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Inspired by a series of dreams, Iris Lord created her own unique approach to the piano and began writing plays and songs. At her first jazz opera, " Death, Life, & Patience ", which premiered at New York Citys Town Hall, the acclaimed musician Ornette Coleman directed the play. Iris wrote the book and collaborated on the music with James Blood Ulmer. Onstage, as an actress from an early age, Iris gravitated to N.Y.Cs off-off-broadway theater. In her 2001 show , " 12 Famous Men " , Iris recounted anecdotes of the famous and infamous characters she met on a career journey of acting awards and accolades, Hollywood screen tests, and involvements with seminal new york city theater scenes. Performing roles such as "LuLu" in "The Dutchman", "Katherine" in "Suddenly, Last Summer", Iris pursued private acting studies , actor's studio methods of Stanislavski, Grotowski workshops, theater productions and was influenced by methods of Artaud, Brecht , Peter Brook, Living Theater. She went through Reichian therapy with Dr. Alexander Lowen, and became a professional bioenergetic therapist. Entering the field of music, with her band,the divine monochord, she performed in clubs around N.Y.C and produced a series of benefit concerts for Stars for Sane and the Living Theatre, featuring many celebrated artists ...Philip Glass, Cecil Taylor, poet Ira Cohen... and a host of N.Y.s downtown avant-garde arts elite.


CD review - Do I Belong Somewhere -
"With guitarist Charles Patty leading an instrumental quintet in support, poet IRIS LORD weaves original verses around cool acoustic jazz that simmers lightly. Not satisfied with a beat generation atmosphere, Lord adds chamber jazz, the blues, and overdubs of her spoken word monologues to the mix. Including the talents of violinist Bill Clifford, cellist Marston Smith, bassist Wolfgang Melz and drummer Alex Cline, she's designed a program that appeals to all generations. Lord's searing, emotional spoken word message remains the focus throughout, while a variety of instrumental interludes adds depth. The title track offers both Spanish guitar and gypsy violin in support of Lord's overdubbed spoken tracks. Wailing and pleading, she asks the question "Do I Belong Somewhere" which takes the listener on a trip of introspection Similarly, "Requiem" and blues ballads "Exorcism", "Why'd Ya Do It", and "Investigate" take the listener on a trip of sadness, melancholia, and diffused laments. Lord's piano playing is quite a surprise. In the spirit of Monk, she hammers at the keys and provides a unique dissonant sound. It's "out there" piano work, particularly evident atop the tango rhythms of "I Forgot To Tell You", which includes finely articulated drum set coloring. William Shatner pokes fun of the beat generation in his latest t.v. ads, but performed poetry of this nature has been around for centuries and will always give the listener ample food for thought. The album, just over a half-hour in length, is guaranteed to leave the listener craving more."
July 2000 -LA Jazz Scene- by Jim Santella /TD>

- REVIEW -
. . . " Iris Lord {and guitarist Charles Patty} command a musical style that incorporates esoteric nuggets of Coltrane and Davis, the interactive performance dynamic of the living theater and the chantlike storytelling of Balinese trance and ritual. Lord is made of a rare and elegant mettle. Born in New York's subterranean art scene she collaborated throughout the 70's and early 80"s with such iconoclasts as Ornette Coleman and Philip Glass in penetrating the surface of conventional music to get at its visceral core. Recently she and Patty have shared the stage at Beyond Baroque and Les Deux Cafes with Living Theater founder Judith Malina, with whom Lord is currently working to establish the company's L.A. contingent. Her Grotowski-textured vocals writhe in simultaneous ecstasy and pain against a blues-centered miasma of sound as she belts out lyrical ironies that skate the thin line between humor and pain. The back up mix always changes, but regular bassist Reggie Carson tore it up at their last Luna Park gig. (Luis Reyes) " LA WEEKLY APRIL 23-29,1999


Reviews from www.triggerstreet.com
entries into online short film festival

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screentest - Iris Lord . . .
new york city . . .
(Documentary)
Ranking: 716 of 1,364 . Uploaded 11/18/2002
Views - 93
Reviews: 14

