hen you think of the violin, you think of classical music. or perhaps the fiddle's role in country music. picture this. A six-string violin set up with a wah pedal and distortion.
24 year old Joe Deninzon has achieved this. His new disc, Electric Blue has just been released, and is much different than routine violin music.
Deninzon graduated from Indiana University with a major in both classical and jazz studies. His parents are both classical musicians from Russia and they have taught young Joe the violin well.
Deninzon has been termed "The Jimi Hendrix of the violin." Since Hendrix played a six-string guitar, Deninzon was not going to be out done. He dabbled with the guitar and bass, but ultimately found himself seriously studying the violin. He enlisted Eric Jensen, a custom violinmaker from Seattle. The result is a six-string violin that really resembles and instrument that looks like it will not play. Wrong!
"Shock Therapy" starts with a scratch violin. If you did not know what the lead instrument was, you would have thought a guitar. The composition is reminiscent of one of the most successful violinists of our time, Jean-Luc Ponty. A well-written composition, the elements come together for a pleasant listen. "Bluzak", one of the more aggressive tunes features strong performances by bass player Jeremy Bleich and guitarist Tony Pulizzi. Pulizzi solos over a powerful melody, the tone appropriate for the composition. "Acid Rabbits" has a more relaxed tempo with a lighter feel. Delay on the violin sets up the tasteful solo of Joe Hunter on the keyboard. Towards the end; the song fades out, allowing the bass to fire back up adding a nice touch for the ending.
"The Dark Frontier" plays about the way the title describes it. Tempo changes and different moods drive this one in different directions. This one is perhaps the most interesting in which to listen. Deninzon makes the violin sound like birds at one point before the tempo picks up and control is lost. Also adding to the confusion are Ricardo Flores on percussion and Tony Pulizzi on guitar.
There are traditional tunes as well. If you desire different tempos and styles like a laid back beat, or an aggressive tempo, this disc has it all. "We;; You Needn't" and "An Evening Nap in the Afternoon Sun" are more traditional than the fusion aspect. Sharing the duties on keyboards are Joe Hunter and Winton Reynolds. Mark Gonder contributes on drums.
Other strong performances are Kenny Anderson playing sax on "In Stride" and Erik Unsworth plays bass on "Well You Needn't". Dallas Coffey covers the remaining majority of the bass work playing both acoustic and electric bass.
There are many different elements that make up the music, and Eletric Blue is a good first release for Joe Deninzon. Look for him to be doing many new and possibly revolutionary things with the violin.
BOTTOM LINE: A diverse disc that encompasses many different influences and textures. Besides, local artists and local record company!
hen you think of the violin, you think of classical music. or perhaps the fiddle's role in country music. picture this. A six-string violin set up with a wah pedal and distortion. 