Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius - Impostor!
The better part of an hour of impeccably played progressive rock music by a solid core of players assisted by an impressive array of guest artists.
Impostor!
Artist: Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius
7-D Media
https://joedeninzon.com/
9 tracks / 51:08
Sometimes called ‘the Jimi Hendrix of the violin,’ Joe Deninzon wields his seven-string electric instrument like a prog samurai on his latest project. Deninzon and his band, Stratospheerius, have produced a nine-track tour-de-force called Impostor! Starting with a tight, fiery instrumental, “Voodoo Vortex (Part 2),” and ending with “Chasing the Dragon,” a twelve-minute prog epic, Impostor! delivers almost an hour of impeccably played progressive rock music (eight originals and a cover of King Crimson’s “Frame by Frame”) by a solid core of players assisted by an impressive array of guest artists. The band is Joe (electric 7-string violin, acoustic violin, viola, chin cello, lead and background vocals), Michelangelo Quirinale (Guitars), Paul Ranieri (bass), Jason Gianni (drums), and Bill Hubauer (keyboards). Impostor! features guests whose names should be familiar to fans of progressive rock: “Cognitive Dissonance” features guest vocals from Randy McStine (Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree), “Storm Surge” pianist/flautist Rachel Flowers, guitarist Fernando Perdomo (“Echo in the Canyon,” Jacob Dylan, Carmine Appice), and Saga vocalist Michael Sadler, to name a few. The resulting sound is both classic rock and prog, with influences and similarities (at least to these ears) ranging from The Neal Morse Band to Toto, Yes, Kansas, Focus, Queen, and even keyboardist Hubauer’s side-project, We Came From Space.
Impostor! is mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser and masterfully produced by Deninzon.
A fine singer himself, Deninzon shares vocal duties throughout the album, allowing for a wide range of lead vocal tones and textures and fine harmonies - I wonder if we’re hearing some of Hubauer’s vocal arranging on “Outrage Olympics”… Lyrically, there are themes both introspective and observational. The aforementioned song deals with the dangers of ‘cancel culture’: “So shut your mouth or lose your job / The walls are always listening / Just dodge the bullet one more day / In the Outrage Olympics.” “Impostor” looks inward as well as outward, to those who doubt themselves to their own detriment and to others who should be questioning themselves (there are 2 versions: one with an expletive, one without). Hatred and hypocrisy are targeted in “Cognitive Dissonance” (which also features a stunning section of guitar/violin interaction). Obviously, the songs go deeper than the ‘party all night long’ variety. After all, this is prog…
Every track on Impostor! is solid but there are some stand-out moments to make note of. First of all, let’s mention the cover of King Crimson’s “Frame by Frame.” Not many groups would attempt this, but Stratospheerius absolutely nails the song and give it their own special polish. Equally impressive, but in a totally different emotional direction, is “Storm Surge” (based on themes from “L’orage” by Friedrich Burgmuller). This is a classically-inspired piece reminiscent of the group Focus (in part to the wonderful flute and piano playing of Rachel Flowers). It’s a melodramatic mix of classical music and rock featuring wonderful guitar work (electric and acoustic) by Fernando Perdomo. Cellist Ruti Celli adds a touch of class, and Deninzon and Michael Sadler soar on vocals. Special kudos to Jason Gianni on drums, bringing a bit of Procol Harum musical drama to mind. Truly an outstanding track. Of course, the epic “Chasing the Dragon,” provides a cornucopia of powerful musical moments that would rate as highlights on any album. Starting out in a minor, ominous mode, the opus goes through several sections – some harder, some more serene, featuring piano and cello, all of them ear-grabbing. The guitar / keys / violin interplay is amazing, in particular Deninzon’s stunningly inventive violin work which will have many listeners thinking they’re hearing the guitar at first – but careful listening reveals incredible bow work.
Joe Deninzon certainly can take his place alongside Jean-luc Ponty and the late Didier Lockwood in the annals of jazz/rock/prog/fusion violinists – his work on this album is quite amazing. Thankfully, the other band members are also masters of their instruments and contribute to making this not a one-man-show but a rich, satisfying musical whole.
4 tocks
-Bert Saraco
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