Fabulous Gem
I loved it!! Wish more of the short films here were like this. It was a wonderful trip back to the 1960s. Film as art. I could watch stuff like this all day. The 16mm feeling was great. The concept was so good, no story was needed. Hope to see more of your downloads. Keep up the good work. -- November 19, 2002 - 9:30 AM

Moody music and a lady
b/w low-lighted music video, sung by the female singer Iris Lord. An actress (Iris herself), self-conscious, overweening, is preparing herself for a screentest, while the photograph is already at the scene. . . in the means that any man will adore her and follow her, and she knows that it is so. Now's the big chance to show her qualities in the screentest. She knows that she will win. She gives all she has, and a little bit more. . Moody music, female temptations and posing. Wonderful. Traditional music video with intensive camera circulating around the lady, watching her closely and quit intimite. -- November 19, 2002 - 12:20 PM

Am I Beautiful
Very interesting. Loved the way it was filmed. Extremely engaging. So many can relate to one's beauty fading. Keep up the good work. Will look for your future films. The face, The face, am I beautiful, do I have any hair. When the womb is cold and the world is not ready. -- November 19, 2002 - 9:56 PM

definitely interesting
I really like the film style, very "real" for some reason - todays movies are so perfect and overproduced that they often seem fake - this reminds me of old italian movies. Interesting concept, altough I think it could be developed a little more. Perhaps that is just my bias enjoying longer films more than shorter ones. -- November 21, 2002 - 3:46 PM

An actress who is better than she thinks
An actress has a screentest. The music implies that she has low self esteem, but she really looks pretty good in her screentest. In the intro we find her applying her makeup while she ponders how she looks. The screentest starts with all black backgrounds, but as she warms to the camera the backgrounds change to show her increasing self confidence and ease with the screetest, yet the music continues to reflect her inner self doubt, which is never resolved. Interesting blend of stylized poses and "fooling around" with the camera. Nice period look to this. Good effort by what seems to be 2 people doing everything from production to soundtrack Downside? A 5 minute movie with 40% being opening and closing credits; and what was that between the intro and the main sequence? (about 1:38 into )? Not a full film, but good enough to make me want to see more; perhaps with a budget behind it. -- November 21, 2002 - 9:34 PM

very good art film
The whole film exceeds the sum of the parts. The art in this film produces a mood that makes you understand the way a person is 'used'. Good music and poetry. enough said but they insist on more words.screentest screentest screentest screentestscreentest screentest screentest screentestscreentest screentest screentest screentestscreentest screentest screentest screentestscreentest screentest screentest screentest -- November 22, 2002 - 11:11 AM

Tres Retro, Quite Cool
I'm glad I read the production notes before writing the review as I was going to compliment you on your success in creating something shot in the Sixties. This reminded of the artsy type stuff done then. Fascinating to see it's the real thing - now I'm going to have to go and find out who Iris Lord is. As for the film, if you edited it, kudos; kudos anyway for setting it to music. It's basically meaningless; a screen test of an unknown from three decades past. But it held my attention and kept me watching. Slightly seedy quality, like an old porn movie. Enjoyed it for its uniqueness. -- November 24, 2002 - 2:17 AM

A trippy music video.
Being that there is no discernable story, this short still manages to hold your interest somewhat through the music and trippy voice over. 16MM was a good choice for what the filmmaker was going for, but unfortunately, there's not quite enough visual variety in the shots though to make this really good. -- November 25, 2002 - 10:20 PM

Lord, what poetic art
Wow! Incredible poetic spoken word and experimental flowing music. This was incredible, that it is a visual from a moment past - examined with a soundtrack from the moment present. It is very artistic, and I don't feel that such takes away from it as a documentary music video. However, I don't think that was the main intention. Expressing the art seems to be that in itself. The cinematography is really good. I wonder what post production effects were used to bring us the exact visual of the screentest that we see. I love Iris's words, and she is correct in the mainifestation of them. May she still feel as beautiful today, and not the victim of her scenario. Lord and Patty have brought us an interesting short film, and I intend on viewing the remainder of their work on this site. -

