoring this clinic.
For more information about the clinic, please visit this link:
The Westin Providence
One West Exchange Street
Providence, RI 02903
1-888-627-8449
Sweet Plantain is:
Joe Deninzon-violin/mandolin/vocals
Eddie Venegas-violin/trombone/vocals
David Gotay-cello/rap
Orlando Wells-viola
Other Joe Deninzon Performances
Performing with the Hahnbone Band
Friday, March 15th
9:30 P.M.-12:30 A.M.
12 Grapes Peekskill
12 North Division Street · Peekskill, NY 10566 · 914.737.6624
Joe Deninzon appears as special guest with
The Hahnbone Band, featuring trombonist John Hahn, guitarist Mick Gaffney, drummer Adam Snyder, keyboardist Ken Levinsky, bassist Ivan Bodley, and vocalist Tom Bowes from Tower of Power!
Stratospheerius is proud to finally have the opportunity to take the fashion industry by storm!
Our super soft and comfortable shirt feature artwork from our latest CD, “The Next World.” Comes in 2 varieties: With and without ringers. Available in M, L, XL, XXL. Order your shirt today and be the envy of all your friends! Any order Includes immediate download of our song The Prism in your choice of MP3 320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire!
After numerous delays related to scheduling and insurance issues, we are finally set to film our video for “One Foot in the Next World” on Feb 27th (weather permitting, of course) at Bethlehem Steelstax. We will keep you posted on the filming progress of the video. Thanks again for all those who donated and helped make our kickstarter campaign a success! We are sending out prizes. You can still donate to help the project and receive tons of great prizes, like free CD’s, t-shirts, books, DVD’s, signed posters, personal concerts and music lessons, and more…
JOE DENINZON TRIO APPEARING ON RADIOHEAD TRIBUTE ALBUM
My jazz trio’s version of Radiohead’s classic, “The Tourist,” from our 2010 “Exuberance” CD has been featured on a compilation album of Radiohead covers, released on ESC records. We are honored to be included alongside some incredible artists. To order or download the CD, please visit the links below: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/head-radio-retransmissions/id572548849
I had the privilege of laying down some electric violin tracks on the new release, “Chalk Lines,” by guitarist/vocalist Randy McStine and his band, LoFi Resistance. Randy is an incredibly talented musician who has been subbing with Stratospheerius and recently joined us on our Midwest tour Dec 13-15. The new album also features the bass playing of Dug Pinnick from one of my all-time favorite bands, “Kings X” (http://www.kingsxrocks.com).
Buy the album here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chalk-lines/id586076551 www.lofiresistance.com
Help our Friend and get a Free CD!
Our dear friend, manager, and publicist, Anne Leighton has lived an incredible life (so far) in the music business, with some legendary clients like Jethro Tull, Grand Funk Railroad, Tower of Power, Steve Morse, and more. She is also an incredible poet and is putting together a book of poetry and prose to document some of her experiences. If you donate to her campaign, we will send you a free copy of our CD, “The Next World,’ and you will get some great prizes from MS. Leighton herself. For more information, please visit this link:
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 the latest from the prog rock website www.seaoftranquility.org
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 www.thecornernews.com
Read more… http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/music_n_movies/comments/out-of-this-world-album/
“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
Read more… http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/index_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=103508
“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 are
clearly 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/
“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…
www.dmme.net (http://dmme.net/reviews/reviews49.html#spheer12)
Visit The Next World homepage on the Digital Nations website
WELCOME TO THE DENINZOO!! January-February 2013 Newsletter
Dear friends,
Happy New Year! We hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday season and that 2013 is a year full of hope and good tidings. It’s been a crazy year in the world, with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the cutthroat presidential election, turmoil in Syria and Israel, and horrific gun violence all over this country. Let’s hope 2013 brings only good news. And no matter what happens, let’s be grateful that music exists to heal us and take us to a happier place.
That being said, here is what’s going on…
STRATOSPHEERIUS THE NEXT WORLD NOMINATED FOR BEST PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUM OF 2012
We are proud to announce that our latest CD, The Next World, was nominated for Best Progressive Rock Album of 2012 on progressiverockcentral.com
In mid September, Stratospheerius set out to raise $5000 to film our first professional video. Thanks to all of you, our dear friends, family, and fans, our dream will become a reality! We met our Nov 17th deadline and reached our goal and will begin filming in February. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We feel truly blessed to be surrounded by so much love and support. As promised, all prizes and rewards for those who donated will be delivered in the first few months of 2013. Please be patient, as we have a lot on our plate. We will keep you all updated on the video’s progress.
STRATOSPHEERIUS T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE!
Stratospheerius is proud proud to finally have the opportunity to take the fashion industry by storm!
Our super soft and comfortable shirt feature artwork from our latest CD, “The Next World.” Comes in 2 varieties: With and without ringers. Available in M, L, XL, XXL. Order your shirt today and be the envy of all your friends! Any order Includes immediate download of our song “The Prism” in your choice of MP3 320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire!
