http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/cdrz.html

Stratospheerius – The Next World… (Fiddlefunk Music)

Take violinist / vocalist Joe Deninzon, add guitarist Aurelien Budynek, bassist Jamie Bishop, and drummer Lucianna Padmore and you get the genre-busting quartet Stratospheerius. One moment you get a Police vibe; another song might fit in with that gonzo Tubes feel; the next some Jeff Beck-ish; yet another would be at home in the Zappa family. Sometimes all at once. The one common factor is that every number is full of invention and feels alive.

The biggest jump since the last Stratospheerius album is the depth and maturity Deninzon’s voice has gained. His vocal on The House Always Wins is playful and a bit of a tease. On Gods it’s got an urgent edge. Earthy and open on Climbing. As for the playing, every member plays with passion and invention. Budynek is tight and bright in rhythm mode and soars when the song calls for it. Bishop, who prog fans might recall from stints with the Syn and with Francis Dunnery, is a flat out low end monster and perfectly matched with the fiery Padmore. She is that drummer every musician wants in their ensemble: a player that can blow your mind one moment, then tenderly hold your hand the next. As for Deninzon – the sounds he gets out of that violin are inhuman. His speed, precision, color, and character are just off the charts!

Not a bum song to be found here. Today Ballad For Ding Bang, the Morse-era Spock’s Beard-ish One Foot In The Next World, The House Always Wins, and Tech Support win the highlight honors. If you dig funk/prog/rock/jazz/jam/fusion/pretty-much-everything-but-opera – it’s all right here. The Next World… is a disc you’ll never get tired of spinning! Much love to dear departed Stratospheerian Bob Bowen who also provided the cover art.

http://progressiverockcentral.com/2012/05/04/a-superbly-gifted-violinist/

A Superbly Gifted Violinist

 

Stratospheerius – The Next World

Stratospheerius 

The Next World (Digital Nations, 2012)

A leading candidate for best rock album of 2012 is the deliciously addictive album The Next World by Stratospheerius. The wide-ranging New York-based band is the brainchild of electric violin sensation Joe Deninzon.

Stratospheerius displays violin virtuoso, mandolinist and vocalist Joe Deninzon at his prime, accompanied by three outstanding musicians: Lucianna Padmore on drums, Aurelien Budynek on guitar and vocals, and Jamie Bishop on bass and vocals.

The Next World mixes state of the art progressive rock, jazz fusion, Dave Matthews Band-style jam band rock, contemporary bluegrass, cutting edge electronica, blues, folk-rock vocals harmonies, and even Balkan Gypsy music. Joe Deninzon’s dazzling violin solos, creative loops and effects are clearly spectacular and demonstrate that is one of the most talented instrumentalists in the current rock scene.

The Next World is dedicated to the late Bob Bowen, the bassist in both Stratospheerius and the Joe Deninzon Trio. Bob was killed in a bicycle accident in Manhattan (New York) in 2010. Bob’s bass appears on the track “The House Always Wins.” Bob Bowen also created the cover artwork for the album.

The Next World combines solid songwriting and tradition with extraordinary electric violin work and the sounds of the future.

Electrify Your Violin

Plug In, Rock Out, and Expand Your Horizons!

by Joe Deninzon

A few years ago, I was asked to teach intermediate violin and beginning improvisation in the continuing education department at the New School University in New York City.

Many of the adults who came to my classes had played violin in a high school orchestra, gave it up in college as they entered their various fields, and wanted to return to the instrument and make it a part of their lives once again. Oftentimes, folks told me that, as much as they love classical music, their interests range from jazz to folk, rock, R&B, and hip-hop, and they wanted to play the music they love.

Until recently, the education system for young string players has given little attention to fostering creativity and teaching improvisation. Though the timeless beauty of the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Stravinsky must be taught to every generation, I believe part of the reason so many young people quit playing, is because they don’t see the connection between their violin, viola, or cello and the music that is on their iPods. As a musical clinician in high schools, I see the faces of kids light up when they realize they can play any style of music on their instrument, be it hip-hop or heavy metal. This inspires them to keep playing and can even bring them back full circle to classical music, which is the foundation.

I see this same spark in adults that I have taught. If playing the violin, viola, or cello is part of your life, you may already play in a chamber group or community orchestra, but there are many avenues to explore that can inspire you, and you don’t have to live in a big city to take advantage of them.

