3/31/12
The Left Banke: a Re-Introduction
May 5: PARILLA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, Rockville, MD
May 6: RAMS HEAD ON STAGE, Annapolis, MD
http://www.leftbankeband.com/
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Release New Album, THE NEXT WORLD through Digital Nations/D-Zone Entertainment, May 24
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius' new album, THE NEXT WORLD is being released on May 24 through Steve Vai's Digital Nations and Joe's imprint D-Zone Entertainment. The band's acclaimed sound is a melodic mixture of progressive hard rock with jam band, funk, jazz, and Gypsy influences. The unique merging of these sounds can be heard on the album's fiery "Gods," the energetic power clash in "The Missing Link" and the glorious intro, "Release." The album's wide ranging instrumentals are the superfast "Road Rage" and the soulful "Ballad for Ding Bang," and the post-apocolyptic "Fleshbot." Joe & his band bend genres in the electronic/ska-inspired "Tech Support," the country rock ballad "Climbing," and the bluesy "The House Always Wins."
THE NEXT WORLD is chockful of dynamic musicianship, and creative energies of bandmates--leader Joe Deninzon on electric violin and lead vocals, French guitarist Aurelien Budynek (Cindy Blackman, Vernon Reid), bassist Jamie Bishop (The Syn, Francis Dunnery), and drummer Lucianna Padmore (praised by Modern Drummer Magazine for her “Deep grooves and serious fusion chops."
The album is dedicated to the memory of Bob Bowen, the bassist in both Stratospheerius and the Joe Deninzon Trio. Bob was killed in a bicycle accident in Manhattan in 2010. Bob's bass playing can be heard on "The House Always Wins." He was also a talented visual artist and drew the cover artwork for the album.
Stratospheerius has played at colleges, festivals, and clubs throughout the US. The New York-based group has opened for Tim Reynolds, Mickey Hart, The Slip, Ekoostik Hookah, and John Scofield. The group was a winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, won the Online People's Choice Awards in the Cornucopia Festival, and was named "Best Jam Band" in Musician's Atlas Independent Music Awards.
Joe Deninzon is the music world's expert on alternative violin techniques and has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of the electric Violin." His song "Scarlett's Waltz" is in the soundtrack of the Will Ferrell-produced movie, VIRGINITY HIT. This year Mel Bay books published his "PLUGGING IN: A Guide To Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist." A musician who transcends many genres, he has recorded and performed with a variety of artists including Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Matthis, Les Paul, Phoebe Snow, Jane Monheit, and Robert Bonfiglio among others.
Joe has appeared in Lincoln Center's Meet the Artist program, as a soloist with the New York City Ballet, has performed on MTV and at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and has played for former President Clinton. His music has been featured on CMT, VH1, ABC, Comedy Central, the Travel Channel, History Channel, Food Network, and National Geographic. An active clinician, Joe has taught at Mark O'Connor's renowned String Camp and Mark Wood's Rock Orchestra Camp.
http://www.joedeninzon.com
http://www.stratospheerius.com
http://www.facebook.com/stratospheerius
http://www.reverbnation.com/stratospheerius
3/17/12
UPDATE: Henry McCullough co-bills with his Wings' bandmate Denny Seiwell at the Iridium, March 29
Denny Seiwell, who worked with Henry in Wings (for the RED ROSE SPEEDWAY), will also play a set for each show with his jazz band.
Henry is bringing in some of the most versatile area musicians, including Jim Popik and the rhythm section (Drummer: Andy Janowiak, Upright bassist Luke Kessel) of Jim's group, Ten Foot Tall.
Special Guests: The Smithereens' drummer Dennis Diken
Stratospheerius singer/electric violinist/alternative violinist to the stars Joe Deninzon
Singer/songwriter Jann Klose (also joining Jim McCarty and John Hawken at the Iridium on May 2)
Q104.3's Ken Dashow will emcee this event. Ken is the afternoon/drivetime host, and handles the station's Breakfast With the Beatles, Sunday morning from 8-10 AM. (Ken is interviewing Henry at the Fest For Beatles Fans, and will be broadcasting that on April 1).
