(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Fresh off being one of eight string players to join Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for a pair of songs at Metife Stadium, Joe Deninzon brings his band Stratospheerius to Asbury Park to open for Alex Skolnick at The Saint on September 14. Deninzon and Skolknick go way back. In fact, Alex was in Stratospheerius when the two were students at New York City’s New School’s jazz program and the Stratospheerius song "Heavy Shtettle Park II: Heavier Shtettle" was written by the two.
For the past decade, Skolnick has led a double-life as a member of Testament, the seminal thrash metal band he joined at the age of 16. In the summer of 2016, he’s both toured Europe with Testament and performed with Miles’ keyboardist, Alan Holzman.
Live Unbound (September 16 / Skol Productions) marks the first live album from the Alex Skolnick Trio (AST), featuring his longtime bandmates, Nathan Peck on bass and drummer Matt Zebroski.
Recorded live in December, 2014 for a gathering of friends at Spin Studios in NYC, Live Unbound pairs five of Alex’s compositions with reimagined versions of “Dream On” (Aerosmith) and “Still Loving You” (Scorpions). The latter two are from Musiktheater Piano in Dortmund, Germany, during AST’s European tour in 2016.
“This recording says that we don't have much use for limitations,” says Skolnick. “Our live performances can take us anywhere, from the spirit of quintessential jazz guitar trios to distortion and chaos. It’s all possible.”
Meanwhile, Deninzon has been hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin,” because of his innovative style on acoustic and electric seven-string violin. Mel Bay books has published Joe’s book/CD/DVD "PLUGGING IN: A Guide To Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist." The group’s latest album, The Next World features the music video “One Foot In the Next World.”
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius features: Aurelien Budynek-guitar (Cindy Blackman, The Dan Band, Rock of Ages, Daredevil Squadron), Jason Gianni-drums (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rock of Ages, Mike Portnoy/Neil Morse Band, Daredevil Squadron), and Binghamton’s Randy McStine-bass (The Fringe, Sound of Contact, Stu Hamm, LoFi Resistance).
Stratospheerius was a winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition, and was named "Best Jam Band" in the Musician's Atlas Independent Music Awards.
Tickets for the show are $20. The Saint is located at 601 Main Street in Asbury Park, NJ.