Art
This is art. Loved what you've done iris. Picture alone may not have had the effect it did on me if it wasn't for the music. The music is what makes this one of the best shorts I've seen as far as the artsy stuff goes. I've been looking for something as unique as what you did. Excellent! -- January 27, 2003 - 6:43 AM

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Line in D.juxtpstn
Music . . . moses . . .mis-content. Notes . . . nails . ....
(Animated)
Ranking: 787 of 1,364 . Uploaded 11/19/2002
Views: 92 Reviews: 11

Like finding an oasis in the desert.
Outstanding! An art film from planet art film. Here I was starting to think that Trigger Street.com was turning into a sort of IFILM Survivor show version, along comes this. Startling and original in concept and execution, and beautiful to watch and hear! This artist and his band are not afraid to tread on new ground, and leave their mark. I highly reccomend this short film and would like to extend my compliments to its' creator(s). -- November 20, 2002 - 1:02 PM

confusing endeavour....
Saying things that only people in his categorycan understand. The music is the only factor that hassaved the visuals presentation. Conceptualizingthis type of movies isn't that easy! Lines in D-major/minor juxtaposition could have been lifely to give life for the movie. -- November 21, 2002 - 12:10 PM

AWESOME!!!
My computer crashed just before i got to the end. but this is brilliant, i love it and wish i could see it on video/dvd. the small sizes can make me feel like puking, but i can still see the excellence of your work. dont listen to all the numbo dumboheads who will say that it has no story or action or whatever these dimsquirts think. you are very talented and deserve to be recognized as such. thnx for another great piece. -- November 22, 2002 - 2:38 AM

uhmm
I think this piece really couldve benefitted from higher resolution so that details (especially text) could be read, to catch more of what it was about. After visiting thie persons webiste (hoping for info on intent) I wasnt really sure what it was about but the combination of visuals and music were kinda neat anyway. I guess its more of something to experience than to be entertained by. -- November 26, 2002 -

Good Film
The game of idea that make with that the film plays with music and animation, it's a great idea too.The ideia of the monochord sound to be the condution the story-line it's good, can be a genial. The film are divided in compasses. The compasses divided the story. Great. -- December 4, 2002 - 8:34 AM

Improvasational Images
The title to this is awesome! It peaked my interest, andI tried to load it the night it was uploaded, but could not get it to view. I'm glad I finally remembered to come back. The soundtrack and visuals were wonderful. I loved the ideas of superimposing within both context. The improvisational music left me with memories - I was at a Sam River's concert in a blues club down by the tracks. (Well, Orlando, FL used to have that kind of culture downtown at the Blue Note?Sapphire Supper CLub, and this took me back.) SO for that alone - it was a personal fav. For this site, however, a more objective view needs to be given. Well, the cinematography is wonderful, the editing and direction inspired.The story is created through the visual, and you see the different interpretations (music notation/painting). It only asks for three minutes of our 'time'. God forbid we allow the mind's clock a superimposed viewpoint, and this one was beautiful. I still call it is a HIGH recommend because of it's art direction. -- December 15, 2002 - 11:51

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Carry Me Through
Avant garde musicians Iris Lord and Cecil Taylor stage an impromptu performance at New York...
(Documentary, Romance)
Ranking: 1,355 of 1,364 . Uploaded 11/20/2002
Views: 75 Reviews: 15
Oddly Intriguing
I have a 'soft spot' for chaotic sound, so i found this one more promising at the onset. Music had that eeie 'found' quality, but the 'distanced' camera was a mistake, although it lent the thing a sense of 'dreamlike' or distanced, air. Intiguing because, for me the 'distance' left [a little too much] room, for the observer to wonder at what was driving these two, but it was a flawed, yet strangely effective blend of chaos and determinism, on the part of th participants. Interesting. I pass, but i would look at further output... 'average', but interesting -- November 21, 2002 - 1:11 AM

Neat additional submission by Lord Patty - not their best work
This concert footage was interesting, and a nice affition to the other pieces I saw from them submitted here. On it's own, it's just plain lacking. I wanted to say consider (since I saw it was all pass up to this ppoint) but I will have to go against that idea. The camera is somewhat too far a way and horrible, with no angles or seperate pov. The sound does not do justice to the performance, which is interesting and creative. Not the best of their work, but improvisationally fun. -- December 15, 2002 - 8:22 PM

