JOE DENINZON Michael Stanley laid out path, according to violinist

The musician has three CDs to his credit and is working on a fourth.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Most musicians remember the moment of truth when their talents were clearly defined.
For violinist-guitarist Joe Deninzon, a former Northeast Ohio resident and 1993 graduate of Brush High School in Lyndhurst, that epiphany came at the behest of none other than Cleveland's favorite son and rock musician Michael Stanley. In 1991, the local legend asked the then 16-year-old Deninzon, a classmate of Stanley's daughters, to join him onstage for a live performance at the old Front Row Theatre.
"This experience with Michael Stanley changed my life," said Deninzon, calling from his home in New Jersey. "Because it was the first time I got to improvise on the violin and got to see that it was something that I could possibly do more of in the future."
Despite the fact his father, Vladimir, is a violinist in the Cleveland Orchestra and his family hoped he'd follow in his classical footsteps, Deninzon says his die was cast for a career in rock music that special night.
"[Stanley] didn't say anything," Deninzon said. "He taught me the songs and said, 'You have a solo here, let it rip.' It was just boom, 'Go.' I don't think he even knowingly did it. But I definitely give him credit and mention that experience as being a turning point for me in my life."
Stanley, now an afternoon DJ at WNCX-FM 98.5, said he remembers Joe's performance quite vividly. In fact, ironically, he recently watched a tape of the concert.
"We were doing a show and for the first time in a long time, we didn't have a sax player," Stanley said. "So I wanted something else to fill that void and I had seen Joe play and thought this could be kind of cool. Obviously he was real young and I think pretty nervous but it was one of those things, 'Here's the spot, here's the chord changes, go for it.' And he was great."
His other influences
Today, Deninzon is a rising star on the jam-band scene with his band Stratospheerius, having released three albums, including the recent concert disc "Live Wires." A violinist with a decidedly rock mindset, Deninzon plays his electric six-string violin as if it were a lead electric guitar. He says his band is influenced by '70s acts such as Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and (Frank) Zappa.
Even though the violinist has recorded with such music industry legends as Richie Blackmore, Sheryl Crow, Les Paul, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis and more, he said he'll never forget his eye-opening experience with Stanley. Apparently, the feeling is likewise.
"It's the kind of thing I wish somebody would have done for me when I was that age," Stanley said. "It's just always nice to know that you helped somebody take a step closer to what they really want to do, and I can't say I'm responsible for Joe's success. It's just nice to know that he feels it was a turning point for him. And if it gave him some confidence to go on and do what he's doing now, then hey, mission accomplished."
Currently in the process of recording his fourth studio album, tentatively titled "Headspace," Deninzon returns to the Buckeye State Saturday for a show at The Maennerchor in Youngstown. With a live approach bent heavily on improvisation, Deninzon isn't shy regarding his vision for Stratospheerius.
"Our goal," said Deninzon, "is to be the next Dave Matthews Band."