Friday, January 11th, 10:00 P.M.
Olive’s
118 Main St.
Nyack, NY 10960
845-353-4377
With special guest BLUES IN SPACE
Featuring crazy electric cellist/my good friend Rubin Kodhelli. Check this band out!!!
$5 cover
Wednesday, January 30th. 9:00-10:00 P.M.
The Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd (at 134th St)
New York, NY 10030
NO COVER!
Thursday, January 31st, 9:00 P.M.
Northstar Bar
Poplar St & North 27th St
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-787-0488
with OUT OF THE BEARDSPACE
Friday, February 15th, 9:00 P.M.
Cyber Café West
176 Main St.,
Binghamton, NY 13905
(607) 723-2456
NO COVER!
Stratospheerius is:
Joe Deninzon: electric violin/vocals/mandolin
Lucianna Padmore-drums
Jamie Bishop/Jon Price-bass/vocals
Aurelien Budynek/Randy McStine-guitar/vocals
Sweet Plantain is proud to announce that we have signed with renowned manager, Joanne Rile! Stay tuned for upcoming tour dates in 2013!!
In the meantime, we will be showcasing alongside other Joanne Rile artists (The Ahn Trio, Leon Bates) as part of the APAP conference in New York City.
Here is information for the showcases:
Sunday, January 13th, 10:00 A.M.
Baryshnikov Arts Center
450 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (646) 731-3200
Monday. January 14th, 10:00 A.M.
Shetler Studios
244 West 54th Street #12 New York, NY 10019
(212) 246-6655
Sweet Plantain is:
Joe Deninzon-violin/mandolin/vocals
Eddie Venegas-violin/trombone/vocals
Earl Maneein-stunt violin
Orlando Wells-viola
David Gotay-cello/vocals
Sweet Plantain is proud to announce that we have signed with renowned manager, Joanne Rile! Stay tuned for upcoming tour dates in 2013!!
Performing as violinist and musical director in Spider Dance with Alessandra Belloni
Friday, January 18th & Saturday January 19th, 8:00 P.M.
Sunday, January 20th, 3:00 P.M.
Tickets $25
Tarantella Spider Dance @ Theater for the New City
155 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003 (United States)
212-254-1109
Joe Deninzon Residency at Oklahoma State University
Joe Deninzon will be conducting a two-day residency with the Oklahoma State High School Honors Orchestra, and will be featured as a soloist with the orchestra performing Joe’s arrangements of music by Jimi Hendrix as well as original songs from Stratospheerius.
Saturday, January 26th, 7:00 P.M.
Seretean Center Concert Hall
132 Seretean Center
Stillwater, OK 74078-4077
405-744-6133 Get tickets
JOE DENINZON TRIO APPEARING ON RADIOHEAD TRIBUTE ALBUM
My jazz trio’s version of Radiohead’s classic, “The Tourist,” from our 2010 “Exuberance” CD has been featured on a compilation album of Radiohead covers, released on ESC records. We are honored to be included alongside some incredible artists. To order or download the CD, please visit the links below:
I had the privilege of laying down some electric violin tracks on the new release, “Chalk Lines,” by guitarist/vocalist Randy McStine and his band, LoFi Resistance. Randy is an incredibly talented musician who has been subbing with Stratospheerius and will be joining us on our Midwest tour Dec 13-15. The new album also features the bass playing of Dug Pinnick from one of my all-time favorite bands, Kings X.
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 the latest from the prog rock website www.seaoftranquility.org
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 www.thecornernews.com Read more…
“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 Read more…
“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…
“A leading contender for the best rock album of 2012… Joe Deninzon’s dazzling violin solos, creative loops and effects are clearly spectacular and demonstrate that he is one of the most talented instrumentalists in the current rock scene.”
-Angel Romero Read more…
“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…
“It’s in STRATOSPHEERIUS that the violinist holds the richest palette to take colors from….a fabulous vibe goes down the listener’s spine.” www.dmme.net Read more…
“Exuberance is drenched with such style. With respect for the classics and a daring avant-garde boldness Joe Deninzon’s endeavor is certainly a success.”
“Some of their songs…seem almost tailor made for those lost around the poolside martini bar alone late at night as other songs such as sound like they were made some place where both Frank Sinatra and Frank Zappa find common ground. “
“Both Primus or Palao could respect the talents of The Joe Deninzon Trio which to me is their greatest appeal.”
“I recommend this album to anybody interested in the mastery of music as well as classical, jazz and alternative rock fans. Deninzon is only doing good for music. Breaking down barriers, opening minds, and carving a respectable niche for himself. Joe Deninzon is sure to soon be on every music snob’s list of notable artists, I can guarantee it.”
SPIDER DANCE Debuts in New Haven,