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Gypsy Melody
Fate will tell if it is in the cards . . .
(Animated, Comedy)
Ranking: 1,264 of 1,364 . Uploaded 11/22/2002
Views: 112 Reviews: 14
I LOVE IT!!!
Gypsy Melody is the kind of film that makes me want to sing to the heavens and ask the goddess Yamaya for a Tidal Wave that will wipe out the Midwest. I just feel so inspired by the harmonious vision of fate's cruelty and sick sense of humor juxtaposed with the passionate introspection which usually just leads again to our reliance on the authority of fate to choose for us. A brilliant work. -- November 22, 2002 - 1:37

my mom
it was alright. it was always nice to see what was coming up next, and not know what the card meant, then making up what it meant and having the last card remind me that was missing scrubs on nbc when i realized it was preemted. it was meant to be. at first i thought it was about a camera getting his tarot reading and it was neat to see what was in the reflection. but i guess it's not about that. and it's unfortunate that there wasn't much of an ending other than the music's volume going down. i liked the pacing. it reminded

Melodious art
I really liked this song. I did read the other reviews here so far. The dislike for not getting it, is a legitimate complaint. Nonetheless, this was creative, and the visuals left impressions. I was intrigued by the window/lens changing it's image renderings. I cannot tell what that 'box with a view' was. My ignorance, but it left curiosity. The story within the song was cool, and I belive some of that transposed into the visual. Really liked the performance, and the art direction. I would consider more... -- December 15, 2002 - 8:43 PM

Idea nice, but needs definite work
Though the overall effect of the piece left me wanting in a big way, I found possibilities in its simplicity. It's always difficult to express oneself in such a specific way as only two viewpoints (the cards and the funky lens thing). But I commend the director for their belief in their vision. It takes a lot of sand to attempt to express oneself with just two viewpoints, a passionate voiceover, and a gorgeous melody. Perhaps not limiting the piece to tarot cards or the lens could help - there's no reason why, instead of tarot cards, the director couldn't use actual people filmed on the street to represent the symbolic meanings of the cards. Just a thought. -- January 24, 2003 - 4:43 PM

Like moving through someone's art gallery
The song was very captivating. The singer very nice. Instumentals were good although the off key piano part at the end shoud be rewritten or rerecorded. The images were interesting and the lens thingy certainly speaks for itself. I liked this. Very subtle very simple very layed back. There was a kind of grace that went with it and the images. The music. Nice composition. Nice look. -- January 31, 2003 - 9:20 PM

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Where Do We Go Now (do I belong Somewhere)
"caught in a trap" . . .strum & drum of unrequited love . . .
(Documentary, Drama)
Ranking: 1,362 of 1,364 . Uploaded 11/22/2002
Views : 119 Reviews: 20
Narcissist Love Unreciprocated
Once again, I feel the camera for this live performane was quite lacking - but at least it had angles and different pov's. The music and lyrics were inspiring. I did not find the song's performance as a whole to be as pleasant to my tastes as the other work I've heard from these artists. I enjoyed seeing this, yet I would choose pass as a studio head. I thought this Rose In A Garbage Can could have been better executed on film. However, if a documentary were made for these artists, I think a lot of footage/work shown at this site from Lord Patty could be used for it. I would just re-consider the editing and final use of it. -- December 15, 2002 - 9:02 PM

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Why
contrasting rhythms
(Animated, Mystery/Suspense)
Ranking: 1,304 of 1,364 . Uploaded 11/30/2002
Views : 137 Reviews: 17

Maybe if we were all art students.
This was pretty decent for a make-shift music video that was trying to be a faux art piece. It was comical being that it was only 1 minute and 25 seconds of "complete and total blissful understanding" or as non art students would call, "wasted time". The music was good, I will admit that. But it would been better if it were used on a short about a nun. Because I think that nuns are funny. Those dirty dirty women! -- November 30, 2002 - 6:10 PM

