Sidney Lumet’s 1964 film The Pawnbroker brought a Jewish Holocaust survivor to Harlem. Quincy Jones brought this dissonance to life with his musical score. Now, Ran Blake honors Q’s work by bringing together a wealth of musicians from NEC's Contemporary Improvisation program to interpret this music as the film screens onstage. Last year, a similar project took on another dark film from the 1960s, Bunny Lake Is Missing. These are rare opportunities to hear live interpretations of a classic film score in a multimedia setting.
Performers include the Storyboard Noir Ensemble, led by trombonist Aaron Hartley '07, '09 M.M.; the NEC Jazz Orchestra, led by Ken Schaphorst; the NEC Jewish Music Ensemble, led by Hankus Netsky; pianist Anthony Coleman and flutist Linda Chase of the faculty; pianist / vocalist Alonzo Harris '06 M.M.; and trumpeter Jerry Sabatini '09 M.M. Joining them is guest vocalist Eleni Odoni.
NEC's concert is timed to coincide with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the "night of broken glass" in 1938 when Nazis shattered the windows of thousands of Jewish-owned businesses in a concerted attack that included the destruction of homes and synagogues and imprisonment of Jews. Many historians consider this to be the most ominous antecedent of the Holocaust era.
The Pawnbroker explores the psychological torment of Holocaust victim Sol Nazerman, a pawnbroker based in Spanish Harlem. Nazerman confronts the challenge of renewing faith in humanity in a world where the tragedies of the Holocaust are still very real.
Lumet's film brought prejudice into the present day, and introduced an unforgettable performance by Rod Steiger in the title role, and the music of Quincy Jones in his first Hollywood film score.
Other Contemporary Improvisation departmental projects will result in thematic concerts on February 16 and April 12, with participation of student and faculty performers.
During NEC's deferred maintenance project, scaffolding will surround the campus buildings, including the Jordan Hall building. Curbside dropoffs directly in front of the Jordan Hall building will not be possible. Traffic on Gainsborough Street will be one-way traveling from St. Botolph Street to Huntington Avenue.Find updated information on pedestrian and vehicular access.
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CLAUDE DEBUSSY