1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

Shades of Jazz on Noir
Film by Ana-Isabel Ordonez

Though many of us may not remember a time when movie theaters were equipped with an orchestra pit so musicians could play music to interpret the drama happening on the screen, it is being revitalized by Dr. Ana-Isabel Ordonez, co-founder of Ruby Flower Records (www.rubyflower-records.com), with her recent project "Shades of Jazz on Noir" for the Luxembourg European Cultural Capital 2007.

Her project revamps this aural and visual experience which emerged during the halcyon days of Hollywood's silent films. Ordonez's project shows that improvised music performed by avant-garde jazz musicians is a perfect fit with the genre of film noir, which was popular in Hollywood during the 1940's and 1950's utilized by directors like Fritz Lang, Robert Siodmak and Michael Curtiz. "Shades of Jazz on Noir" is a documentary, which Ordonez put together to offer a deeper look at the dark, femme-fatale image which women in cinema like Marlene Dietrich portrayed. The film noir genre is based on German Expressionist cinematography which depicted fictional crime dramas in a stylish format. "Shades of Jazz on Noir" is on tour presently throughout the United States and Europe playing in select theaters with an accompaniment of live musicians.

She furnishes, "Film noir's aesthetics are deeply influenced by German expressionism, but despite the overwhelming presence of avant-garde jazz at the time, the link between improvisation and film noir is absent, as Hollywood studios imposed traditional romantic scores, which didn't fit the angular depiction of these stylish crime dramas."

Ordonez explains, "'Shades of Jazz on Noir' is the second installment of a film noir and jazz series created for the Luxembourg European Cultural Capital 2007. The film presents excerpts from the classic film noir works of the 1940s and 1950s crafted to express the fatality, passion, and danger created by directors who pioneered the lively lighting techniques and psychologically expressive approach to classic noir. Shades of Jazz on Noir' is offered as a silent documentary; the music is performed live by musicians who are improvising with the film."

She reveals that she became involved with the Luxembourg European Cultural Capital 2007 from its start. "I have been living in Luxembourg for nine years, so when the Luxembourg European Capital 2007 was going to be launched, I had the idea to do a project which combined my passion for film noir and jazz. The project was

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The Shades of Jazz on Noir project?
We want to hear your view. Write now!