WHY don't you...
Why don't you put a little more work in this job? The music is good, the visuals are good, but... static. If only the images were more, or had some movement. As I said, I like the music and I like the visuals, but I expected more. Looks like some new media art project, and there is soul inside it, but with a little more work it could have been very very good. The way it is done, is just ok. -- November 30, 2002 - 8:00 PM

Why did you do this?
I think I may just not be very open to the abstract, because this didn't make any sense to me. I liked the song, but the visuals didn't tie in at all....infact they didn't even move well with the music. The visuals didn't go anywhere; it was just a long string of boring abstract art that I was hoping would somehow fall together and make some kind of a point......Oh wait, did I just get the point? Whas the whole point to ask why did you do this short film? -- December 1, 2002 - 3:43 AM

My Review :)
Oddly interesting, the random things on the screen made you watch it all the way through for sheer curiosity, the song was also wonderfully odd :) almost a Clockwork Orange sort of feel to it really it has a certain wow to it, the randomness of it all worked very well :) impressive and funky :) -- December 1, 2002 - 1:38 PM

Well, you asked why......
You did it! One question - why? It seemed the piano keys on the side were moving, and that was cool. I liked the images, especially the last, and to be honest, I actually did want to know why. This being short and to the point, I will say this seems to be the way Lord and Patty want to convey the visual images of therir songs. This one I liked,a dn I would consider seeig more of, and the 'story' behind it. I liked the simplisitic punk feel of the song, and I still can hear it as I type... :) -- December 15, 2002 - 9:58 PM

why
Great song Powerful intense lyrics. The visuals didnt quite convey the feelings to me. The visuals were good vivd colorful but not "accompying" the music. I dont know if this really qualifies as animation though. But still something interesting to watch. Nice job. -- February 26, 2003 - 10:01 PM

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Road Trip
Once upon a time . . .in N.Y.C. . . .
(Documentary, Mystery/Suspense, Romance)
Ranking: 459 of 1,364 . Uploaded 01/06/2003
Views: 97 Reviews: 23

Interesting series of shots...
This while not necessarily a short film, was an interesting piece. The images projected and the music made for a very enlightening feel. The images were nicely shot and put together. Great way to show off your cinematography skills. Not much else. Thank youfor taking me inside your world. -- January 7, 2003 - 10:37 AM

Really nice music
It brings too mind some of the 50's - 60's beat poets/songwiters. As for the short itself, it would create a nice collage for a backdrop either a the beginning or ending of a feature. It certainly doesn't stand on it's own, other than the music. Some nice photos, though. I'm not sure, as to the intent of the piece. The consider, is based on the opening/closing possibility, as well as a really nice soundtrack. -- January 7, 2003 - 11:03 AM

was this movie about the muppets?
Was this movie about the Muppets, when they go into lower Manhattan and try and become famous?Well thats what I got out of it.Good idea but you cant redo some one else work and call it your own, there was a movie called the Muppets take Manhattan, check it out!other than that pretty interesting! -- January 7, 2003 - 9:12 PM

Memories Of New York
This one struck home. Though not technically a short film, this piece got me. It was the song. The images and photographs were brought to life by the lyrics. I must find this song. They are things I have actually said and need to say. I am so blown away right now, its scary. The intensity and passion in the voice made me think of love and loss. As someone who writes I guess I'm more in tune to those emotions. While I can't recommend this piece as a short here I can most surely be swept away by it and tell others to check it out. Thank you. -- January 10, 2003 - 1:51 AM

sad sweet beautiful
so sweet and beautiful. Just what a romantic at heart like me needs to see. You people wanted me to cry this morning didnt you. Thanks triggerstreet. Well there is no acting so i cant rate that I dont know what i can rate this on Except its pure poetic beauty and how much it touch my heart and made me so very sad. Just gorgeous. -- January 12, 2003 - 1:53 AM

Poetic Multi-Media Mood Piece.........
This offering by Charles Patty and Iris Lord provides further proof of their status in the esoteric realm of fringe art. The song is sung/spoken by Iris, with a sort of gypsy/romantic musical accompaniment by Charles, (and friends?). The steady montage of still images, mostly big city urban, as you might expect. The images are not related to the words in any direct way, so they serve to provide more of a setting or backdrop to the songs' story, which is one of love lost. What this pair knows, is that the whole can be greater than the sum of it's parts. In other words, by layering poetry, expressive vocal stylings, over a sad sweet gypsy guitar mood piece and then running that with a slide show of mostly urban images, at the end of the day they have succeeded in creating/conveying a feeling that is both rich and original. -- January 12, 2003 - 3:30 PM

