Serving the San Francisco Bay Area New Music Community

                    
Rent Romus
Saxophonist, composer, producer, curator
Rent Romus is an Emmy award winning saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, music producer, and community activist. Since 1988, his work on the saxophone has been dubbed “ferocious” by the San Francisco Weekly and “central to the creative music world of the West Coast” by writer Frank Rubolino. He leads the Lords of Outland a free improvisation unit, the Life’s Blood Ensemble a composition based contemporary group, and the Otherworld Ensemble a Finnish/American collective exploring new perspectives in heritage and traditional folk. He has recorded over 50 albums exploring a wide variety of musical settings which have included beat poet founder ruth weiss, and creative music pioneers Chico Freeman, John Tchicai, and Vinny Golia, Teppo Hauta-aho, Heikki Koskinen, Thollem McDonas, Stefan Pasborg, Marcos Fernandez, and Ernesto Diaz-Infante to name a few. He is the founder of Edgetone Records a community driven label with over 30 years of independent music production, and the creator of Outsound Presents, an all-volunteer musician run non-profit music presenting organization since 2000.

His main instrument is the alto saxophone doubling on c-melody, soprano, sopranino saxophones, various flutes and small percussion. His interests cross both genre and music notation styles from freeimprovisation to composition and graphic score. In addition to a background in jazz he is well versed in experimental, noise, drone, blues, rock, and traditional folk music forms.

"For sure he is an important force in animating the improve scene, bringing together musicians..." - Vital Weekly, Netherlands

"He plays as the dignified giant when blowing a melody with a bright and glossy sound, but when the solo comes the screw turns flying in multiple directions."
- Takeshi Goda, A Challenge to Fate, Japan

"Romus turned out to be, besides a very adept improviser, also a high quality composer. His songs were full of abundant ideas avoiding the easy clichéd “theme/solos/theme” formats." - Jussi Niemi, Tampere Aamulehti, Finland

"Alto saxophonist, one of the more consistently interesting figures of recent years..." - Tom Hull, USA

"Romus has a bold sound, unmistakable sincerity and conviction."
- Downbeat, USA

Other Web links
Instagram
Outsound Presents
Edgetone Records
All Music Guide
Wikipedia
Contact information:
Email: rentromus (AT) gmail (DOT) com
Upcoming Events:

Saturday, November 16 2024 8:00 PM
Prelinger Library [301 8th Street Suite 215 San Francisco]
SF release party for Late Night Phone Call  More...
Tuesday, November 19 2024 8:30 PM
Little Hill Lounge [10753 San Pablo Ave El Cerrito]
Eli Knowles Of Aaron Space

