From 1966 till 1987, the Downtown was a prominent jazz club in Düsseldorf’s Altstadt (Old Town). Once we were old enough to visit Düsseldorf’s drinking mile unaccompanied, we would occasionally go to the Downtown – or the Dr. Jazz, another club in the same neighborhood, but the music played there was a bit too old fashioned for us. I remember the anticipation while we descended the stairs to the basement, a dark brick vault filled with smoke and sound.
After 40 years, these pictures won’t do the Downtown any justice. The sign above the door is based on a photo; the rest is fiction. Düsseldorf’s Altstadt never looked anything like this, and even today, nobody would announce a burlesque show in English down here. The mood is quite true though. And it’s also true that more effort and work go into a great evening of music than you’d think once you hear ’em play.
I am really happy to have completed this series: The jazz club was something I felt was missing from the Jazz series I made last year.
Tobias, I always love your work. The black and white, minimalist approach really emphasizes the visual storytelling. Your lighting in this series of photos is sublime. Love the curve of the singer’s hip in the second photo. The way the light and the focus control combine to put the … focus … on certain parts of the scene is soooo good. Beautiful job!
Thank you so much, Teddi! It’s interesting that you would mention the light: I think that over the years, I’ve evolved from “it must be dramatic” to “it must be as realistic as possible “. Meaning, I more and more integrated the light sources into the pictures (if the situation calls for it). Seems to work. I am happy with that!
Awesome storytelling, Tobias! And while my community choir doesn’t sing in clubs, I know all too well how much preparation goes into a performance!
Thanks a lot, Mary! The storytelling, yes… I sometimes think that this is one of the best sequences I ever did, and I am glad it seems to be comprehensible.