April 2012 News
Joe Deninzon News April, 2012
WELCOME TO THE DENINZOO!!
Get Lost in THE NEXT WORLD…
The New CD by Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius
After 3 years and thousands of delays, remixes, remasters, obsessive compulsive behavior, and lost hair, IT IS DONE!!!
The new STRATOSPHEERIUS album is HERE for your consumption
Listen to samples and download it on iTunes.
The disc was engineered by our good friend Rave Tesar, mixed by Nic Hard (The Bravery, Sophia Ramos, The Kin), and mastered by Nathan James at The Vault in NY (Charlie Hunter, John Mayer, Garbage, Gypsy Kings). Design by Claire Deninzon.
Stratospheerius signs with Steve Vai’s Digital Nations
For me growing up, Steve Vai was a huge influence on me both as a guitarist and later in my electric violin playing and writing. We are honored to release this CD digitally on his Digital Nations label.
You can view our artist page HERE.
In Memory of Bob Bowen
As many of you know, we lost our dear friend/former bass player Bob Bowen in August of 2010 when he was killed in a tragic bike accident in Manhattan. This album is dedicated to his memory. He drew all of the artwork, and played on track 6, “The House Always Wins,” which was the last song he ever recorded with us.
Mark Your Calendars:
CD RELEASE PARTY on May 24th
We will be celebrating the release of “The Next World…” on Thursday, May 24th at one of our favorite NYC venues, The Shrine. We hope you’ll join us. Here is all the info:
Thursday, May 24th
10:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
The Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
New York, NY 10030-3003
(212) 690-7807
www.shrinenyc.com
NO COVER!!!
FREE GIFTS, PRIZES, AND FOOD
We will play most of the album in its entirety and the show will be videotaped.
FREE DOWNLOAD: THE PRISM
As my way of thanking you for being on this e-list, I would like to give you a free download of one my personal favorite tracks off of our CD, “The Prism.”
Go here to get your free download…
UPCOMING STRATOSPHEERIUS SHOWS
Friday, April 13th, 9:00-10:00 P.M.
The Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
New York, NY 10030-3003
(212) 690-7807
www.shrinenyc.com
NO COVER!!!
Friday, May 4, 9:00 P.M.
Friday, November 18th
9:00 P.M.
Cyber Café West
176 Main St. Binghamton, NY
(607) 723-2456
www.cybercafewest.com
$5 cover
Saturday, May 5th
10:00 P.M.
Mojo’s
4 E. 2nd St
Jamestown, NY 14701-5427
(716) 720-4621
$5 cover
Thursday, May 17th
10:00 P.M.
Sully’s Pub
2071 Park St.
Hartford CT 06106
www.sullyspub.com
Friday, May 18th
9:00 P.M.
The Stone Church
5 Granite Street
Newmarket, NH 03857
(603) 659-7700
www.thestonechurchrocks.com
Saturday, May 19th
10:00 P.M.
The Slainte
24 Preble Street Extension
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 828-0900
www.slaintewinebar.com
With HOBOE
Awesome band based out of Portland, ME
The only rock band I’ve ever heard featuring an oboe!
www.facebook.com/hoboeband
Thursday, May 24th
CD RELEASE PARTY (see above)
10:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
The Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
New York, NY 10030-3003
(212) 690-7807
www.shrinenyc.com
Stratospheerius is:
Joe Deninzon-electric violin/lead vocals/mandolin
Aurelien Budynek-guitar/vocals
Jamie Bishop-bass/vocals
Lucianna Padmore-drums
NEW YOUTUBE VIDS
Watch the trailer for Joe Deninzon’s new book/DVD, “PLUGGING IN,” from Mel Bay Publications
Joe Deninzon talks about what inspired his book and his philosophy on being a string player in today’s music scene.
Stratospheerius performs the song, “Shock Therapy,” from the Mel Bay DVD, “Plugging In.”
ON THE EDUCATIONAL FRONT
ATTENTION STRING PLAYERS!
Joe Deninzon will be giving an electric violin/improv clinic at the Long Island Violin shop on Saturday, April 28th. The clinic will be sponsored by D’Addario Strings and Wood Violins. See below for details:
Saturday, April 28th
3:00 P.M.
“Plugging In:
Exploring the creative world of electric bowed stringed instruments.”
