Recorded one spring evening in San Francisco, Emergency Rental is a collaboration by the Emergency String (X)tet and Rent Romus exploring sound in and outside the elements of free improvisation between saxophone and strings. The Emergency String (X)tet grew out of the ashes of Fred Longberg-Holms Phenomenal String Quartet in Chicago some fifteen years ago. After the dissolution of the Phenomenal Strings, ESX founder Bob Marsh was disconsolate, greatly missing the aural wonders provided by that group. He created the ESX when he believed the lack of improvised string music had reached emergency proportions. The ensemble is called an (X)tet for two reasons: First, due to the fluctuating number of players at a given performance. Second, because it emphasizes the unknown factor inherent in improvisation. Rent Romus is a saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, music and performing arts producer, and community leader living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is heavily involved in exploring past the confines of standard music forms of composition and improvisations in a wide variety of musical settings. Emergency Rental marks Romus’ 25th album release.
photo by Michael Zelner