Joe Deninzon
Via de Stratosphere to Kansas
Joe Deninzon is no small fry.
While he just produced the acclaimed album Impostor! with his own band, Stratospheerius, he is currently touring the USA as Kansas's resident violinist. Dubbed "The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin" by critics for his innovative style on the seven-string "Viper" electric violin, Deninzon is redefining what string instruments can do in rock.
Alongside electric violin, Deninzon handles backing vocals and guitar for the legendary prog-rock titans. His resume reads like a hall-of-fame directory: he has performed or recorded with The Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Skolnick, Smokey Robinson, Les Paul, Peter Criss (KISS), Michael Sadler (Saga),and Renaissance (featuring Annie Haslam). He has also performed as a soloist at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the New York City Ballet.
Beyond live performance, Deninzon can be heard on over a hundred albums and jingles as a violinist and string arranger. He is a BMI Composer’s Grant recipient, a winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and a published composer whose work includes pieces for Rachel Barton Pine and an Electric Violin Concerto that premiered with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra in 2015.
Education and teaching remain close to his heart. Co-founder of the annual Grand Canyon School of Rock for Northern Arizona high schoolers in 2007, he currently teaches at the Multi-Style Strings Program at New Jersey City University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Violin from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Jazz Violin from the Manhattan School of Music.
The Early Years
“We emigrated from Russia to the United States when I was four,” Joe recalls. “My parents were professional musicians. My father, also a violinist, got a job with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and my mother was a concert pianist. They ran a music school out of our home, and I started studying violin at five."
Deninzon’s musical curiosity quickly outgrew classical boundaries. He later picked up piano, guitar, and bass after discovering rock and roll.
"One of my teachers introduced me to violinists Jean-Luc Ponty and Jerry Goodman of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Honestly, I wanted to play guitar like Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, and Jimi Hendrix—but I realized electric violins existed, and I was a much better violinist than a guitarist!"
His first electric violin was a six-string, but moving to New York prompted an upgrade.
"I bought a fretted, seven-string Viper violin. With it, I can play power chords and bass lines. Because it features a chest-support system, my hands are free and my throat is open, allowing me to sing easily while playing."
Stratospheerius
Before moving to New York, Joe recorded an instrumental jazz/fusion CD with local Cleveland musicians. Once in NYC, however, he wanted a performing band where he could take the mic.
"I love performing! I wanted a band where I could sing, so I started writing music specifically for that setup. That band became Stratospheerius."
The band’s name is a playful nod to legendary Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivarius, whose instruments famously transported listeners to "higher spheres."
"At first, I rotated through many musicians until I found the right team—which is actually how I connected with Alex Skolnick. I was teaching at a university and saw a poster announcing that Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson Band) was performing in a Miles Davis tribute band with Alex. I was a huge fan of Alex’s metal band, Testament, and was shocked to see him there. Here was this massive death metal star playing jazz! He told me that because of Testament’s early success, he had never finished college and was back studying for his Bachelor’s in Jazz. Alex ended up joining Stratospheerius for three years, and he still guest-stars with us, including on our latest record."
Today, Stratospheerius boasts a stable, powerhouse lineup featuring:
- Joe Deninzon (Lead Vocals, 7-String Electric Violin)
- Jason Gianni (Drums)
- Michelangelo Quirinali (Guitar)
- Paul Ranieri (Bass)
- Bill Hubauer (Keyboards)
Impostor!
Stratospheerius’s latest album is titled Impostor!—a nod to Impostor Syndrome.
"It’s that feeling where you believe you aren't good at what you do, even though everyone around you thinks otherwise," Joe explains. "Or worse: feeling like you can't live up to people's expectations, yet they follow you anyway. It’s also a subtle political nod without having to name names."
Though delayed for years due to the pandemic, the album has received overwhelming critical acclaim. It features guest appearances from top-tier talent like Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree / Steven Wilson).
"I’ve known Randy since he was 24. He’s played almost every instrument except violin in Stratospheerius at some point. He’s insanely talented, and it’s wonderful to see him achieving so much success now."
Hooks, Melodies, and Prog Complexity
Deninzon strives to strike a careful balance between complex progressive arrangements and accessible songwriting.
"I love hooks. I love great melodies," Joe states. "You can have musical complexity that serious musicians can dissect and analyze, but you still need elements that the general public can latch onto and sing along with."
He cites The Beatles, Steely Dan, The Police, Rush, and Genesis as primary influences.
"Genesis was brilliant at that—they had massive commercial hits, but under the hood, their music was intricate, deep, and brilliant to analyze."
Joining Kansas
How did Joe land the gig as the new violinist for one of progressive rock’s most iconic bands?
"Kansas was one of the first rock bands to incorporate a violin, and they set the standard. Anytime a violin enters the rock world, it gets compared to Kansas," says Joe.
"I’ve known Kansas keyboardist Tom Brislin for years since we both live in New Jersey and run in the local prog-rock scene. When long-time violinist David Ragsdale began experiencing health issues, Tom recommended me to founding members Rich Williams and Phil Ehart. They watched the video for our track 'Impostor'—which is probably one of our most Kansas-esque songs—and Phil called me. We clicked immediately."
Initially, Joe was brought on as an understudy.
"Kansas operates with backup musicians for every role so they never have to cancel a show if someone gets sick or faces a family emergency. You don’t see that often with rock bands, but Kansas operates like a massive production. Eventually, the band decided to transition to me full-time as their violinist."
That official shift occurred in May of last year.
"It was a complete life-changing event. It’s amazing—sometimes I’m standing on stage carrying both a guitar and a violin at the same time because both parts are vital to the sound."
Passing the Fan Test
Stepping into an established 50-year legacy isn't easy, but Kansas fans have warmly embraced the transition.
"You never know how fans will react to a lineup change," Joe admits. "I walked into big shoes. Fortunately, 99.9% of the fans have given incredible feedback. I read the comments on Facebook and YouTube, and they’ve been overwhelmingly positive. Passing that test with the fan community was the biggest relief."
Looking Ahead
With four strong songwriters in Kansas, Deninzon notes there are tentative discussions about writing new material, though nothing is set in stone yet.
For now, the focus remains on live shows. While European tour dates aren't currently on the calendar—the band remains heavily focused on a demanding US tour schedule—Joe is embracing the fast pace.
"I’m often only home three days a week and traveling constantly. But when you get to give it your absolute all on those massive stages every night, it makes every mile worth it."
Life at Home
Music is truly a family affair in the Deninzon household. Joe lives in New Jersey with his wife, Yulia Ziskel, who has been a violinist with the world-famous New York Philharmonic for 23 years.
Their two children are following suit: their son, Max, studies piano, while their daughter, Arianna, sings and plays guitar.
Advice for Aspiring Musicians
Looking back on his journey from local gigs to arena stages, Joe offers a crucial piece of advice for emerging artists:
"Stay active. Book your own shows, run your own projects, and network inside the music community—it pays off. To make a living starting out, I played weddings, private parties, and did endless studio session work.
You learn a tremendous amount from those gigs: how to captivate a tough crowd, how to play flawlessly under pressure, and how to learn songs at lightning speed. You have to put yourself out there and build a reputation. Work hard, because the payoff is getting to spend your life doing what you truly love."