Featuring Joe Deninzon
Long Island Violin Shop
8 Elm Street
Huntington, NY 11743
(855) 343-3535
$10 cover
New Joe Deninzon book: “Plugging In”
Available NOW from Mel Bay publications
I am proud to announce the official release of my book, “Plugging In: A Guide to Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist”, from Mel Bay Publications.
About the book:
Over the years, I have had many violin students come to me, some high school/college students and some adult professionals, interested in exploring the world of improvisation, “alternative styles,” and electric string playing. I would often get the same questions: “How do I shop for an electric violin? What kind of instrument is right for me? What kind of amp should I use? How do you do all those percussive effects? How do I work these effects pedals and what sounds are the best to use?” I wanted to answer these questions in one book. The first part of this book talks about choosing an electric violin, working with transducers, the history of electric bowed stringed instruments, amplification and monitoring. Then, I explore improvisation in the genres of blues, funk, and rock, rhythmic techniques like “chopping’ and “comping”, working with effects pedals, working with DJ’s, rock string arranging, and a myriad of other things I have had to do in my career that require skills beyond the traditional classical conservatory training. The book comes with a 70 minute CD and a 60- minute DVD, and contains over 60 musical examples!
To order your copy, please visit this link:
http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?productid=22035SET
Upcoming Sweet Plantain Shows
Tuesday April 10th
12:30-1:30 P.M.
UBS Atrium
FREE Lunchtime concert series
1000 Harbor Boulevard in Weehawken, New Jersey
www.sweetplantain.com
www.facebook.com/sweetplantain
Nobody bridges the gap between generations or musical genres like Sweet Plantain, a refreshingly new string quartet. Artfully fusing the western classical traditions in which they were trained with the hip-hop, jazz improv, and Latin rhythms on which they were raised, their original writing and live shows educate and entertain. Separately hailing from the South Bronx, New Jersey, Russia, and Venezuela, together these musicians give voice to a sound that is contemporary and multicultural.
“I had the pleasure of hearing Sweet Plantain perform this September. What an amazing experience. Blending jazz, Latin and classical styles, this virtuoso quartet brings a freshness and inventiveness to every note they play. The audience was enthralled, and I was simply blown away.” – Stuart Malina 2007 Tony Award winning conductor
Sweet Plantain is:
Joe Deninzon-violin/mandolin/vocals
Eddie Venegas-violin/trombone
Orlando Wells-viola
David Gotay-cello/vocals
Joe Deninzon to teach at Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp this summer!
I am excited to be returning as a faculty member at Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp. Mark Wood was the designer of the 7-string fretted Viper Electric violin that I play. He is a legendary performer who has played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dee Snyder, and Billy Joel, to name a few. He is also a true revolutionary in the world of electric violin and string education. The camp will take place at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS from July 17-23, 2011. To register today, visit http://www.mwroc.com/
Some of the topics I will be teaching include:
- “Fiddlefunk”: Using the violin in a funk or hip-hop band
- “Rhytholin”: Chopping, scratching, and comping on the violin
- The “Effective” Violinist: Working with effects in a solo or composition
- Fusion Violin: Mahavishnu, Jean-Luc Ponty, and original songs.
- Singing and playing/arranging violin parts around vocals
- Rocking out your string quartet-coaching and performing some of my string quartets that I perform with Metro Strings
Joe Deninzon recent performance at the Iridium with members of Paul McCartney’s Wings
On Thursday, March 29th, The Iridium Jazz Club in New York City had a McCartney-themed evening. A double bill with bands led by former Wings members Henry McCullough (guitar) and Dany Seiwell (drums). These musicians played on all the legendary early 70’s Paul McCartney hits, including “Live and Let Die,” “My Love,” “Jet,” and “Band on the Run.”
I had the honor of sitting in with Henry McCullough on both sets that night .
Check out the show at the Iridium livestream
Joe Deninzon Becomes Affiliate with Christian Howes Creative Strings Academy
My friend and colleague Christian Howes recently started a program where he and a collective of string players specializing in alternative styles make short online video lessons and sheet music/instructional music downloads available for purchase.
A wide range of topics is covered, and you can either purchase videos and other products individually or become a subscriber and get unlimited access for one low price. I will be a regular contributor to this website in the coming months. Here is the link to subscribe:
