Buying vinyl
When I recently went browsing in one of the local record stores, I came across an album by Chet Baker: https://www.discogs.com/Chet-Baker-Italian-Movie-Soundtracks/release/12404597.
Straight away, the cover drew me in, as so many do, of records, but also of books. There is an unmistakable attraction from a well-designed image that becomes the genesis of a desire to possess. It holds a promise. Perhaps this happens with other objects. A fundamental element of the pre-human, animal psyche. In any case, the vinyl inside the jacket was purplish blue, making it extra interesting and desirable.
Falling down
Back outside as I was walking to the other end of the street, someone stopped me and said “do you know where that was taken?”
The cover shows Chet playing his trumpet in a window with the Duomo from Milan in the background. The perch is considerably high, which is ironic given the way Mr Baker came to his end, falling from a hotel window in Amsterdam.
“Lucca,” continued the stranger who turned out to be a true Chet Baker fan, which his girlfriend next to him admitted, amused but at the same time almost apologetic. This was not his first time addressing strangers on the topic of his favorite trumpet player.
The guy was so certain that I was hesitant to say anything, even though I believed I recognized the cityscape and the typical spires of the Duomo in Milan, a city of counterpoint – high fashion, supercars, money and a history of gruesome dukes. Leonardo Da Vinci was once attached to the court here, but instead of creating art he had to design weaponry. Destruction and art, that would be appropriate themes for a story on the life of Chet Baker, drug addict and heir to the throne of Miles Davis. Complement that with the ravaged mural of Leonardo’s Last Supper which still graces one of the walls in the Santa Maria delle Grazie…
Milan or Lucca?
Looking closer, there is something peculiar about the image on the album cover. The view of the piazza next to the Duomo is really from quite a high point of view. Maybe a hotel was indeed there. Google could not confirm this, however. What a search did uncover was a photo of Chet in Lucca, in the window, in exactly the same setting. The view from his room was not as spectacular. It most certainly looked less precarious from that window sill in Tuscany. Perhaps this was some supreme, subtle irony from the designer. The music on the record remains an eminent example of Cool Jazz, regardless.