Henry and Denny are also going to be performing at the Fest For Beatles Fans, at the NJ Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Hotel, 2 Harmon Plaza, in Secaucus, NJ. The Fest runs March 23-25. For more information, please cll 1-866-THE FEST or visit http://www.thefest.com. The two have also recorded a Beatles EP, SHABBY ROAD that features covers of "From Me To You," "Here Comes The Sun," and "Can't Buy Me Love."
Henry is due a new album, POOR MAN'S MOON this year on Silverwolf Music. His previous release, UNFINISHED BUSINESS was also on the label, and showcased Henry's roots-inspired genre that combines folk, British blues rock, and party sounds is receiving a deserved boost in North America.
Raised in the seaside resort of Portstewart, in Northern Ireland, Henry's was Managed for a time by Chas Chandler in the band Eire Apparent were one of the many bands to take part in package tours of Britain, alongside of The Move, Pink Floyd, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Amen Corner... After an untimely exit from the band, Henry nailed down some of the finest mix of traditional and rock with his work as part of the legendary Sweeney's Men in 1968; It is said that this line-up more or less invented the concept of Folk-Rock.
He joined Joe Cocker's Grease Band. Tours and albums followed quickly, including an appearance at Woodstock and a lengthy period of work in the States. Then he joined the Grease Band, and became a member of Wings (along with Denny Seiwell, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney) with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. Henry embellished the single '"My Love" with a graceful solo that is one of the all-time guitar gems and shows once and for all the expressive power of the instrument. He also made a spoken contribution to the end of the classic song "Money" on Pink Floyd's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Other gigs included Roy Harper, Marianne Faithfull, Ronnie Lane, Donovan, Frankie Miller, Eric Burdon, Viola Wills, Spooky Tooth... He plays regularly throughout Ireland and Poland, where he recorded BLUE SUNSET. Henry's "Failed Christian" was picked up by Nick Lowe, and then Henry included it on UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
**In the summer of '99 Henry was devastated when his beloved 1963 cherry red Gibson ES335 went missing from a British Midlands flight between Warsaw and Heathrow. (However, he still has his gold-top Les Paul that he played at Woodstock.)
****
Drummer/Percussionist Denny Seiwell was 5 years old when his father introduced him to the drums; he turned professional musician while barely a teenager. A stint with the Navy Jazz Band after high school led to a year's assignment in Chicago under the tutelage of the great Roy Knapp, legendary teacher to such masters as Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson.
Then came New York where Denny's first job took him to the famed Half Note Jazz club playing with the Zoot Sims/Al Cohn Quintet. From there a string of studio work which established him as the Big Apple's Premiere session Drummer. Having played with the creme de la creme of the Jazz elite, Denny's Rock-n-Roll resume is also envious, beginning with an invitation from Paul McCartney to move to London and become a founding member of the post-Beatles phenomenon Wings. Denny also toured with Wings playing on many of that era's biggest hits, "My Love" and the Oscar nominated "Live and Let Die" to name a few. Other Highlights of Denny's London years included work with Joe Cocker, Donovan, and The Who with the London Symphony Orchestra in their ground breaking version of the Rock Opera "Tommy."
Denny's Signature Drumming can be heard on records by Art Garfunkel, James Brown, Astrud Gilberto, Deniece Williams, Janis Joplin's posthumus FAREWELL SONG album, Billy Joel's COLD SPRING HARBOR, and McCartney's RAM, WILDLIFE and RED ROSE SPEEDWAY albums.
While playing on some of LA's most prestigious TV and Film dates, his passion for music, his human spirit, his training and abilities have earned him the reputation as one of the industry's most respected drummers.