Interesting
I liked the haunting music and the words were OK, but I felt that they took away from the music and were too heavy too expanatory and that perhaps something briefer and less laboured would have worked better with the music. The pictures I felt didn't fit in with the theme of the short film very much, but I liked the concept and felt it was original. This would be good as part of another film, a basis perhaps or as a dream in a film because the haunting music and sense of loss would give a film meaning and would say more then all the dialogue and the characters put together. -- January 15, 2003 - 3:06 PM

Pictures and regrets take you back, but you really can't go there.
While I enjoyed the music, the picture journey would have had more impact to me with just the voice. Of course, that would change the whole tone of the short. Maybe, if the music was more in the background. As it is now, it seemed as though the art was background to the music. -- January 25, 2003 - 11:02 AM

Beautiful...but,
Not my cup of tea I guess. I wish I had a better view of the photos but I'm sure you've heard that a million times by now. Perhaps in the proper setting (ie. bigger screen, darkened theatre etc.) I may have been moved by the images coupled with the hypnotic music but alas I can not. Good luck. --

A bit too long
Very nice photos, some of them, but most were too small to really notice the details. Very nice background music too, I liked it. But, really, it was a bit too long. After some time, I find myself thinking, "okay, been there, done that, I get it already." Overall, nice emotional concept, but could have been implemented better. Maybe shortening it to a reasonable length might do the trick. -- February 3, 2003 - 3:24 PM

Interesting
There was some great music in this piece but I thought overall it was too loud, and it took away the attention from the pictures. The pictures were nice but too small to make out at times. I liked the entire piece, it was very experimental, but I thought it could have used more direction. -- February 7, 2003 - 7:13 PM

Good Bye In Nyc
I lost my love this winter in NY. This short brought back all the emotions I felt that cold snowy January day when we broke up. WOW. Those lyrics could have just rolled straight from my tongue. Couple that with those pictures, pure flashback for me. Very nice piece you have done here. Not the usual Triggerstreet short, certainly not. It has an edge most definitely, emotion, what many here are lacking, this one explodes with it. Well, I may never have him back but thanks to beautiful things like this I know that art, life, love, and the heart go on. Best wishes. - February 8, 2003 - 10:59 AM

 

LA Weekly Performance Pick of the Week review for the L.A. premiere of "Diary of a Narcissist " at the Actor' Gang Theater Oct. 26 & 27, 1999 - - - "Diary of a Narcissist, Iris Lord's psychedelic spokenword opera, follows the story of a narcissist engaged in a turbulent battle with her own superego over her soul. Described as a muse to the New York City underground art community, Iris Lord is just the performer to reinvent archaic ritual, balancing classical tragic descent against modern ironies. Diary of a Narcissist is a synthesis of poetry, song, dance and theater. To the mix, Lord adds her self-cultivated, visceral brand of piano playing, conjuring melodies that caper on the fragile divide between 12-note tonality and discordance. Diary of a Narcissist pulsates with a dark eroticism that coils like a serpent around social and political themes, reaching toward elusive truths and wisdom. Stylistically drawing from influences such as Brecht, Artaud, Brook, Living Theater, Grotowski, rooted in a musical field of jazz and blues. . . at once a reflection of ourselves and a definitive portrait of a woman's struggle to unveil her identity. Told through a soulful amalgamation of movement and music with piercing prose, Iris Lord's narrative folds in on itself, wrapped in layers of blues-based rhythms and ethereal dream tones to engage the audience directly in a kind of spiritual catharsis. Iris' protagonist transforms herself from the narcissist to the integrated wise woman. Diary of a Narcissist should leave its audience spellbound." Luis Reyes LA WEEKLY

Charles Patty ~ Iris Lord - photo by Ira Cohen - Hollywood 1998 this website was created by Charles Patty

  &nbs