Here are a few things you can do as a string player to expand your musical horizons:

1) Take some lessons on improvisation. I grew up in Cleveland at a time when there were no jazz violin teachers in town, but I didn’t let that stop me. Even if you live in a small town, you can find a guitarist, sax player, or pianist to teach you some basic things that you can apply to any instrument. If you just learn the pentatonic scale, blues scale, and the form of the blues, you can already wail over a wide variety of music. The blues is the foundation to 90% of popular Western music, and a major building block if your goal is to play jazz, bluegrass, or rock.

2) Play as much as you can. Conquer your fear by going to jam sessions around town. Try out some of the things you learn in your improv lesson, and accept the fact that you may not sound good right away. Just keep doing it! Get together with friends who play different instruments, throw a big party, jam and learn together.

3) Go electric. Playing violin through a microphone to be heard over a loud band just doesn’t cut it. Invest in a pickup or transducer. Companies like LR Baggs and Fishman manufacture inexpensive bridges that act as magnetic pickups connected to a quarter-inch cable jack, which is easily installed on an instrument, enabling it to connect to an amplifier or a PA system. There are also transducers, such as The Realist, which simply clip onto your bridge.

4) Buy electric. If you want to buy an instrument dedicated strictly to playing in an amplified setting, you need to get a solid body electric. These violins, cellos, and violas come in a wide variety of designs since the shape does not affect the sound of the instrument. They look incredible on stage! Manufacturers make four, five, six, and seven string electric violins. Having extra strings is great because you can write a string quartet and hear all four parts, or play low power chords in a rock band. Visit www.electricviolinshop.com to see some of the designs.

5) Invest in an amp. In the electric world, a good amplifier is a crucial part of your sound. Once you have electrified your instrument, go to any music store and spend an afternoon trying out every amp you can. I usually prefer guitar or bass amps for my violin, but don’t rule anything out and trust your ears.

6) Explore the world of effects pedals. The variety of pedals that exist will make your head spin. Multi-effects processors have hundreds of different sounds programmed into one device. It is a great way to introduce yourself to delay, wah, distortion—all the sounds that guitar players have used for years that many string players are now discovering for the first time.

7) Once you gain confidence, find a local band and see if they would like to add a violin, viola, or cello. So many bands in rock, pop, and hip hop are using strings that it’s becoming as common as seeing a guitar on the bandstand. DJs may invite electric violinists to accompany them at clubs.

Joe Deninzon (www.joedeninzon.com) is a violinist based in New York City who leads the band Stratospheerius, plays in the Sweet Plantain String Quartet, and has worked with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin, Ritchie Blackmore, and Phoebe Snow.

Over the five years that have passed since Joe Deninzon carved a personal niche in the rock domain with his band’s debut, “Headspace”, he made forays into jazz territory with a trio of his own on the instrumental covers collection which is “Exuberance”, but it’s in STRATOSPHEERIUS that the violinist holds the richest palette to take colors from. And this time he goes for a big picture, even though tango “The House Always Wins” and punky yelp of “Tech Support” might throw things to the humorous side to dissolve the wah-wah-adorned cerebral swipe of “The Missing Link” or the heavy “Gods” idiosyncrasy and, thus, blur the intent.

So while “Release” opens the lookout in quite pathetic manner, planting a folk dance onto proggy stem – a trick that works miracles in the vocal-free rave “Fleshbot” – when the full view comes into focus with the guitar-and-fiddle rage of “Climbing” a fabulous vibe goes down the listener’s spine. Ignited by Aurelien Budynek’s axe, “Road Rage”, the most classically-burdened piece on offer and at the same time the sharpest, marries its riff-fest to Balkan swirl, whereas “One Foot In The Next World” thrives on its fusion sensibilities, but “The Prism” is where the Eastern-hued vibe turns triumphal and the purest release reveals itself. After that, another five years would make a cruel wait.

****2/3

Perhaps despite themselves, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius are proving the sub-genre of ’70s progressive rock is very much alive and well in 2012. While Stratospheerius describes itself as a “psychojazz trip funk” band, The Next World is squarely in the linage of works from bands like Yes, King Crimson, and Genesis, along with nods to jazz/rock fusion. While Deninzon doesn’t claim any of these groups as influences, citing instead musicians likeFrank Zappa and Jean-Luc Ponty, The Next World seems grounded in the conventions of progressive rock, which gives Stratospheerius the ideal format to showcase their musicianship and songwriting abilities.

For example, one trend in old school prog rock was the tendency to feature lead singers with high-register tenor voices. That’s certainly true of Russian-born bandleader Deninzon. But few other frontmen also excel as masters of the electric violin. A high-flying rock band also usually requires a guitarist capable of both soaring leads and inventive and energetic chord support. For the current incarnation of the group, French fretman Aurelien Budynek does just that. In prog rock, the ensembles are normally built on the tight performances of a rhythm section capable of unusual time signatures and quick tempo changes. Bassist Jamie Bishop and drummer Lucianna Padmore fit that bill to a T.

