Aquarian [December 2005]

by Joe Deninzon | Dec 29, 2005 | Articles

THE VERY BEST OF ANGRY JAZZ

By Hal B. Seltzer

“One of my uncles was a viola player. They had to land an orchestra job to provide for their family, because we came here with nothing, so my uncle  would practice in the bathroom while my dad practiced in the kitchen, and everybody else was at each other’s throats,” remembers Joe Deninzon of his early days in the United States. Born in St. ∏etersburgh, Russia, to a family of classical musicians, Joe’s family came here when he was four, and lived with seven people in an apartment in Queens.

“Fortunately, my dad landed a gig with the prestigious Cleveland Orchestra, where he still works today, so I grew up in Cleveland,” continues Joe. “I have played violin since I was six years old, but I later took up guitar and bass and got serious about it.” And get serious he did, as he has become one of the most respected electric violin players in the music world. In fact, he just won an award for “Best Jam Band,” as voted by the Musician’s Atlas Independent Music Awards, and his latest CD, LIVE WIRES, was named one of the top 10 prog/fusion CD’s of 2004 by a leading progressive rock website.

The music seems more progressive and jazz oriented than what one would ordinarily associate with a jam band. “If you’re looking at a stylistically eclectic band that does extended improvisations, then we definitely fit into the category,” Joe comments. “My only issue is that people automatically associate the word “jam band” with the Grateful Dead or Phish. I like and respect those bands, but our sound is more heavy, and even though we have the marathon 20-minute jams on stage, many of our songs are concise, five-minute hook-oriented songs. People forget that by the above definition, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Frank Zappa, Yes, even Pink Floyd were also “jam bands,” but they had little in common with the Dead or Phish. I think you can have the best of both worlds.

Joe truly is an amazing player. His violin pyrotechnics rival the musical dexterity of any rock guitar virtuoso. In fact, early in his career he was branded the “Jimi Hendrix of the vioilin,” and the moniker has stuck with him, and deservedly so. “At IU, I was soloing with a band led by legendary jazz guru David Baker. I think the song was “Eye of the Hurricane” by Herbie Hancock. I remember reading a review of the concert in the student paper, and the guy who wrote the review made the quote. I was floored! That’s a pretty tall and humbling compliment. I would walk around campus after that and people would yell it out to me once in a while. Later, reviewers and fans would mention it as well over the years.

Joe calls his music psychojazz electric fiddle trip funk. “I sometimes call it ‘agry jazz,’ he laughs. His influences are a wide range of styles and genres, which comes out in his own music. “I think the music that speaks to me the most was created in the early 70’s,” he says. “Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson, Yes, Miles Davis, Queen, Led Zeppelin. I also love U2, Screaming Headless Torsos, Fatboy Slim. Aside from that, I grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen, I like Bjork, John Scofield, and classical composers like Beethoven, Bach, Bartok, and Stravinsky. I can keep going.”

As far as the near future, Joe is working on a new CD with his band, Stratospheerius. “Right now, I make most of my living recording with and backing up other people, as well as teaching,” he explains. “While this is rewarding in its own way, my goal is to be able to able to earn most of my money recording and performing my original music. I would also like to get more into writing for TV and film. I just finished my first film soundtrack, a lesbian love story called What’s Up Scarlet, which should be out this summer.

Stratospheerius contain all very accomplished musicians. “I had been trying to put a band together ever since I moved to NYC in 1997,” Joe relates. “I lost count of how many guitarists, drummers, and bass players I have gone through, at least 30 on each instrument. I could write a book. To make a very long story short, the pieces finally fit together during the last two years, and in my opinion, the current lineup kicks ass, with Lucianna Padmore on drums, Bob Bowen on bass, and Mack Price on guitar. Anyone will tell you that there has to be a musical and personal chemisty. Everyone has to share the same vision and be a team player. That’s a very hard thing to find, even in New York, where there is an abundance of talented musicians.

Joe and the band will be appearing Jan 19 at Kenny’s Castaways in Manhattan. You can get information about upcoming shows, and CD releases, at joedeninzon.com. If you are interested in some truly great music, played by a world class musician, do yourself a favor and check Joe out!