Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble

Life's Blood Ensemble, Berkeley CA (left to right Mark Clifford, Rent Romus, Max Judelson, Heikki Koskinen, Timothy Orr, Joshua Marshall) photo by Peter B Kaars

Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble pays tribute as well as brings to light, reinvents, deconstructs, and delves into the deep realms of their collective vision. Their repertoire features original composition and contemporary local and international composers while exploring the influences and inspirations of jazz and improvisation. The Life's Blood began in 1999 while Romus was on tour in Northern Europe as a trio with Danish drummer Stefan Pasborg and bassist Jonas Westergaard. Returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, Romus recreated and expanded the roster to feature some of the best musicians the San Francisco region has to offer presenting a broad range of original music from expansive thematic jazz suites to composers' forums and features.

Press Quotes:
"Offers a chaotic rhythmic structure and focused wailing that is grounded..." - Mike Borella, Avant Music News
"They explore the subtle borders of style and element within jazz and improvisation." "Fresh innovative jazz...The expression is emotional but eloquent, smooth yet cerebral." - KFJC FM 89.7 Los Altos Hills

"Romus and the Life’s Blood Ensemble play jazz for the new age." - Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics
"...sinewy grooves...A Love Supreme's stratosphere..." - Tom Hull, jazz critic

"Life's Blood Ensemble dives headlong into a disparate array of compositions, opening and closing with very different works inspired by epic tales..." - Jazz journalist Andrew Gilbert

"Indeed, Romus and associates have reached a milestone with this top-notch outing that defies strict categorizations when considering bridges between free improvisation and modern progressive jazz. It's a seamless incorporation of the best of many worlds." - Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

Core Ensemble:
Rent Romus•alto saxophone Timothy Orr•drums/percussion Safa Shokrai•double bass Max Judelson•double bass
Heikki "Mike" Koskinen•e-trumpet/recorder Joshua Marshall•tenor saxophone Mark Clifford•vibraphone

Guest Perfromers:
Cory Combs, Ron Heglin, Jason Hoopes, Vinny Golia, Cheryl E. Leonard, Bob Marsh, Ann Mcchesney-Young, Gabby Fluke-Mogul, Suki O'Kane, Bill Noertker, Erika Oba, Crystal Pascucci, Mark Pino, Mika Pontecorvo, David Samas, Shanna Sordahl, Polly Springhorn, Tom Weeks

Download EPK

Life's Blood Septet performing "Rising Colossus Suite" @ Gold Lion Arts Sacramento, CA photo by Kenny Mann


Life's Blood Ensmble at SF Music Day 2018 photo by Scott Chernis