DENINZONEWS SPRING 2022

All the news that’s fit to print about violinist/composer/singer/mandolinist/Stratospheerian Joe Deninzon

Hey, everyone. Happy Spring!

While I look forward to all the super cool performances, recordings, and other projects awaiting me in the coming months, I write this with a heavy heart. My family is from Russia. My grandparents and their ancestors on my father’s side were from Ukraine. We have many close friends from the Ukraine. Our hearts are breaking for the unprovoked invasion by the tyrant Putin and the unbelievable hardships the people of Ukraine are going through. We pray for peace and a swift end to this terrible war, for Putin to be removed from of power and punished for war crimes, and the Ukraine to be rebuilt and restored to the thriving democracy it deserves to be.  We are also concerned that ignorant people in the United States and other countries do not blame Russian immigrants living among them for the invasion. People have to realize that we escaped this country decades ago because we distrusted its government and couldn’t see a future for our kids there. Most Russians I know, even the ones living in Russia who can’t speak openly about it, condemn this invasion and despise the many who started it.

If you want to help people in Ukraine, a good thing to do is reserve an Air BNB. While you don’t plan on traveling and staying in the Ukraine, you are supporting the folks that own the Air BNB and helping them provide for their families.

You can also help by donating to the International Rescue Committee and other charitable organizations.

And now for the news…

Rachel Barton Pine Israeli tour and commission

Recently, my good friend Rachel Barton Pine commissioned me to write a duet for her and her daughter Sylvia. Rachel is an internationally-renowned violin virtuoso, and her 9-year-old daughter is on her way to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Rachel and Sylvia are doing a 5-date tour of Israel with the Tel Aviv soloists March 11th-15th. She asked me to write a short, flashy, Klezmery piece that she could play at the end of each night with her daughter. I went to work and came up with something that I’m really excited about. The concept was to chronicle my family’s experience as Russian Jewish refugees who came to the US, and connect it with Russian Jewish refugees who came to Israel. But with the recent refugee crisis, I think one could make a thread to the current Ukranian refugees crossing into Poland, Hungary, and other parts of Europe. The work is titled “Livroach el Ha’or,” which means “Escape to the light.”

Here are there tour dates. If you live in Israel, I highly recommend attending a concert. Rachel is, in my opinion, one of the greatest living classical violinists!

https://rachelbartonpine.com/category/tourdates/

This Thursday, March 10th
Two shows in one night!

7-9 PM,performing with Emmanuel Bishop for the National Down Syndrome Society Gala

Emmanuel is a true inspiration. Born with down syndrome, he is an accomplished acoustic and electric violinist, a champion swimmer, and a polyglot. He has been an international spokesperson for the NDSS. It is such an honor to be backing him up on the Vivaldi A Minor violin concerto and the Seitz Violin Concert, performed on two electric violins. Thank you to my brother Matt Bell for the opportunity. You can read more about Emmanuel here: https://www.potensum.com

9:30 P.M. performing with BRM (Brooklyn Raga Massive) at 55 Bar NYC. Celebrating the music of John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Shakti.

55 Bar
55 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
https://www.facebook.com/brmcelebratingmclaughlinmahavishnu

With Vin Scialla-drums
Premik Russel Tubbs (original Mahavishnu member)-woodwinds
Neel Murgai-sitar
Dan Asher-bass
Anupam Shobhakar-doubleck guitar

Friday, March 18th
Electric String String Summit in Atlanta with Joe Deninzon, Rob Flax, Martha Mooke, Matt Bell, Tracy Silverman, Jesus Florido

VENUE: Venkman’s, 740 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
DOORS: 5 pm
SHOW: 6 pm
TICKETS: $10, GA, at the door or in advance here: https://www.freshtix.com/events/ess-mar-18

Saturday, March 19th: ASTA Workshop
HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA

265 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303

I’m excited to return to ASTA after a 2-year hiatus. The American String Teachers Association National Conference is a special time where all of us string nerds get together, share our pedagogical and performance knowledge, and abuse our livers. This year, I’m leading a panel presentation on Saturday at 2:45 PM on “Using Looping and other Effects to Improve Your Classical Technique.” Panel includes myself, Tracy Silverman, Martha Mooke, Julie Lyon Lieberman, Robb Janov, and Andy Reiner. These are THE CATS! The challenge will be condensing everything we have to share into one HR!!! OMFG, I’ve created a monster!

