DENINZONEWS Year-In-Review & Holiday Sale!
Greetings, friends! Happy Holidays!
No matter what you celebrate, be it Christmas, Channukah, Kwanza, Festivus, or just another day above ground, there is always a good excuse to buy Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius music & merch!
Whether it’s a gift for a friend or relative, or for yourself. Our items are perfect for stuffing your stocking… or stuffing anything else for that matter!
(We don’t judge).
….And now until 11:59 P.M. EST on December 31st, you can get 20 pct off of ANYTHING on the Joe Deninzon or Stratospheerius BANDCAMP stores if you type in the code “holidaze” at checkout! So what are you waiting for?!
We got CD’s, DVD’s, vinyls, T-shirts, books, mugs for your egg nog, and downloads!
2025 has been another jam-packed year! Busy touring with Kansas, playing a few shows with Stratospheerius, session work and writing, and taking care of my family as much as I can. Here are some highlights…
Kansas Adventures and Double Bills
Kansas had an incredibly busy year, but it got off to a rough start.
Back in February, our singer, Ronnie Platt, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, leading to two months of cancelled shows, including us pulling out of the 70’s Rock and Romance Cruise, which we were supposed to do in March and will make up for this coming March.
Fortunately, Ronnie was able to get thyroid removal surgery in March, and returned to the stage in St. George, UT on April 4th.
The speed of his recovery was truly a miracle!
For the remaining part of the year, we made up for lost time, touring for 20 weeks straight without a break and playing a total of 71 shows in 2025!
After our epic 50th anniversary tour won down in December of last year, we changed up our setlist and joined forces with some other great classic bands.
It was such an honor to share bills and hang with 38 Special, Outlaws, Night Ranger, Jefferson Starship, Starship (feat. Mickey Thomas), and Blue Oyster Cult.
I grew up listening to these bands and it was such a blast getting to know them personally and watching them kick ass onstage every night. The comraderie and mutual respect was a beautiful thing and the musicians inspired each other!
On November 2nd, my worlds collided when Kansas played a show with members of the New Jersey Symphony at my backyard venue, Bergen Performing Arts Center! NJSO was my wife Yulia Ziskel’s first job while she was still in Juilliard before she joined the NY Philharmonic, and I have subbed with that orchestra as well.
It’s amazing when things come full circle. In attendance that night were keyboard legend Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) and Derek Shulman, former singer of Gentle Giant and legendary record executive who signed Bon Jovi, Pantera, and Dream Theater among others!
2026 is shaping up to be another busy year for us. You can see all the upcoming Kansas shows at www.kansasband.com
Stratospheerius News
These days, you can count on one hand how many shows Stratospheerius does each year., but we keep on going because we love playing with each other and … well… its just so damn fun!
In 2025, our show highlights included a show at one of our favorite venues in the Philly/Wilmington area, Kennett Flash, with Kansas’ bassist Dan McGowan’s incredible band, The Tea Club! Check out their great new album, “Chasm.”
Other highlights included opening for Asia (Feat. John Payne) at the Sellersville Theater, and making our debut at Daryl’s House Club (beautiful venue owned by Daryl Hall) in Pawling, NY.
We are currently writing and tracking some new music, and we have a big show announcement pending, so please stay tuned…
Here again is our latest video for the song “Voodoo Vortex (Part I, which we released back in February
Education Station
Before joining Kansas, I was busy as a clinician and teacher, doing workshops and residencies at high schools and colleges throughout the country, teaching at Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp and other music camps. It’s one of most rewarding things that I love to do! That’s why I’m grateful to my friend Jocelyn Rowland Khalaf for organizing a 1-hr performance/workshop for me when Kansas was in Tulsa this past November. It was a blast performing for and working with 600 orchestra kids from the Union County Public Schools!
Album Appearances
When I’m not on tour with Kansas, I love doing session work for people and making guest appearances on other people’s projects. Here are some of my favorite ones from the past year.
Deep Energy Orchestra “The Science of Sound”
My new friend and 7D Media labelmate, Jason Everett, is an incredible bass player and composer. His project, “Deep Energy Orchestra,” is a combination of some of my favorite musical influences, namely Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti. I was honored to appear on two tracks on the excellent new album, “The Science of Sound”
The album also features stick player Trey Gunn (King Crimson), drummer Gary Husband (Chick Corea, Jeff Beck), and Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson) among others.
Nad Sylvan “Monumentata”
Nad Sylvan is best known as the singer for original genesis guitarist, Steve Hacket. He’s also released a bunch of excellent solo albums. His awesome new album is called “Monumentata” and you can here me on the track, “I’m Stepping out.”
Door Dash Commercial
Back in February, one of the commercials I recorded strings for was aired during the Super Bowl. Check out this DoorDash commercial featuring Nate Bargatze, music composed by Aaron Paul Low.
Press
Joe Deninzon Violin Tour
I thought it would be fun to showcase and talk about my collection of acoustic and electric violins, violas, chin cellos, and other bowed stringy things, as well as some of the studio work I have done. Check it out!
Interview & Reaction Video with NicknLex
NicknLex are a super cool couple who are passionate about music. Stratospheerius was honored to get our first reaction video from our song, “Impostor!” NicknLex also interviewed me and my drummer Jason Gianni.
Reaction video
https://youtu.be/jgmqi8IcBIY?si=kRU9LuxlS6eYy4pT
LIVEPROG PODCAST
Coffeetimes News (Portugal)
This was a group of students from Portugal who are learning English and did a great job preparing questions to ask me.
More international rave reviews of Stratospheerius’ album, “Impostor!”
“. Chasing The Dragon is diverse, dynamic, bombastic and 100% harmonious; indeed, a classic prog rock epic for sure, and a powerful end to a magnificent album.”
Impostor! is a MUST have album for fans of Kansas, Spock’s Beard, and The Neal Morse Band, so check it out indeed!”
Background Magazine (Netherlands)
Music Street Journal – Music News & Reviews
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius – Impostor! – BetreutesProggen.de
Whew, what a year!
Wishing everyone a happy Holiday Season! Wishing you peace, blessings, good health, and musical transformations in the New Year!
Love,
-JD