Their The Next World album opens with the jubilant “Release,” which is about letting go of old restrictions. Tricky time signatures and interwoven vocal lines mark “The Missing Link,” showcasing an extremely psychedelic guitar solo from Budynek. The entire band becomes hopped-up speed demons on “Tech Support,” with appropriate electronic sounds to deliver the message that the singers need that elusive technical support and, “You’re my last resort.”

Offering different moods and approaches, Stratospheerius goes Appalachian on “Climbing,” which erupts into King Crimsonesque rising and falling scales, reflecting the lyrics by a singer who is “still climbing” while he ages and is “looking over my shoulder.” Crashing gongs punctuate the fusion-jazz of “Fleshbot,” which might have fit on  Wired if Jeff Beck had been a fiddle master with a streak of humor.

Speaking of humor, “The House Always Wins” goes even further back in time for influences, with a bouncy, swingin’ tribute to the breed of blues you might expect in a MGM musical-that is, if violinists had been plugged in back in the day. (The bassist for this track is former band member Bob Bowen. The album is dedicated to his memory, as he died in a bicycle accident in 2010.)

The variety of styles continue to range from the rough-edged “Gods,” in which “the more the pain, the more gods we need,” to the gentle instrumental, “Ballad for Ding Bang.” After the rock jam of “Road Rage,” we get one song seemingly deliberately crafted for radio airplay, the poppy “One Foot in the Next World.” The song from which the album drew its title has the listener part in the next world, part in this life, and one part twisting the knife. To close off the album, why not add a touch of ELO-style exuberance in “The Prism”? It’s a dramatic echo of “Release” with lyrics calling for the audience to break free from what imprisons us.

Some of the publicity for The Next World might suggest the album is a Deninzon project with Stratospheerius essentially his backing band. That’s far from the case. The album does have ample samplings of Deninzon’s accomplished violin work, but Budynek’s guitars are on display in equal measure. None of the “jams” sound like spontaneous improvisations, but are rather tightly crafted studio pieces including intricately produced vocal articulations, electronic effects, and multi-tracked instrumentation. Most of the songs are five minutes or less, meaning there are few opportunities for extended demonstrations of virtuosity. It’s an album with bright, vibrant tones from four players who aren’t competing, but rather congealing.
For this release, you’re not likely to think Zappa or
Mahavishnu Orchestra, but rather Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, or perhaps Robert Fripp. In the end, The Next World is an album for fellow musicians to appreciate and prog rock fans to enjoy.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-Joe-Deninzon-Stratospheerius-3477902.php#ixzz1sztkOPxe

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.

Buy it on CDBaby.

Buy it at Amazon.com.

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

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

BECOME A FAN!

NEW YOUTUBE VIDS

Watch the trailer for Joe Deninzon’s new book/DVD, “PLUGGING IN,” from Mel Bay Publications

http://youtu.be/sy1WP7XQe_Y

Joe Deninzon talks about what inspired his book and his philosophy on being a string player in today’s music scene.

http://youtu.be/kh63V6-QKzk

Stratospheerius performs the song, “Shock Therapy,” from the Mel Bay DVD, “Plugging In.”

http://youtu.be/fgsPo_P5D2g

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:

http://creativestrings.christianhowes.com/

Plugging In: A Guide to Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist

Are you a violinist who is curious about “going electric,” but have no idea where to begin? This book will walk you through the process of choosing an electric violin, shopping for an amplifier, and using effects pedals. The book also covers improvisation in the genres of blues, rock, and funk. Chopping and other rhythmic techniques for bowed string instruments are explored, as well as playing in a band, rock string arranging and working with DJ’s. “Plugging In” will open new worlds of creativity for you as a string player and help you find your own voice in the brave new world!

A word from the author:

I am proud to FINALLY 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 (www.melbay.com). Mel Bay is the biggest publisher in the world for music instruction books and has been in business for over 60 years!

I started working on the book in 2009 around the time my son, Max, was born. While working on the book, I was simultaneously recording and mixing the Joe Deninzon Trio Exuberance CD, and the new Stratospheerius CD, The Next World (Due out this spring), while adjusting to fatherhood. With all these projects combines with tours, recording and teaching obligations, and numerous other setbacks, I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am that this book is finally seeing the light of day.

About the book:

This book was truly a labor of love for me, and I want to thank my band, my manager, my family, and everyone at Mel Bay for giving me the opportunity to write it. 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!