###
3/14/12
Jann Klose Band Residency at the Rockwood Music Hall, Sunday, April 1, 15, 22, 29
3/9/12
Henry McCullough co-bills with his Wings' bandmate Denny Seiwell at the Iridium, March 29
Henry McCullough will be performing at the Iridium, 1650 Broadway (at 51st Street), New York, NY on March 29 for two shows: at 8 and 10 PM. Tickets are $30. Meals and drinks are extra. The venue phone is 212-582-2121, and the web site is http://www.theiridium.com
Denny Seiwell, who worked with Henry in Wings (for the RED ROSE SPEEDWAY), will also play a set for each show with his jazz band.
Henry is bringing in some of the most versatile area musicians, including Jim Popik and the rhythm section (Drummer: Andy Janowiak, Upright bassist Luke Kessel) of Jim's group,Ten Foot Tall. Stratospheerius singer/electric violinist Joe Deninzon and GRAMMY-winning featured children's artist Miss Amy Otey will be sitting in. Other guests TBA.
Henry is due a new album, POOR MAN'S MOON this year on Silverwolf Music. His previous release, UNFINISHED BUSINESS was also on the label, and showcased Henry's roots-inspired genre that combines folk, British blues rock, and party sounds is receiving a deserved boost in North America.
Raised in the seaside resort of Portstewart, in Northern Ireland, Henry's was Managed for a time by Chas Chandler in the band Eire Apparent were one of the many bands to take part in package tours of Britain, alongside of The Move, Pink Floyd, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Amen Corner... After an untimely exit from the band, Henry nailed down some of the finest mix of traditional and rock with his work as part of the legendary Sweeney's Men in 1968; It is said that this line-up more or less invented the concept of Folk-Rock.
He joined Joe Cocker's Grease Band. Tours and albums followed quickly, including an appearance at Woodstock and a lengthy period of work in the States. Then he joined the Grease Band, and became a member of Wings (along with Denny Seiwell, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney) with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. Henry embellished the single '"My Love" with a graceful solo that is one of the all-time guitar gems and shows once and for all the expressive power of the instrument. He also made a spoken contribution to the end of the classic song "Money" on Pink Floyd's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Other gigs included Roy Harper, Marianne Faithfull, Ronnie Lane, Donovan, Frankie Miller, Eric Burdon, Viola Wills, Spooky Tooth... He plays regularly throughout Ireland and Poland, where he recorded BLUE SUNSET. Henry's "Failed Christian" was picked up by Nick Lowe, and then Henry included it on UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
**In the summer of '99 Henry was devastated when his beloved 1963 cherry red Gibson ES335 went missing from a British Midlands flight between Warsaw and Heathrow. (However, he still has his gold-top Les Paul that he played at Woodstock.)
****
Drummer/Percussionist Denny Seiwell was 5 years old when his father introduced him to the drums; he turned professional musician while barely a teenager. A stint with the Navy Jazz Band after high school led to a year's assignment in Chicago under the tutelage of the great Roy Knapp, legendary teacher to such masters as Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson.
Then came New York where Denny's first job took him to the famed Half Note Jazz club playing with the Zoot Sims/Al Cohn Quintet. From there a string of studio work which established him as the Big Apple's Premiere session Drummer. Having played with the creme de la creme of the Jazz elite, Denny's Rock-n-Roll resume is also envious, beginning with an invitation from Paul McCartney to move to London and become a founding member of the post-Beatles phenomenon Wings. Denny also toured with Wings playing on many of that era's biggest hits, "My Love" and the Oscar nominated "Live and Let Die" to name a few. Other Highlights of Denny's London years included work with Joe Cocker, Donovan, and The Who with the London Symphony Orchestra in their ground breaking version of the Rock Opera "Tommy."
Denny's Signature Drumming can be heard on records by Art Garfunkel, James Brown, Astrud Gilberto, Deniece Williams, Janis Joplin's posthumus FAREWELL SONG album, Billy Joel's COLD SPRING HARBOR, and McCartney's RAM, WILDLIFE and RED ROSE SPEEDWAY albums.
