HAPPY SPRING! Big announcements, projects, lots of shows, its gonna be H.O.T!
JOE DENINZON CONCERTO FOR 7-STRING ELECTRIC VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA WORLD PREMIER SEPTEMBER 19TH!
It’s official. I will be premiering my electric violin concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 19th!
One of the big things on my bucket list was to write and perform an electric violin concerto for orchestra. One year ago, Douglas Droste, the Musical Director of the Muncie Symphony, commissioned me to write and premier such a piece with his orchestra. It’s been a year of intensive work, and I’m still revising like crazy and working out the kinks, but this is HAPPENING! If all goes well, I hope to bring the piece to other orchestras and already have had interest from a few different places. Stay tuned…
To say I’m psyched is the understatement of the year! With this concerto, I want people to feel like they’ve been to a rock concert. It’s definitely got Zeppelin, Mahavishnu, and Stratospheerius all over it, and tons of “sonic architecture” from the electric violint. I’m pouring my heart and soul into one of the biggest projects I’ve ever done, and I feel I have learned a lot and grown in the process. Hope those of you within driving range of Muncie, IN will be able to come to the concert, and I hope those not in that area will get to hear the piece in the future.
The festival involves educational workshops for young musicians and music lovers in the afternoon, followed by performances by all three bands, as well as additional sets by local bands in each city.
Our maiden voyage is a tour of New England on Memorial Day Weekend. Here are the dates:
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Mazz Swift, Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
NEW STRATOSPHEERIUS SINGLE, “GUILTY OF INNOCENCE,” AVAILABLE NOW
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
Inspired by a recent stint in jury duty. A commentary on how we are all just trying to save ourselves and refuse to take responsibility for our actions, and look the other way when injustice is being committed.
The cover features the debut artwork of my 6-year old son, Max Deninzon.
It’s been a roller coaster ride of experiences and emotions so far this spring. Some wonderful performances and opportunities have opened up while I also lost a dear friend. Here is what coming up and what has come to pass:
R.I.P. David Gotay
The world has lost an incredible musician and a beautiful soul. It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend David Gotay after a long battle with kidney cancer. We are all in awe of the dignity and bravery with which he carried himself during his illness. He stopped his chemo a few weeks ago and spent his final days with no pain killers. When I last visited him, he hadn’t lost his sense of humor and we talked about life and music like we usually do, playing each other pieces we were both working on. For a moment, it felt like any other hang that we had in the past. We shared incredible moments on tour with Sweet Plantain, the group he founded and built up to huge success. He was the only cellist I knew who could rap and play cello at the same time. He was an incredible player and composer, who successfully merged his classical upbringing with his love of hip hop. He was and is loved by many people who’s lives he touched and enriched.
How do you say goodbye to someone for the last time? In our last meeting, I made a joke that he was gonna get to jam with Hendrix and Pablo Casals. “See you on the other side, my friend,” he said.
Rest in peace, Goat Burger.
Here is a performance Sweet Plantain did a few years ago at Severance Hall in my hometown of Cleveland. David plays a beautiful improvised cadenza at 1:24. Please enjoy!
Stratospheerius is proud to announce the launch of the Sonic Voyages Festival
Sonic Voyages is a traveling music festival involving three incredible bands, Stratospheerius (www.stratospheerius.com), Shadow Eden, and Circuline
The festival involves educational workshops for young musicians and music lovers in the afternoon, followed by performances by all three bands, as well as additional sets by local bands in each city.
Our maiden voyages is a tour of New England in May. Here are the dates:
I am honored to appear on “Galaxy Mechanics,” The sophomore effort from the incredible progressive band, Fractured Dimension. (https://www.facebook.com/thefractureddimension)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DPAYk7qaWs
NEW STRATOSPHEERIUS SINGLE, “GUILTY OF INNOCENCE,” AVAILABLE NOW
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
Inspired by a recent stint in jury duty. A commentary on how we are all just trying to save ourselves and refuse to take responsibility for our actions, and look the other way when injustice is being committed.
The cover features the debut artwork of my 6-year old son, Max Deninzon.
This summer, I will be once again returning to teach at the incredible Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp.
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Tracy Silverman, Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
Happy Spring! Some great shows and events coming up.