Saturday, April 17th: performing at ROSfest (Sarasota, Fla)

Joe Deninzon performs at ROSfest (www.rosfest.org)
ROSfest is one of the biggest progressive rock festivals in the world and takes place at the Sarasota Opera House
3 PM, I’ll be playing a solo set in the beer garden outside of the theater, as pat of the Minstrels in the Garden series.
8 PM, I’ll be on the main stage, performing with my friend keyboardist Dave Kerzner (Sound of Contact) and his all-star band, which includes:
Bill Sherwood-bass (Yes)
Fernando Perdomo-guitar (Jacob Dylan)
Durga McBroom-vocals (Pink Floyd)
Nick D’Virgilio-drums (Genesis, Spocks Beard, Big Big Train)

Stratospheerius is back on stage!!

We’ve been writing, recording, mixing, editing, and editing some more. But now, we are emerging from our musical manacles for a bit to perform for you all again! Two NY-area shows April 29th and May 12th.

Friday April 29th
9 PM-1 AM
Sonic Voyage Fest presents:
Brooklyn Raga Massive (celebrating the music of John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Shakti)
Joe Deninzon & Strastospheerius
https://fb.me/e/3eucrqHdt

Olive’s
118 N. Main St.
Nyack, NY

Thursday, May 12th
Electric Violin Summit with
One More Once feat John Dinklage (Rush)
Stratospheerius feat Joe Deninzon

Shrine World Music Venue
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
NY, NY
https://fb.me/e/20YlCBC1H

Thursday, May 26th
I’m excited to be performing with The Who once again at Madison Square Garden!

NEW STRATOS SINGLE, “THE PRISM (LIVE AT PROGSTOCK) OUT APRIL 8TH on MELODIC REVOLUTION RECORDS!

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER TODAY! 

The Stratospheerius double live DVD/CD is moving forward. Expected release date is sometime in September, in the meantime, we’re dropping singles every few months just to tease ya! The next one, “The Prism,” is due out on April 8th.

In the meantime, please check out our last SINGLE (the first single form this album) and video “Game of Chicken!”

Alex Skolnick Interviews Yulia Ziskel on WQXR/”Moods and Modes” podcast

My wife, NY–Phil violinist Yulia Ziskel was recently interviewed by my old friend and former bandmate, legendary Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick for his awesome podcast, “Moods and Modes,” in conjunction with WQXR. The topic was “Heavy Classical,” turning rock and metal fans on to classical music and finding threads that connect the two genres. Here is the main link to hear the podcast.

https://www.alexskolnick.net/podcast/2022/2/18/heavy-classical-ny-philharmonics-yulia-ziskel

Join My Patreon!

If you join right now for as low as $5 per month, I’ll send you my complete digital music catalogue as a FREE gift! Furthermore, you’ll get monthly gig diaries, unreleased downloads, exclusive behind-the-scenes stuff, and early FREE access to anything I release, as a solo artist or with Stratospheerius. We’re hard at work putting the finish touches on our live album and DVD, as well as a new studio album. It’s gonna cost a LOT to manufacture and promote both of these projects, so any help from you, my friends would be greatly appreciated. In return, I will bring you into my crazy world and share my stories, my music, and my heart and soul.

METRO STRINGS on INSTAGRAM

Please follow my electro-acoustic string collective, Metro Strings on Instagram.
More videos and pics to come….

Take care of yourselves and pay for peace on earth. See ya out there!!

Love an music

-JD

BUY MUSIC, BOOKS, AND MERCH ON:
Joe Deninzon BANDCAMP
STRATOASPHEERIUS BANDCAMP

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