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Joe Deninzon

JOE DENINZON
www.joedeninzon.com

Joe Deninzon has been hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin,” because of his innovative style on the “Viper” seven-string electric violin. In addition to leading Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius, Joe is the violinist/guitarist for classic rock band Kansas.

He has worked with the Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Skolnick, Smokey Robinson, Les Paul, Peter Criss from KISS, Michael Sadler, Renaissance with Annie Haslam, Phoebe LeGere, Kurt Elling, and as a soloist with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the New York City Ballet.

Joe is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius, which has released 7 albums to critical acclaim. He can be heard on over a hundred albums and jingles as a violinist and string arranger. A BMI Composer’s Grant recipient and winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, he has written a solo piece for renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine, and in 2015, premiered his Electric Violin Concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

Joe is also a member of the Sweet Plantain String Quartet, which combines Latin Jazz with hip-hop and Classical music, and has toured throughout Europe and the U.S. Joe has released a CD with his acoustic jazz trio, titled “Exuberance.”

Joe makes annual appearances performing at the Grand Canyon Music Festival with renowned harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio. In 2007, Joe co-founded the Grand Canyon School of Rock in Arizona, an annual music program for local high school students. He travels worldwide as a clinician and has contributed articles to Strings, Downbeat, American String Teachers Journal, and Making Music Magazine. In 2012, Mel Bay published Joe’s book on improv and extended techniques for strings, titled “Plugging In.” Joe has taught at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, Mark O’Connor’s String Camp, and Julie Lyonn Lieberman’s “Strings Without Boundaries.” Chris Haigh’s book, “Discovering Rock Violin,” lists one of Joe’s recorded solos among the “Top 20 greatest rock violin solos of all time.”


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114
Album Review

Joe Deninzon: The Adventures Of Stratospheerius

Read "The Adventures Of Stratospheerius" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Violinist Joe Deninzon boasts some impressive credentials! He’s performed with soul/pop icon Smokey Robinson, rock/pop diva Sheryl Crow, and others of note. This Russian born, Cleveland Ohio bred artist displays hearty doses of flair and dazzle throughout this somewhat asymmetrical outing. Featuring electric guitar maestro Alex Skolnick and a strong backing band, the violinist launches the proceedings with a snappy, jazz-fusion motif on the opening number, “What’s That Thang?” The musicians also explore balladry and funk-grooves in concert with Skolnick’s ...

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4

Recording

Vinyl Alert! Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Offer Pre-Order Special For Guilty Of Innocence LP

Vinyl Alert! Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Offer Pre-Order Special For Guilty Of Innocence LP

Source: Anne Leighton

Melodic Revolution Records is pleased to announce that Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius will release the LP of their highly acclaimed fifth album Guilty of Innocence a year after the official CD release via Melodic Revolution Records. The 10-track vinyl LP will include a download card of the album. Also for sale are the already-released CD and Digital album. As with the previous CD & Digital version Guilty of Innocence features special appearances by Alex Skolnick (Testament), Rave Tesar (Renaissance) and ...

1

Recording

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Sign To Melodic Revolution Records

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Sign To Melodic Revolution Records

Source: Anne Leighton

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius will release their fifth CD Guilty of Innocence through Melodic Revolution Records early Fall 2017. The new 10-track album will be available worldwide in both Physical and Digital formats. Guilty of Innocence features special appearances by Alex Skolnick (Testament), Rave Tesar (Renaissance) and Randy McStine (The Fringe). Guilty of Innocence highlights include a reimagined cover of Muse’s “Hysteria,” a 12-minute prog epic titled “Soul Food” which features many of the guests mentioned above, plus “Dream Diary ...

173

Recording

Joe Deninzon Trio Debut CD and Tour

Joe Deninzon Trio Debut CD and Tour

Source: Anne Leighton

Violinist Joe Deninzon and his trio will be releasing their debut CD, “Exuberance," in February of 2010 and will be touring in the Midwest February 10-21 in support of the new release. Tour dates include Indianapolis, Cleveland, Bloomington, Cincinnati. The Joe Deninzon Trio is comprised of violinist Joe Deninzon, bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson. On tour the group will be joined by drummer Lucianna Padmore. The goal of the EXUBERANCE sessions was to capture the essence of three ...


“Stratospheerius does not play what you want; it plays things you didn’t know you wanted.”
 - Dan Roth, Progression “a whirling dervish of vibrant creativity. He is one of those folks who seem to have a limitless supply of intriguing ideas. Deninzon is the embodiment of a true progressive artist…” 
- Eric Harabadian, Downbeat “combines solid songwriting and tradition with extraordinary electric violin work and the sounds of the future.” 
- Angel Romero, Progressive Rock Central “Joe Deninzon brings the process of bringing the violin into the 21st century by making the music and technology of the contemporary electric guitarist available to the curious and willing violinist." 
- Mimi Rabson, Strings Magazine “Think a bit of Zappa, the Dixie Dregs or Blues Traveler, with the violin being the focal point

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Primary Instrument

Violin

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Faculty at New jersey City University Multistyles Strings Dept.

Active clinician 2010-present

Private instructor www.stringmasters.com

Faculty at Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp 2011-present

Clinician at Strings Without Boundaries, Fiddle hell, ASTA National confefence, NY Phil Educational outreach, Mark O'Connor String Camp.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Active clinician 2010-present

Private instructor www.stringmasters.com

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Frank Zappa
guitar, electric
Bruce Springsteen
composer / conductor

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Behind the Curtain...

Melodic Revolution Records
2023

buy

Guilty of Innocence

Melodic Revolution Records
2018

buy

The Next World

Digital Nations / D-Zone Entertainment
2012

buy

Exuberance

D-Zone Entertainment
2010

buy

Headspace

D-Zone Entertainment
2007

buy

Live Wires

D-Zone Entertainment
2004

buy

Videos

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