Joe Deninzon Trio Release EXUBERANCE

“If the violin has a future in Jazz and Rock, it is with Joe Deninzon.”
-Relix Magazine

Progressive jazz violinist Joe Deninzon, is honored to announce the release of EXUBERANCE. Recorded with bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson, EXUBERANCE is the essence of three musicians in a room, playing live with no overdubs or production; a completely raw experience.

The group draws influences from jazz stylists including the gypsy explorations of Django Reinhardt and the hot swing of violinist Stephane Grappelli along with rock and pop standards of the past 40 years including songs by Steely Dan, Alice in Chains, Jimmy Webb and Radiohead. A few choice covers by Radiohead (“The Tourist”), Alice in Chains (“Heaven Beside You”), Steely Dan (“Bodhissatva”) and Fat's Waller's “Jitterbug Waltz” show just how wide the group's range goes.

One of the group's original songs, “Sun Goes Down” (featuring Luba on lead vocals), has been featured in the independent film, “What's Up Scarlet?” and a recent winner in the Jazz category of the Billboard and John Lennon International Songwriting Contests.

The album is also a tribute to Robert Bowen, who was killed when a car struck him as he rode his bike in Manhattan late August. Live, the band performs with bassists who were friends with Robert, plus drummer Luciana Padmore (from Joe's band Stratospheerius). The group has donated some of its earnings and CD sales to Robert's children.

Best known for his work on the 7-string electric violin and lead singing with the rock group Stratospheerius, Joe Deninzon plays acoustic violin in this Trio. Joe has performed as a solo violinist with the New York City Ballet, and on album or in concert with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Jane Monheit, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, and Les Paul. A 10-time BMI Jazz Composer's grant recipient and a winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, his original music has been used on CMT, MTV VH1, Comedy Central, National Geographic, the Travel Channel and the History Channel.


Band http://joedeninzongroup.bandcamp.com/album/exuberance

Joe Deninzon Group “Wichita Lineman” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atAb_DbG7ao

http://www.joedeninzon.com

Joe Deninzon Group celebrates life of Bob Bowen, October 14

Concert Celebrates Life of Late Bassist Bob Bowen

The Joe Deninzon Group will be having a record release celebration for its new album, EXUBERANCE at the P&G Bar, 380 Columbus Avenue (at 78th Street),in New York City, on October 14, at 10 PM. Admission is free. The venue phone is 212-787-5150. The web site is http://pandgbar.com/. This concert marks the Trio's public debut in New York City, although the group has performed at a number of private functions over the years.

"It will be a celebration," says Deninzon, "because we're remembering Bob Bowen," the Trio's bassist, who passed on early September, after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle in New York City.

Deninzon(violin) and Steve Benson (guitar), will have Bob Sabin (a friend of Bowen's) on bass plus drummer Luciana Padmore. There's be three sets--the last a late night jam with guest musicians. Bowen was a fixture on the local jazz scene. While admission is free, the sales of the EXUBERANCE CD at this event, plus donations to the tip jar will go to his two children. There've been a few fundraising concerts since his passing, and WKCR-New York presented a tribute to him.

Bowen played with Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Mark Murphy, Art Lande, Vassar Clemens, Roseanna Vitro, Mike Clark, Jack Wilkins, Eric Person's Metamorphosis, Tony Trischka and Joe Deninzon's rock group, Stratospheerious. He co-led the MOB Trio with drummer Matt Wilson and tenorman Ohad Talmor. Another collaborative project is Slog. Bob graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Music Composition from the University of Dayton, and studied in the classical double bass masters program at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and has a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. He was the bass instructor and director of the Jazz Combo Workshop at Hofstra University on Long Island NY, and helped develop the jazz prep program at the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music Queens College (CPSM), and the Manhattan-based Creative Music Workshop.

Bowen composed the album's title song "Exuberance In The Face Of Utter Anguish and Despair." The goal of the EXUBERANCE sessions was to capture the essence of three musicians in a room, playing live with no overdubs and a stripped down production. The Trio draws influence from jazz stylists including the gypsy explorations of Django Reinhardt and the hot swing of violinist Stephane Grappelli along with rock and pop standards of the past 50 years including compositions from Steely Dan, Alice in Chains, Radiohead, Jimmy Webb. “Sun Goes Down” (featuring Luba on lead vocals) is an original song by the trio that has been featured in the independent film, “What's Up Scarlet?” and a recent winner in the Jazz category of the Billboard and John Lennon International Songwriting Contests.

RELIX magazine wrote, “If the violin has a future in Jazz and Rock, it is with Joe Deninzon.” Best known for his work on the 7-string electric violin and as lead singer for STRATOSPHEERIUS, Deninzon has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of the elecric violin". He has collaborated with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Phoebe Snow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, and Les Paul. He has also performed as a solo violinist with the New York City Ballet. His original music has been used on CMT, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, National Geographic, the Travel Channel and the History Channel.He has taught rock violin at Mark O'Conner's String Camp in New York, and is writing a book about the electric violin for Mel Bay Publications.