While playing on some of LA's most prestigious TV and Film dates, his passion for music, his human spirit, his training and abilities have earned him the reputation as one of the industry's most respected drummers.
###
3/7/12
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' Kim Wilson Demands Rush Limbaugh Stop Using His Music
3/3/12
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull receives NatureLife Environmental Award 2012
3/1/12
PLUGGING IN: A Guide to Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist by Joe Deninzon
Award-Winning Urban Folk Jazz Artist KJ Denhert Celebrates 15 Years w/ Her Band, March 16
2/17/12
Jenda Derringer's "Cigarette."
Note: Rick Derringer plays electric guitar on this desperate and moody piece.
2/12/12
Miss Amy on GRAMMY-Winning Children's Album
Congratulations from multiple GRAMMY nominee Miss Amy, who is part of the team that appears on the GRAMMY-winning Children's Album, ALL ABOUT BULLIES... BIG AND SMALL.
Miss Amy is a multi-nominated Grammy winning featured artist today. Her FITNESS ROCK & ROLL CD was nominated for Best Children's Album in the 54th Grammy awards, while she is also a contributing featured artist on the Grammy winning ALL ABOUT BULLIES... BIG AND SMALL CD. Miss Amy was a featured artist on HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT that was nominated in the 53rd GRAMMY awards last year in the category of Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
Produced by Philadelphia's Steve Pullara, James Cravero, Pat Robinson, Kevin Mackie, and Gloria Domina, ALL ABOUT BULLIES BIG AND SMALL features spoken word and music from a number of notable artists including: Little Steven, Eric Bazillian (of the Hooters), and May Pang. Everyone who contributed to the album is a volunteer. All profits from the proceeds of the album will be donated to Pacer Center's Kids Against Bullying (www.PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org).
Miss Amy recorded a 'rappish-musical' arrangement by her producer, Alex Otey, of a poem written by Eric Ode called "Keep Your Chin Up" on ALL ABOUT BULLIES. As she commented, "Being on two Grammy nominated projects this year is a thrill, but the fact that one of them won the Grammy is just fabulous! ALL ABOUT BULLIES is dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and helping kids cope with this important issue. It's all part of building a better world and fits directly with my mission of improving the lives of children!"
In addition to coming to Los Angeles to walk the red carpet this year, Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band came to bring her message of fitness to motivate kids to discover their athletic identities. Miss Amy's band performed at the L.A. Air Force Base the day before GRAMMY day. They, then, walked the carpet and attended the GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center with her peers and other music professionals.
Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band will perform at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC for Family Day on March 3rd. More events and music at www.MissAmyKids.com.
This video tells the story of how Miss Amy became Miss Amy. It's about how she created the mother-child bond with her own son, who was born premature.
2/9/12
New York City Advisory: Let's Work Together!

JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS, EMILY HURD, KJ DENHERT, HENRY MCCULLOUGH, JANN KLOSE, JIM MCCARTY
Want to give you a heads up on my artists' activities in New York City over the next few months. Let me know what looks interesting to you, and I'll connect you with my artists!
JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS
Jam band/progressive/fusion rockers Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius will be playing at Shrine in Harlem, February 17. The band is getting ready for a new album, THE NEXT WORLD with Steve Vai's Digital Nations. Look for a release in May, with the record release party on May 24 at Shrine. Joe has an electric violin method book, PLUGGING IN: A Guide To Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist." Joe is the leading authority on electric violin, and has played with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Mathis, the late Les Paul, Ritchie Blackmore, President Clinton...
http://www.joedeninzon.com
EMILY HURD
Singer-songwriter from Chicago, whose new album, LONG LOST GHOSTS is getting serious grass roots support out of the box. Suite 101 Andy Howells has named it "the first essential album to own of 2012," and Paul Zollo (senior editor of AMERICAN SONGWRITER) writes on his Blue Railroad site, "A masterpiece...this is an album to fall into and swim in forever..." Emily is at the Rockwood Music Hall on March 12 and doing a gig at Gizzis on the 15th. Her new album is getting some good grass roots support.
