Hello, my friends.

It’s Friday, September 2nd. I’m sitting here on the balcony of our rented condo in Maui overlooking the islands of Molokai and Lanai, watching the sunset, enjoying our the last days of our annual family vacation, and contemplating the insanity that awaits me when the plane touches down at Newark on Sunday. This fall looks to be one of the busiest runs of performances I’ve ever had, so it’s the GOOD kind of insanity. I just hope I can juggle all this different music in my brain! I feel refreshed and ready to kick some booty! Hope your summer has bee full of beautiful memories and inspirational moments.

Here is a long list of upcoming events I would like to share with you. I hope you can join me on parts of this ride…

Upcoming shows:


9/16 & 17 with Robert Bonfiglio. Grand Canyon Music Festival
My tenure with this festival is old enough to drink (has been for a few years now), which means I’m old enough to have my first colonoscopy.
But enough about that! Sept 12-17th, I return to the Grand Canyon Music Festival to teach the program I co-founded, “The Grand Canyon School of Rock,” and performing with renowned harmonica virtuosos, Robert Bonfiglio, with my friend, guitar genius Steve Benson and local cats John Vail on bass and Bryan Stone on drums. We perform at the Shrine of the Ages (South Rim) on Friday, Sept 16th and Saturday, Sept 17th.
Tickets can be purchased at www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org


9/20  Chord Charts/Lead Sheets workshop for www.stringmasters.com

I will be teaching a virtual class for intermediate-advanced string players on how to read chord charts and lead sheets, a skill that is essential for all modern musicians, but often overlooked in traditional string education. Reserve your spot in the class  HERE!

9/30 & 10/01 Stratospheerius at Ganja Grail at Harry’s Hill 
It’s been a while, but Stratospheerius is excited to return to Harry’s Hill in Starks, ME for two performances at one of their awesome festivals, Ganja Grail! Friday 9/30 @7PM and 10/1 @ 12 PM. Tickets for the whole weekend can be purchased at harryshill.net/ganja-grail/.


10/1 Stratospheerius Sonic Voyage Fest Stone Church. NH with Dark Beauty and Dreadnaught
Stone Church is an old Church in Newmarket, NH that has been converted to a music venue. We love playing here, and have not done so since the first Sonic Voyage Fest in 2015. We are excited about coming back and performing with our friends, the newly relocated New Hampshirites Dark Beatry and local favorites Dreadnaught! Come out to the show! Tickets available HERE!

10/7 with The Who. UBS Arena Elmont, NY. I”ll ver once again joining the orchestra and backing up this iconic band!

10/8 with Sweet Plantain/Harlem Chamber Players NYC
Celebrating LatinX Heritage month with Harlem Chamber Players and Sweet Plantain.
7 P.M.
Broadway Presbyterian Church
601 W. 114th St.
NY, NY
Ticket link


10/9 with various bands. ProgStock Festival. Rahway, NJ.
I’ll be the house violinist at my favorite prog rock festival. Sitting in with Evership, Dave Kerner, Rachel Flowers, and Pattern Seeking Animals! Busy day, folks!


10/12 with Stratospheerius/District 97 Kennet Flash. Kennet Sq, PA, 8 P.M.
Stratospheerius is psyched to be opening for one of our favorite prog bands, Chicago-based District 97!
We are major fanboys of these guys, and believe the are one of the most creative, innovative bands out there right now!
Tickets & info

Renaissance Legacy Tour

After a long, 3-year break. I’m honored to once again be joining the legendary Annie Haslam and Renaissance, along with my brothers in Sweet Plantain and the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, for their East Coast “Legacy” tour celebrating Annie’s 75th birthday.
What makes this even more special is that my good friend Rachel Flowers will be opening for us on October 20th, and I’ve just been asked to sit in with her and Annie on an intimate song. More info to come…

Tour dates below and more info at https://renaissancetouring.com/tour/

10/19  Patchogue Theater. Long Island
10/20 Count Basie Theater. Red Bank, NJ
10/21 Keswick Theater Glenside PA
10/27  The Egg. Troy, NY
10/28  Ridgefield Theater, CT
10/29 Town Hall, NYC

11/05 with Stratospheerius & Kinetic Element. Orion Studios, Baltimore, MD.
We will be joining our label mates Kinetic Element from Melodic Revolution Records
for Orion Sound’s legendary Progressive Showcase series.More info HERE!

11/18 with Steve Sandberg. Miller Symphony Hall. Allentown, PA
I am excited to be joining Emmy award-winning jazz pianist/composer Steve Sandberg (best known as the guy who scored Dora the Explorer!)
and his quartet for this concert at Miller Theater, home of the Allentown Symphony.
Friday, Nov 18th at 7 P.M.
Miller Symhpony Hall
23 N 6th St, Allentown, PA 18101
Tickets and info

In the Studio


I first discovered the music of Dave Kerzner in 2014, when I got hooked on “Sound of Contact,” the band he created with Phil Collin’s son, Simon on lead vocals and drums. Dave was the co-writer, producer and keyboardist of their phenomenal album, “Dimensionaught.” Since then, he has released a series of great solo albums, and I’m fortunate to have contributed strings to two of them. Her is his latest release, “The Travekler,” featuring strings from me, cello from Ruti Celli, Fernando Perdomo on guitar, Nick D’Virgilio and Marco Minneman on drums, Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd/Rolling Stones) on backup vocals, John Davidson from Yes on guest vocals, Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact) on bass, Billy Sherwood (Yes) on bass, and more guests.

https://sonicelements.bandcamp.com/album/the-traveler-standard-edition

Lots more news to come, but for now, this is all I can share. Stay tuned for a big announcement coming real soon….

Love and music,
-JD