Guitarist Steve Benson is one of the most highly demanded Broadway and session guitarists in New York, being comfortable in a variety of musical settings including jazz, classical music, rock, rhythm and blues, Broadway, bluegrass, and Klezmer music. He has performed and/or recorded with Phoebe Snow, John Sebastian, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole , Giora Feidmand, Jackie McLean, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Lukes and the American Symphony Orchestra. He currently performs on Broadway in the orchestra pits of The Lion King, Chicago, Mary Poppins and Hair. He is on the jazz faculty at Montclair State University.

http://www.joedeninzon.com/joe-deninzon-jazz-trio.php
www.myspace.com/joedeninzontrio

Joe Deninzon Goes To Jail

Joe Deninzon is gigging quite a bit. He’s got a new jazz trio CD, EXUBERANCE. He’s writing a violin book for Mel Bay. Another wish for Joe is coming true. Ever since he was a teenager, growing up in Cleveland, OH, Joe has wanted to see the inside of a prison and find out what life is like there. But he didn’t want to go through the usual root of living a life of crime. He always wanted to play in a prison, and finally Joe will find the answer. On May 21, he will be performing at the Marble County Regional Correctional Facility, in Rutland, VT with his wild band Stratospheerius. What do you suppose is the moral of this story?

Well, here are Stratospheerius’ upcoming shows:

May 19 Fat Baby w/ Ben Tyree Trio and Superfrog New York, NY
May 20 Nectar’s Burlington, VT
May 21 Dover Brickhouse Dover, NH
June 18, 19 Freedom Fest Harmony, ME
July 12 Great South Bay Music Festival Patchogue, NY
July 17 Bean Runner Café Peekskill, NY
September 11 Riverfront Concert Series Chattanooga, TN
September 25 Long Beach Jazz Festival Long Beach, NY

http://www.stratospheerius.com

JOE DENINZON TRIO: DEBUT CD AND TOUR

There will be a new Stratospheerius album at some point in 2010 or 2011, and definitely Stratospheerius gigs including a late night show on February 10 at Phat Baby in New York City.

But Joe Deninzon, Stratospheerius' lead singer/electric violinist has some other fascinating activities coming to fruition this year.   He is writing a violin book for Mel Bay, teaching at Mark O'Connor's string camp in New York City this summer, and releasing a jazz trio album.
 
The Mel Bay electric violin book focuses on improvisation techniques in rock, jazz, blues, and funk, and will also have chapters devoted to amplification for strings, effects, and electric violins.  Joe Deninzon has become the music world's “go to” guy for sessions, improvisation technique, and the one everyone asks for info on effects, so this book will be a “God”-sent for colleagues and fans.  (He recently also played in Bruce Springsteen's back up group at Madison Square Garden for “New York City Serenade.”)
 
Joe is honored to be the Rock teacher at Mark O'Conner's renowned String Camp this July 26-30, in New York City. Mark O'Conner is considered one of the greatest violinists and composers of our time, who transcends many genres.   He's played for and performed with Yo Yo Ma, Edgar Mayer and James Taylor.   Here is the link for info about the String Camp: http://markoconnor.com/index.php?page=about


JOE DENINZON TRIO-DEBUT CD AND TOUR.   

Violinist Joe Deninzon and his Trio will be releasing their debut CD, Exuberance, in February of 2010 and will be touring February 10-21 in support of the new release. Tour dates include Hoboken, Youngstown, Erie, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Bloomington, abd 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 musicians in a room, playing live with no overdubs and no “production." The group draws influences from jazz stylists including the gypsy explorations of Django Reinhardt and the hot swing of violinist Stephane Grappelli along with rock and pop standards of the past 50 years including compositions from Steely Dan, Alice in Chains, and Radiohead.  It poses the question, “What if artists such as Django Reinhardt were alive today and creating their unique interpretations of music they heard on the radio?”

One of the group's original songs, “Sun Goes Down” (featuring Luba on lead vocals), has been featured in the independent film, “What's Up Scarlet?” and a recent winner in the Jazz category of the Billboard and John Lennon International Songwriting Contests.

Tour Dates

February 10     Be Vocal     Hoboken NJ
February 16    2010 International Competition of Indianapolis Laureate Series
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center   Indianapolis,   IN
February 17     Bear's Place     Bloomington,   IN
February 18     Blue Wisp Jazz Club     Cincinnati, OH
February 19     Nighttown   Cleveland, OH    
February 20    The Jive   Erie, PA
FREE CONCERT!
February 20    Therese's Great Nights   Youngstown, OH   
 
http://www.joedeninzon.com
http://www.myspace.com/joedeninzontrio