http://www.emilyhurd.com
KJ DENHERT
WFUV's John Platt calls KJ, "Fearless." This multi-IMA winner's music is defined as urban folk and jazz. KJ is having a big 15th anniversary celebration of performing as a solo artist on March 16 at Tribecca Performing Arts Center. There is going to be a new EP, DESTINY. I have KJ's most recent album, ALBUM NO. 9 if you'd like to have it.
http://www.kjdenhert.com
HENRY MCCULLOUGHAlso at the Iridium, but on March 29 is Henry McCullough and Denny Siewell (both were in Wings during the "My Love" era). Henry's music is blues/country I lived it rock, and I have ZIPFILES and a burn disc of his upcoming CD, POOR MAN'S MOON, right after he plays the Fest For Beatles Beatles Fans in Secaucus, NJ(March 23-25, http://www.thefest.com). Joe Deninzon is sitting in on electric violin. Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken, Jann Klose, and the GRAMMY-nominated children's artist Miss Amy might also be joining them. Henry's played in Wings, the Grease bnd, Joe Cocker, and has performed with Roy Harper, Marianne Faithfull, Leon Russell, Donovan, Frankie Miller, Hinkley's Heros....
http://www.henrymccullough.com
http://www.thefest.com
JANN KLOSE
This chamber pop singer/songwriter is in the studio with David Bendeth and writing. After his UK tour, he'll be doing a residency at the Rockwood April 1, 15, 22, 29 at 7 PM . On May 2, he opens for and shares the stage with Renaissance/Yardbirds' co-founder Jim McCarty and Strawbs/Renaissance/Nashville Teens keyboardist John Hawken and friends at the Iridium on May 2. One of my favorite quotes from the REVERIE campaign came from MassLive's Kevin O'Hare, “The first thing that’s totally unmistakable about Jann Klose is that voice – which is just light years beyond that of the typical singer/songwriter … a sound that is classy, distinctive and often irresistible.”
http://www.jannklose.com
JIM MCCARTY
Jim, who is just wrapping up a tour with The Yardbirds, is also a singer-songwriter. His album, SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME is--coincidentally--akin to Jann's. I introduced them to each other, and they hit it off. Jim and John Hawken (who I worked with when he was in the Strawbs, but is also an original member of Renaissance) headline at the Iridium on May 2 with Jann opening. We're also working on setting up dates in Germany and back in Canada this September.
http://www.jimmccarty.co.uk
1/31/12
JETHRO TULL'S IAN ANDERSON TO RELEASE "THICK AS A BRICK 2"

Anderson Announces 40th Anniversary Sequel to the
Hugely Successful, Groundbreaking 1972 Album
London, England - February 1, 2012 - Following the recent announcement of a 19-date tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of 'Thick As A Brick,' on April 2nd (April 3rd in North America) Ian Anderson will release a sequel to the original album.
In 1972, Ian Anderson wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull Progressive Rock classic album 'Thick As A Brick.' The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock, whose parents supposedly lied about his age. The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world.
So, forty years on, what would Gerald Bostock - aged fifty in 2012 - be doing today? What might have befallen him? The anniversary “part two” album will examine the possible different paths that the precocious young schoolboy, Gerald Bostock, might have taken later in life through alter-ego characters with song-section identities illustrating the hugely varied potential twists and turns of fate and opportunity. Not just for Gerald but to echo how our own lives develop, change direction and ultimately conclude through chance encounters and interventions, however tiny and insignificant they might seem at the time.
Ian Anderson says of the album, “As we baby-boomers look back on our own lives, we must often feel an occasional 'what-if' moment. Might we, like Gerald, have become instead preacher, soldier, down-and-out, shopkeeper or finance tycoon?” Adding, “And those of more tender years - the social media and internet generation - may choose to ponder well the myriad of chance possibilities ahead of them at every turn.....”