Eli Knowles & Rent Romus  More...
Photo Albums (click to view photos):
Videos
Life's Blood plays "Infinistism" by Rent Romus Kim Cass - double bass Timothy Orr - drums/percussion Markus Hunt - double bass Darren Johnston - trumpet Rent Romus - alto saxophone Livea the 6th Annual In the Flow Festival Luna's Cafe Sacramento, CA video by Charles Smith
The Otherworld Cycle is the culmination of over fourteen years of research of the Finno-Ugric traditions and music. The Cycle consists of a series of new compositions and improvisations inspired by the poems of the Finnish National Epic known as the Kalavela, as well as Karelian regional folk songs, and Sami Joik song elements of the native peoples of the north. The Other World thematic abstractly reference the Uralic “Body of Memory” embedded in Romus’ musical psyche refracted through the multi-faceted lens of improvisation and postmodern jazz. Ron Heglin•Voice Heikki Koskinen•Recorder, E-trumpet, Kantele, poetry reading Bob Marsh•Voice Suki O'Kane•Percussion Joshua Marshall•Tenor Saxophone Bill Noertker•Bass Timothy Orr•Drums Mark Pino•Percussion Mika Pontecorvo•Flutes Rent Romus•Alto Saxophone, Kantele, Flutes, Bells Shanna Sordahl•Cello http://romus.net/otherworld.html Film by Charles Smith, Recorded live at Gold Lion Arts January 18th 2015 Sacramento, California All compositions
Live at the 9th Annual Davis Jazz Festival, John Natsoulas Gallery Sacramento California October 8, 2016 Rent Romus - alto saxophone, flute Joshua Marshall - tenor saxophone Heikki "Mike" Kosikinen - e-trumpet/tenor recorder Mark Clifford - vibes Safa Shokrai - double bass Max Judelson - double bass Timothy Orr - drums
Cicatrix - A Fantasie in Four Movements (by Joshua Marshall) I. Mes Cheveux Roux II. Cicatrix III. I'll Carve You A Mind Out Of Marble IV. My Oneiric Ambition Performed by Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco. Video by Charles Smith. "Cicatrix" appears on "Rising Colossus" by Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble, released through Edgetone Records. This album can be purchased as digital download, CD, or limited edition LP at: https://edgetonerecords.bandcamp.com/... Rent Romus - alto saxophone, flute; Joshua Marshall - tenor saxophone; Heikki "Mike" Kosikinen - e-trumpet/tenor recorder; Mark Clifford - vibes; Safa Shokrai - double bass; Max Judelson - double bass; Timothy Orr - drums
From left, Heikki "Mike" Koskinen digital trumpet, Tane Kannisto saxophone, Teppo Hauta-aho double bass, Ville Rauhala double bass, Rent Romus saxophone and Simo Laihonen drums at Telakka, Tampere, Finland 31.5.2017.
"...strikingly vivid, deeply textured music that evokes stark landscapes and heroic deeds...the music seems to emerge right out of the Finnish soil." - Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Classical Voice Manala is the metaphysical realm of the Finnish underworld. It is both a metaphor and reflection of a world view and cosmic order that inspires an inherent feeling of mystery throughout the texts of this tradition. Heikki Koskinen and Rent Romus celebrate modern Finnish American cultural expression with this joint musical project built upon a thematic framework featuring all original compositions. Manala uses elements of Finnish pentameter rhythmic folk music intertwined with melodic themes as well as graphic and improvisational components expressed in American Jazz. Featured Performers: Rent Romus - alto & soprano saxophones, flutes, kantele, bells Heikki "Mike" Koskinen - e-trumpet, tenor recorder, kantele Joshua Marshall - tenor & soprano saxophones, flute Tom Weeks - baritone & alto saxo
A montage of the free music group the Lords of Outland from their live presented as part of The Tenderloin Museum’s Sounds of the Tenderloin live music series at the Tenderloin National Forest in San Francisco July of 2022 Featuring Rent Romus on alto/soprano saxophones, Ray Schaeffer on bass, Anthony Flores on drums, and Philip Everett on
CDs on which Rent Romus appears:
ArtistTitleLabelNumber
Rent Romus, Heikki Koskinen, Life's Blood Ensemble Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament
Artist: Rent Romus, Heikki Koskinen, Life's Blood Ensemble
Title: Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4230
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4230
Rent Romus' Actual/Actual here for the outside
Artist: Rent Romus' Actual/Actual
Title: here for the outside
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4231
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4231
Rent Romus' Actual/Actual Baptismal
Artist: Rent Romus' Actual/Actual
Title: Baptismal
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4225
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4225
ruth weiss, Rent Romus, Doug O'Conner and Hall Davis we are sparks in the universe to our own
Artist: ruth weiss, Rent Romus, Doug O'Conner and Hall Davis
Title: we are sparks in the universe to our own
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4217
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4217
Otherworld Ensemble Return from Manala
Artist: Otherworld Ensemble
Title: Return from Manala
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4216
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4216
Rent Romus, Heikki Koskinen, Life's Blood Ensemble Manala
Artist: Rent Romus, Heikki Koskinen, Life's Blood Ensemble
Title: Manala
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4212
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4212
Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble The Otherworld Cycle
Artist: Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble
Title: The Otherworld Cycle
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4161
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4161
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland Lords O Leaping
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: Lords O Leaping
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4153
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4153
Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble Cimmerian Crossroads
Artist: Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble
Title: Cimmerian Crossroads
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4146
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4146
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland The Proceedings of Dr. Ké
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: The Proceedings of Dr. Ké
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4143
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4143
Rent Romus' life's Blood Quartet Truth Teller
Artist: Rent Romus' life's Blood Quartet
Title: Truth Teller
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4135
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4135
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland Thee Unhip
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: Thee Unhip
Label: Nine Winds EDT4129/NW0298
Label page on this site: Nine Winds
Nine Winds EDT4129/NW0298
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland Cloudknitter Suite Live
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: Cloudknitter Suite Live
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4128
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4128
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland w/Vinny Golia Edge of Dark
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland w/Vinny Golia
Title: Edge of Dark
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4112
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4112
The Emergency String (X)tet meet Rent Romus Emergency Rental
Artist: The Emergency String (X)tet meet Rent Romus
Title: Emergency Rental
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4100
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4100
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland XV (The First Fifteen Years 1994-2009)
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: XV (The First Fifteen Years 1994-2009)
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4094
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4094
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland The Pit
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: The Pit
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4084
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4084
Thollem McDonas, Rent Romus - Bloom Project Sudden Aurora
Artist: Thollem McDonas, Rent Romus - Bloom Project
Title: Sudden Aurora
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4083
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4083
Ministry of Rites, Rent Romus & Tobias Fischer GRID
Artist: Ministry of Rites, Rent Romus & Tobias Fischer
Title: GRID
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4079
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4079
Reverberations From Spring Past Diaz-Infante/Fernandes/Montoya/Romus
Artist: Reverberations From Spring Past
Title: Diaz-Infante/Fernandes/Montoya/Romus
Label: Pax Recordings PR90281
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90281
The Abstractions Novo Navigatio
Artist: The Abstractions
Title: Novo Navigatio
Label: Edgetone Records PR90275/EDT4027
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records PR90275/EDT4027
The Abstractions Ars Vivende
Artist: The Abstractions
Title: Ars Vivende
Label: Pax Recordings PR90260/EDT4019
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90260/EDT4019
Moe! Staiano's MOE!KESTRA! Two Forms of Multitudes: Conducted Improvisations
Artist: Moe! Staiano's MOE!KESTRA!
Title: Two Forms of Multitudes: Conducted Improvisations
Label: Pax Recordings PR90261
Label page on this site: Pax Recordings
Pax Recordings PR90261
Rent Romus' Lords of Outland Avatar in the Field
Artist: Rent Romus' Lords of Outland
Title: Avatar in the Field
Label: Edgetone Records EDT 4001
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT 4001
Guinea Pig/Out of Town Live at the Hotel Utah
Artist: Guinea Pig/Out of Town
Title: Live at the Hotel Utah
Label: Edgetone Records EDT 4002
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT 4002
PKD Vortex Project Music Inspired by Phil K. Dick
Artist: PKD Vortex Project
Title: Music Inspired by Phil K. Dick
Label: Edgetone Records EDT 4003
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT 4003
The Abstractions Sonic Conspiracy
Artist: The Abstractions
Title: Sonic Conspiracy
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4012
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4012
Interviews/Articles:
Review: STATIC ILLUSION MUSIC SERIES
Audio Samples: