A live version of Chick Corea’s “Spain”
featuring Joe Deninzon, Rachel Flowers, and Testament’s Alex Skolnick is now on
all streaming media. “Spain” is one of 16 live songs that will be on the
upcoming Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius “Behind the Curtain: Live at
ProgStock” box set out November 18. (There will be a streaming
digital release of just the live music on October 28.)
The performance will be on video on Friday,
October 14 at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT/ 3 AM Amsterdam time on YouTube at https://youtu.be/t6JPN4FELKc.
The performances on the live release took place
in 2019 and 2021. “Spain” was taken from the ’21 performance. Joe says it was a
spontaneous decision to play “Spain” with his friends, “One of the perks of
being a jazz musician is that you can walk into a room anywhere in the world,
jump on stage with people you’ve never met who may or may not speak your
language, and weave together a spontaneous concert based on a shared musical
language.”
On October 2nd, 2021, when the late great John
Goodsall from Brand X fell ill, Stratospheerius was asked last minute to
headline ProgStock, the biggest prog rock festival in the Northeastern U.S.
Preceding Stratospheerius’ set was the amazing multi-instrumentalist Rachel
Flowers, who recently contributed her talents to the band’s single, “Storm
Surge.” Later that night bassist Percy Jones had a set, which included
guitarist Alex Skolnick, a former member of Stratospheerius. Joe says, “We
decided to play Chick Corea’s ‘Spain,’ a song we all knew well.” Without
any rehearsal, and Alex and Rachel meeting each other for the first time on
stage, they created magic.
Led by electric violinist/vocalist Joe Deninzon,
who has been called “The Jimi Hendrix of the electric
violin,”Stratospheerius have showcased their “frenzied mélange of
progressive rock, jazz fusion and funkabilly” throughout the world. Band
members are: Joe Deninzon-electric violin/vocals (Bruce Springsteen,
Renaissance, The Who, Ritchie Blackmore, Trans-Siberian Orchestra),
Jason Gianni-drums (The Ultimate Queen Celebration, Trans-Siberian
Orchestra, Rock of Ages, Neal Morse Band), Michaelangelo Quirinale-guitar
(Thrilldriver), and Paul Ranieri-bass (Mark Wood, Circuline, Rock This Town).
Their last album, Guilty of Innocence hit
number 4 on the Relix/Jamband radio charts, 72 on the European Indy charts.
Their music has received over 3 million plays online, and the band has opened
for John5, Martin Barre, Gary Hoey, The Levin Brothers (Tony and Pete), Tim
Reynolds, Mickey Hart, Mark Wood, and John
Scofield. Stratospheerius was a winner of the John
Lennon International Songwriting Competition, and the Musician’s Atlas
Independent Music Awards.