To coincide with this groundbreaking release, for the first time since 1972, Anderson and fellow musicians John O'Hara (keyboards), David Goodier (bass), Florian Opahle (guitar) and Scott Hammond (drums) - as well as some guest performers - will take to the road to perform the album in its entirety and, it can now exclusively be revealed that, in addition, there will be a second part to the show where Anderson and the band will also perform the sequel.
Thick As A Brick 2 ('TAAB2') tracklist [CD, digital]
1. From A Pebble Thrown
2. Pebbles Instrumental
3. Might-have-beens
4. Upper Sixth Loan Shark
5. Banker Bets, Banker Wins
6. Swing It Far
7. Adrift And Dumfounded
8. Old School Song
9. Wootton Bassett Town
10. Power And Spirit
11. Give Till It Hurts
12. Cosy Corner
13. Shunt And Shuffle
14. A Change Of Horses
15. Confessional
16. Kismet In Suburbia
17. What-ifs, Maybes And Might-have-beens
'Thick As A Brick 2' will be released as a standard jewel case CD and digital download, and in a Special Edition 2-disc package with DVD featuring 5.1 stereo mixes, 24-bit stereo mix, video of the making of the album, interviews with the musicians and Ian Anderson reading the lyrics in various locations.
After 44 years of leading Tull to 54 countries worldwide and over 60 million albums sold, Ian Anderson celebrates a true progressive rock classic with old and new fans across the UK for a whole three weeks. Anderson is known as the flute and voice of the legendary Jethro Tull, formed in the North of England in 1968 from the amalgamation of blues-based John Evan Band and McGregor's Engine. Since their first performance at London's famous Marquee Club in 1968, the band has released 30 studio and live albums and earned a prominent place in rock history.
The official Jethro Tull website:
www.jethrotull.com
and please visit: stcleve.com
* * *
U.S. Media Contacts
Jennifer Ballantyne - EMI Music North America
(323) 871-5494 / jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com
Anne Leighton - Leighton Media
(718) 881-8183 / LeightonMedia@aol.com
Confirmed tour dates at http://www.jethrotull.com
TAAB2
Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock?
by Ian Anderson
In 1972, I wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull Progressive Rock classic album Thick As A Brick. The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock, whose parents supposedly lied about his age. The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world.
We then, somewhat dutifully, took the quaintly theatrical show on the road in the UK, USA and a few other countries. Since 1972, the album has never been performed in its entirety although a few minutes of the material have been a regular repertoire staple in both Tull and Ian Anderson solo shows over the years.
Now, scheduled for performance again in 2012, I will take the original album and this follow-up recording, TAAB2, to a theatre near you.
So, forty years on, what would Gerald Bostock - aged fifty in 2012 - be doing today? What might have befallen him?
The theme of this anniversary “part two” album is to examine the possible different paths that the precocious young schoolboy, Gerald Bostock, might have taken later in life and to create alter-ego characters whose song-section identities illustrate the hugely varied potential twists and turns of fate and opportunity. Not just for Gerald but to echo how our own lives develop, change direction and ultimately conclude through chance encounters and interventions, however tiny and insignificant they might seem at the time.
In the development of the piece, the divergences of life's infinitely forked roads finally give way to an almost gravitational pull which results in convergence to, perhaps, a pre-ordained, karma-like conclusion.
As we baby-boomers look back on our own lives, we must often feel an occasional “what-if” moment. Might we, like Gerald, have become instead preacher, soldier, down-and-out, shopkeeper or finance tycoon?
And those of more tender years - the social media and internet generation - may choose to ponder well the myriad of chance possibilities ahead of them at every turn.....
Odd chap, life.....
