Press/Bio

 

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.

Most recently, he became electric violinist/backup vocalist/rhythm guitarist for the legendary rock band, Kansas. Joe is also the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius, which has just released their 6th album, “Behind the Curtain (Live at ProgStock) to critical acclaim.

Joe has performed and/or recorded with the Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Skolnick, Smokey Robinson, Les Paul, Peter Criss (KISS), Michael Sadler (Saga), Renaissance with Annie Haslam, Kurt Elling, and as a soloist with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the New York City Ballet.

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 composed solo and chamber works for violinist Rachel Barton Pine, and in 2015, premiered his Electric Violin Concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

Joe has also worked with 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 made annual appearances performing at the Grand Canyon Music Festival with renowned harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio.

A passionate educator, in 2007, Joe co-founded the Grand Canyon School of Rock, an annual music program for local high school students in Northern Arizona. Joe is a faculty member at the New Jersey City University Multi-Style Strings Program. He travels worldwide as a clinician and has contributed articles to Strings Magazine, Downbeat, American String Teachers Journal, and Making Music Magazine. In 2012, Mel Bay published Joe’s book, “Plugging In.” Joe has taught at the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, Mark O’Connor String Camp, “Strings Without Boundaries,” and “Fiddle Hell,” and has presented multiple workshops at the American String Teachers National Conference.

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.”

Joe holds a Bachelors degree in Violin Performance from Indiana University and a Masters in Jazz Violin From Manhattan School of music.

He resides in New Jersey with his wife Yulia Ziskel, violinist with the New York Philharmonic, and their two children, Max and Arianna.

Photo by Adam Brett Schnee

Press Contact

Management/Publicity: Anne Leighton
anneleighton.com
anne@anneleighton.com
718-881-8183
P.O. Box 670922
Bronx, New York 10467
U.S.A

To book Joe for a residency, clinic, masterclass or performance, please email info@joedeninzon.com.

“If the violin has a future in rock and jazz, it is with Joe Deninzon”

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“When you put distorted guitars up against a violin you get magic. When you put a violin solo in a metal song, you get Fucking amazing shit! I love it when artists push the boundaries of what is perceived as the norm….. And I love it even more when it’s pure magic… I tip my hat and bow my head in awe ..”
-Act/one Magazine. Read full review HERE

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Stratospheerius music is otherworldly!”They can tear out ear hairs and stomp them flat!…sounding both ahead of the curve and accessible at the same time. ”
-#cirdecsongs (proglodytes.com) Read full review HERE

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Guilty of Innocence is not only great, but one of the most hectic and heart-stopping albums I’ve listened to.”
-Zachary Nathanson MUSIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Joe Deninzon’s virtuosity is undeniable….It’s progressive music that’s not afraid of a catchy chorus. The 12 minute closing track, ”Soul Food” is a well crafted multi-tempo road trip. It ventures into magnum opus territory where 70’s rockers Kansas were at home…”
-Haydn Seek SkeletonPete.com

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Deninzon’s perfect vocal delivery and skills as a violinist. Stratospheerius is as tight as ever and really create a strong organic melody. Bravo! This is music!”
–Warlock Asylum International News

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Chunky guitars, a battery of drums, and a seesawing Jacob’s ladder of electric violin battle for supremacy as Deninzon’s piercing tenor equates American exceptionalism with the fraudulent Wizard of Oz.”

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Deninzon has been called the Jimi Hendrix of electric violin, and that comparison seems apt on “Dream Diary Cadenza,” an excerpt of Deninzon’s solo concerto, where his violin swoops, howls, and dive bombs amid quickening arpeggios.”

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Deninzon nods to Jean-Luc Ponty and George Clinton’s Funkadelic while charting an eccentric course that conjoins whiplash funk, spacey electronic, and progressive rock.”

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Joe Deninzon has pioneered a new standard for rock violin, much the same way Ian Anderson did for the flute.”
-Nick Tate, Progression Magazine

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“(Violinist/singer) Joe’s talents are flat out phenomenal, and the progressive rock tapestry he weaves around himself is carried out to perfection by his amazing band.”
-www.musicmorsels.com

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“––on the stage with strings smoking and thoughts flying faster than the Concorde on amphetamines. (Joe Deninzon’s) compositions (are) living, fire-breathing monsters.”
-Jedd Beaudoin, www.seaoftranquility.org

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Deninzon shows how he has earned the nickname the “Jimi Hendrix of violin” as he tears threw a distortion heavy solo that points more in the direction of Guns N Roses’ Slash than Yo Yo Ma.”
-Justin Scro www.cashboxmagazine.com

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“As at home in the world of Grappeli and O’Connor as he is in the world of Steve Vai and Jimi Hendrix, Joe Deninzon may very well be our next national violin treasure!!”
-Jedd Beaudoin, www.seaoftranquility.org

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“Fleshing out the Stratospheerius sound are: Out of This World strings, sultry guitar, rumbling basslines, frantic drumming, and celebratory vocals that enunciate lyrical outlines of life. The songs are gripping and energetic… Insistent melodies made compelling by the violin passion.”
-Matt Howarth (Soniccuriosity.com)

Photo by Brian Tirpak

“…a frenzied mélange of alt-bluegrass, progressive rock, jazz fusion and funkabilly, with shades of neo-hippie 90’s and space rock for good measure. If Bela Fleck and Frank Zappa had a love child in outer space, it might grow up to sound like these guys do.”
coolcleveland.com

Photo by Brian Tirpak

Press Clippings

Hanging with the Storm Surgers

Hanging with the Storm Surgers

Join us as we discuss the creation of our new song/video “Storm Surge” and the future of music and life as we know it!

Joe Deninzon interview by James Popick

Joe Deninzon interview by James Popick

Joe Deninzon talks about the new Stratospheerius song, "Storm Surge" with special guests Michael Sadler from Saga, Fernando Perdomo, Ruti Celli, and Rachel Flowers. https://jamesapopik.substack.com/p/storm-surge-by-joe-deninzon

Joe Deninzon new Podcast Interview with Conductor Tigran Arakelyan

Last month, I had the honor of being interviewed by the conductor Tigran Arakelyan. We compared our personal histories as childhood immigrants and talked about the present and future of music in these turbulent times. Check it out! iTunes YouTube Stitcher