Stratospheerius just tracked two new songs in the studio. One is called “Parallel Reality,” which is my composition, and the other, “Affluenza,” is our drummer Lucy’s first writing contribution to the band! Hope to have ’em ready by the summer, but our long-term plan is to be perpetually writing and recording and coming out with new music, and we will be releasing a new single every three months or so, so stay tuned…
Sweet Plantain had an incredible concert on Feb 28th at Subculture in NYC, our hometown. The place was packed and we dedicated the concert to our dear friend and founder, cellist David Gotay, who is dying of cancer. Our thanks to everyone for the outpouring of love and beautiful energy you gave us!
Here’s what’s next…
Upcoming Stratospheerius shows
Saturday, March 21st, 8 P.M.
We are honored to open for the Levin Brothers band, featuring Tony Levin , legendary bassist/stick player for King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, John Lennon!
NEW STRATOSPHEERIUS SINGLE, “GUILTY OF INNOCENCE,” AVAILABLE NOW
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
Inspired by a recent stint in jury duty. A commentary on how we are all just trying to save ourselves and refuse to take responsibility for our actions, and look the other way when injustice is being committed.
The cover features the debut artwork of my 6-year old son, Max Deninzon.
I am honored to appear on the new CD by the progressive band Tiles. This CD also features Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern, and drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater).
This class explores the concept of “Three- dimentional playing” in the context of a rock arrangement and how all three dimensions inform the musical choices one makes. Using recordings of well-known rock and pop songs, we simulate a scenario where you are asked to join that band and given a blank canvas on which to add your part. This class follows the thought process behind being more than just a player, but a “sonic architect.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL MARK WOOD ROCK ORCHESTRA CAMP!
This summer, I will be once again returning to teach at the incredible Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp.
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Tracy Silverman, Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
I hope you’re toughing it out until the warm weather blesses us once again, unless you’re one of the lucky ones on whom the sun shines year round.
February and March are Jam-packed for me on all fronts. Sweet Plantain is playing some exciting NY-area shows, Stratospheerius is releasing a new single, playing some cool shows, and going into the studio once again. I am involved in some great education-related projects as well.
Stratospheerius had two amazing shows in Binghamton, NY on Feb 6th and Erie, PA on Feb 7th. Thanks to all who came out! Thanks also to Jeff Khan from Cyber Cafe West, the Bingham Press & Sun Bulletin, Erie Times, Ryan Bartosek, Dave Richards, and the incredible musician, Eric Brewer, and his band who opened for us in Erie with a killing set!
I also recently returned from Cincinnatti, where I had the privilege of working with the Sycamore High School Rock Orchestra. The orchestra, lead by David Smarelli, did an incredible job learning some of my tunes. We also jammed on songs by Muse, AC/DC, The Beatles, Mark Wood, and Coldplay, to name a few. I am grateful to have had this very rewarding experience.
NEW STRATOSPHEERIUS SINGLE, “GUILTY OF INNOCENCE,” AVAILABLE NOW
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
Inspired by a recent stint in jury duty. A commentary on how we are all just trying to save ourselves and refuse to take responsibility for our actions, and look the other way when injustice is being committed.
The cover features the debut artwork of my 6-year old son, Max Deninzon.
I am honored to appear on the new CD by the progressive band Tiles. This CD also features Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern, and drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater).
This class explores the concept of “Three- dimentional playing” in the context of a rock arrangement and how all three dimensions inform the musical choices one makes. Using recordings of well-known rock and pop songs, we simulate a scenario where you are asked to join that band and given a blank canvas on which to add your part. This class follows the thought process behind being more than just a player, but a “sonic architect.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL MARK WOOD ROCK ORCHESTRA CAMP!
This summer, I will be once again returning to teach at the incredible Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp.
This is the ONLY CAMP IN THE WORLD centered around electric strings, but is also open to vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and bassists. I am honored and humbled to be among world-renowned faculty including Tracy Silverman, Daniel Bernard Romaine, Doctor David Wallace, and the trailblazing Mark Wood!
This year, the camp will also feature the rock cellists, Emil and Dariel from America’s Got Talent!
The new single by Stratospheerius, “Guilty of Innocence,” is now officially available for streaming and downloads. Going for a retro new wave Police/Talking Heads sort of vibe on this one, with mad electric fiddle spray painted all over the track.