If someone had suggested that I might release a Prog concept album in the year 2012, I would have thought him seriously, dangerously even, off his trolley. But that is precisely what happened. A few years ago, Mike Andrews and Royston Eldridge, two ex-Chrysalis Records gents pressed me to consider a follow-up to Thick As A Brick. I gave it some dutiful deliberation - for a couple of minutes - and politely declined. Nice idea, nice chaps but, after reflection, no-oooooo.
Then, in 2010, a re-aquaintance with seventies Prog Rock vocalist-turned-record exec Derek Shulman - yes, he of Gentle Giant fame - restarted the old refrain. Yes, but.... no, but, and finally - OK, I'll give it some more dutiful deliberation (four and a half minutes, this time) eventually produced, in February of 2011, the synopsis of the idea. Derek's enthusiasm and gauntlet-challenge plus two weeks of dedicated, fast and furious music and lyric writing combined to produce a flurry of material. And - blow me down with a Dodo's tail-feather - the whole thing was completed ready for scoring and arranging by the beginning of March. There were a couple of pieces prepared earlier which were bent into new shape and fitted into the scheme of things, so they too were popped into the bubbling saucepan.
It was a little daunting to consider the impact - or perhaps lack of - which this release might have on old and new fans alike but I eventually decided that I would embark on this for my own benefit and enjoyment rather than trying to please anyone else at all. To find the balance of interesting musicality and more accessible content too was not the main issue. The conceptual and heavily lyrical nature of the beast, however, might be out of place in the attention span-deficit world which we seem to occupy these days. But, having toured in 2010 and 2011 in Italy, Latin America, Australia and other countries where passions run high, I decided that maybe the world - or our little corners of it - was, in fact, ready for a bit of more substantial and weightier fare.
The era of professional media Prog-bashing seems to have given way to a more appreciative appraisal of the genre and newer bands such as Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard have possibly prompted a new and younger audience to re-examine the seventies originators' seminal albums too.
So, it's not such a cold and lonely place after all. The elements of Folk, Classical and Jazz Music are still to be found in today's more Rock-oriented Progressive Rock. You will certainly find them subtly present in TAAB2 but along with a rather more acoustic feel than many of our peers, past and present. Not the only flute in town but......
Actually, I played much more acoustic guitar than usual on this record having written most of the music on that instrument. But there are still sections conceived on the flute and sometimes - quite often, in fact - the lyric writing preceded all the melodies and harmonic structures. Starting with lyrics and then thinking of the music is not normally the way I work but it was here. A title, a few words or a verse or two and then the acoustic guitar was immediately to hand to conjure up a full song section out of the growing lyrics. Having a plan was important. Stories to tell made it all easier. The imagination-filled process of thinking how things might have turned out for the young and older Gerald kept me fascinated. Maybe you will be too. And maybe not.
Ah, well - you can always go and watch The X Factor and the Eurovision Song Contest.
--Ian Anderson January 2012
1/18/12
JANN KLOSE RETURNS TO THE UK THIS MARCH FOR HIS FOURTH TOUR

Jann Klose is returning to the UK this March to perform and lead some master classes on songwriting and DIY touring. He'll be talking about DIY Touring and collaboration at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, and then leading a master class for students at the Highworth Warneford School in Wiltshire. Confirmed dates are in Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Cambridge and Wiltshire.
Photo of Jann at the Cavern Club, IPO Festival
Jann is currently in the studio working on a new album with multi-platinum award winning producer David Bendeth (Paramore, Papa Roach, Bruce Hornsby, Elvis Presley). His recent releases Reverie (2008) and Sacrifice EP (2010) continue to build attention. His songs have been heard on the GRAMMY-nominated Healthy Food For Thought (2010) compilation, and in film and TV, including Warner Bros. Dead Broke featuring Paul Sorvino and MTV Cribs.
He has opened for/performed with a wide range of artists including, Brett Dennen, Rusted Root, Vonda Shepard, Rosanne Cash, Roger McGuinn, Renaissance and Annie Haslam, Jim (The Yardbirds) McCarty and the legendary Les Paul.
