The new Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius music video, “Voodoo Vortex (Part 1)” might remind fans of prog rock, fusion, and classic rock of the 1970s in sound and look. Musically Joe was channeling his favorite fusion violinists—Jean Luc Ponty, Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Jerry Goodman, Didier Lockwood, and Eddie Jobson.
First Joe organized some video imagery generated and edited by Robert Minsk. Next, Joe interspersed photos by (“Impostor!” album designer) Jody Gianni and performance footage shot by (Stratospheerius’ “Outrage Olympics” video director) David Levin from the band’s recent album release party in Rutherford, NJ.
The video premieres at Stratospheerius’ online watch party on YouTube on Friday, February 21, at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT/3 AM on Saturday the 22 in the Netherlands at
“Impostor!” has found fans all over the world. The initial music video “Outrage Olympics” was recently chosen to be featured at the LA-based “Independent Shorts” awards. In the past few months, over 120 stations have picked up the album for airplay, helping the band chart on Relix/Jamband radio, and finding favor on a number of Best of 2024 album lists, including the song “Chasing the Dragon” making its way to Epic Tracks of the Year charts. Now the album’s been picked up for International Distribution in the UK by Burning Shed, and Germany’s Just for Kicks.
The Progressive Aspect’s John Giordano compares “Voodoo Vortex (Part 1)” to King Crimson’s “Matte Kudasai.” “The effects Deninzon uses on the violin deepen the aural interest,” and raves about the “Impostor!” album, “While there is a definite Kansas vibe, no other band sounds quite like Stratospheerius.” The Prog Report’s Prog Nick loves the “glorious melody” of “Voodoo Vortex (Part I).” “Ethereal and hazy to begin with, it develops into an expansive arrangement in 11/8 timing that, despite its complexity, will have your head bobbing. The weaving interplay between Deninzon’s violin and Hubauer’s keyboards will enrapture you, and Gianni holds it all together perfectly, with an economical yet elaborate approach. He is a very fine drummer indeed.”
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius released “Impostor!” on Trey Gunn’s 7d Media and features Joe (electric 7-string violin, acoustic violin, viola, chin cello, lead and background vocals, and producer), Michelangelo Quirinale-(Guitars), Paul Ranieri (bass), Jason Gianni (drums), and Bill Hubauer (keyboards). “Impostor!” is mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser (Tears for Fears, Dream Theater, Weezer). The group’s music’s been compared to Rush, Muse, Dream Theater, and Kansas, who welcomed Joe into the band in May 2023. “While Kansas became my main gig, it was my work with Stratospheerius that got their attention.”
More Info
Stratospheerius.com
JoeDeninzon.com
