photo: Louise Mitchell(click for hi-res version)
Life's Blood
Kim Cass – double bass
Markus Hunt – double bass
Timothy Orr – drums/percussion
Rent Romus - alto, soprano, c-melody saxophones
Listen to Infinitism from the new upcoming release "Truth Teller"
Life's Blood "damn well rock their Jazz" says blogger disaster amnesiac, while exploring the influences and inspirations that make the art of jazz and improvisation timeless. The ensemble pays tribute as well as brings to light, reinvents, deconstructs, and breaths life into the deeper realms of their collective body of memory. Originally created by saxophonist Rent Romus while on tour in Northern Europe in 1999, the group currently features bassists Kim Cass, Markus Hunt and drummer/percussionist Timothy Orr.
Hailed by Downbeat as having "...a bold sound, unmistakeable sincerity and conviction", Rent Romus is a force spanning over 25 years of music production curating over 80 shows a year for the new music, avant garde, and jazz communities as well as leading several groups from rolicking jazz to free abstract chamber music, to sounds tracks for film and dance. Timothy Orr studied drums with Edward Blackwell from 1985-89 at Wesleyan University. Timothy has played with musicians in many fields, including Josh Roseman, Stephen Schwartz, Marco Eneidi, Richard Hell, Adam Lane, and many more. Kim Cass is one of the most promising jazz bass players to come out of the New England Conservatory in recent memory, possessing both a remarkably individual sound and a personal and virtuosic technique. As a freelancer in New York City he played with Bill McHenry, George Garzone, Andrew D'Angelo and Ethan Iverson among others. Markus Hunt began his study of double bass at Howard University under Chris Sloniger, and later with Chuck Sher, Glenn Richman (Bobby Hutcherson) and Clarence Stephens (Church of Coltrane). Borrowing from 20th century European classical and American avant-garde jazz forms, his approach is both spiritual and intellectual.
Video excerpt of Life's Blood performing @ Swarm Gallery in Oakland California January 2013
Video excerpt of Life's Blood performing @ 6th Annual In the Flow Festival in Sacramento California
May 2013 w/guest Darren Johnston
|