Born in Germany and raised in Kenya and South-Africa he first came to the U.S. as an exchange student, now living in NYC. As an actor/singer he performed in Broadway tours of Jekyll & Hyde, The Who's Tommy and the European tour of Jesus Chris Superstar.
The Washington Post writes, "Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come."
JANN KLOSE UK DATES:
March 2, 2012: MASTER CLASS, LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Liverpool, UK
March 2: 2012: THE CAVERN CLUB, Liverpool, UK
March 3, 2012: CB2 Cambridge, UK
March 4, 2012: ROBIN 2 W/ TIR NA NOG, Bilston, Wolverhampton, UK
March 7, 2012: SONGWRITING CLASS & PERFORMANCE, HIGHWORTH WARNEFORD SCHOOL, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK
###
1/14/12
Joe Deninzon’s California Jaunt, January 19-21 (Shows and Appearances at NAMM, Hoosiermosa, and Salvadors Jazz Suite)

Singer/Songwriter/Electric Violinist Joe Deninzon will be making a variety of appearances this coming week as he visits Southern California.
On Thursday and Friday, Joe will be mingling at NAMM, and making appearances at both the Mel Bay and Mark Wood’s Viper Electric Violin Booths. Joe has written the book on Electric Violin--literally; Mel Bay books is premiering his "PLUGGING IN: A Guide To Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist" at NAMM.
On Saturday, Joe has two performances. He joins fellow alumni from Indiana University for Hoosiermosa, at the Lighthouse Café, 30 Pier Ave, in Hermosa Beach for an afternoon of music from a range of artists including DJ Matty Mac, Everyday Avenues, Voomz, Johnzo West, Barley Legal, Jeremy Buck & the Bang, Rich Hardesty featuring Moe Z, and Jim Post. In addition to sitting in with some of these artists, Joe’s set will be at 4 PM.
Saturday night, at 9 PM, Joe will perform at Salvadors Jazz Suite, 3013 Gilroy Street, in Los Angeles. Performing at 8 PM is Byron Nemeth with set of ambient fusion guitar, featuring the new Mooresound "1013" Amplifier. Admission is $10. The web site is http://salvadorsjazzsuite.com .
Joining Joe’s sets at both Hoosiermosa and Salvadors Jazz Suite are Tony Pulizzi (current guitarist for AMERICAN IDOL) and drummer Stacey Lamont Sydnor (Missy Elliot, George Duke, Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams, Hillary Duff).
Joe Deninzon leads the band Stratospheerius, who will be releasing its fifth album, THE NEXT WORLD (Digital Nations / D Zone Entertainment), this spring. Stratospheerius combines jam, fusion, rock, progressive, virtuoso, singer-songwriter, jazz and metal, and describes itself as "psychojazz trip funk." Stratospheerius has played at colleges, festivals, and clubs throughout the US. The New York-based group has opened for Tim Reynolds, Mickey Hart, Mike Stern, and John Scofield. The group was a winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, won the Online People's Choice Awards in the Cornucopia Festival, and was named "Best Jam Band" in Musician's Atlas Independent Music Awards.
Often called "The Jimi Hendrix of the Electric Violin," his innovative performances on the electric seven-string violin and his compositions blend rock, funk, jazz, classical, and Eastern European Gypsy influences. While leading Stratospheerius since 2001, Joe has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Les Paul, Phoebe Snow, and Ritchie Blackmore among others. He can be heard on over 100 recordings and jingles as a violinist and string arranger.
Joe has appeared in Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist program, as a soloist with the New York City Ballet, has performed on MTV and at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and has played for former President Clinton. His music has been featured on CMT, VH1, ABC, Comedy Central, the Travel Channel, History Channel, Food Network, and National Geographic, and recently in the Will Ferrell/Adam McKay-produced movie, "Virginity Hit."






