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    An Unusual Chet Baker Artifact?

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    • JamieJazz
      JamieJazz Trusted Seller last edited by JamieJazz

      1960sDulcolaxBox.jpg Chet Baker: A most unusual artifact?

      I never placed it on my gallery website, but I actually had an old Cuesnon flugelhorn that I bought in a shady exchange in a Florida parking lot. Yuck, I know! But the horn was said to have been in the possession of a Hermosa Beach trumpet-playing doctor by the name of Kempe who had "helped out" Chet Baker back in the day. After the doctor passed away, his son-in-law came into possession of the horns and sold them off one-by-one behind a truck stop in Jacksonville. Like I said--yuck! Still the details of the story, including names and places, seemed to line up. I kept it in my gallery without making any announcements because I knew I could never actually verify the tale.

      Normally, nobody gives much thought to trying some of the older and uglier horns in the gallery. They want to get right to the "good stuff", but it happened last Saturday that someone did see the old flugelhorn on the bottom shelf and asked to play it. He fell in love with it and then I told him the story I had heard, clarifying that I could not verify any of it. Still, he loved it so I went to retrieve its case so he could take it home.

      When we opened the case, a plastic box reading Dulcolax, Geigy “Predictable Bowel Evacuation” fell out. We all laughed as I took the box back to my office and began the paperwork. Actually, my inner fifth-grader was absolutely rolling on the floor! But as I wrote up the paperwork and looked at the box on my desk, I thought “you know, nobody advertises with language like that anymore.” Today, Dulcolax would soften the language to read something like “Predictable Relief,” not “Bowel Evacuation.” I typed in the name “Geigy.” It turns out that, although Dulcolax is still in pharmacies, Geigy pharmaceuticals only existed from 1959-1969, after which it merged with Ciba to become Ciba-Geigy. This box was a 1960s artifact! I then considered the former contents of the box. Why would anyone carry a whole box of laxatives in his trumpet case? The answer hit me several minutes later; Chet was a notorious addict and his favorite drug was heroine. Although we might not usually think about these things, severe constipation is a common side effect of chronic heroin use. Can this prove that this was once Chet’s flugelhorn in a court of law? No. But I think we may have enough to suggest the possibility and maybe add a little more inspiration to our quest for wonderful instruments. Cheers!

      Shifty administrator 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • Shifty
        Shifty @JamieJazz last edited by

        @jamiejazz

        I suspect we'll be hearing from Dr Go on this topic.

        Hmmm... now that I think of it, "Dr Go" fits the topic in a way.

        Getzen Eterna 700, Eterna 800
        Conn Connstellation 28A, Victor 80A, Connqueror (1903)
        ACB Doubler Flugelhorn

        JamieJazz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
        • JamieJazz
          JamieJazz Trusted Seller @Shifty last edited by

          @shifty lol!

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • administrator
            administrator Global Moderator @JamieJazz last edited by

            @jamiejazz said in An Unusual Chet Baker Artifact?:

            1960sDulcolaxBox.jpg Chet Baker: A most unusual artifact?

            I never placed it on my gallery website, but I actually had an old Cuesnon flugelhorn that I bought in a shady exchange in a Florida parking lot. Yuck, I know! But the horn was said to have been in the possession of a Hermosa Beach trumpet-playing doctor by the name of Kempe who had "helped out" Chet Baker back in the day. After the doctor passed away, his son-in-law came into possession of the horns and sold them off one-by-one behind a truck stop in Jacksonville. Like I said--yuck! Still the details of the story, including names and places, seemed to line up. I kept it in my gallery without making any announcements because I knew I could never actually verify the tale.

            Normally, nobody gives much thought to trying some of the older and uglier horns in the gallery. They want to get right to the "good stuff", but it happened last Saturday that someone did see the old flugelhorn on the bottom shelf and asked to play it. He fell in love with it and then I told him the story I had heard, clarifying that I could not verify any of it. Still, he loved it so I went to retrieve its case so he could take it home.

            When we opened the case, a plastic box reading Dulcolax, Geigy “Predictable Bowel Evacuation” fell out. We all laughed as I took the box back to my office and began the paperwork. Actually, my inner fifth-grader was absolutely rolling on the floor! But as I wrote up the paperwork and looked at the box on my desk, I thought “you know, nobody advertises with language like that anymore.” Today, Dulcolax would soften the language to read something like “Predictable Relief,” not “Bowel Evacuation.” I typed in the name “Geigy.” It turns out that, although Dulcolax is still in pharmacies, Geigy pharmaceuticals only existed from 1959-1969, after which it merged with Ciba to become Ciba-Geigy. This box was a 1960s artifact! I then considered the former contents of the box. Why would anyone carry a whole box of laxatives in his trumpet case? The answer hit me several minutes later; Chet was a notorious addict and his favorite drug was heroine. Although we might not usually think about these things, severe constipation is a common side effect of chronic heroin use. Can this prove that this was once Chet’s flugelhorn in a court of law? No. But I think we may have enough to suggest the possibility and maybe add a little more inspiration to our quest for wonderful instruments. Cheers!

            Does it add "resale value"? 😉

            JamieJazz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • JamieJazz
              JamieJazz Trusted Seller @administrator last edited by

              @administrator Only if you are also suffering the side effects of a low-fiber diet.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • Newell Post
                Newell Post last edited by

                I used to live down the street from William S. Burroughs (the "beat" writer). He was a notorious long-term heroin addict. One of my friends was his housekeeper. She said he had more laxatives stashed in that house than all of the Walgreen's in town combined.

                Bb: Bach 180S37G (05), Mercedes (80)
                Vintage: Committee (54), Recording (59), Super (49), Getzen Severinsen (66)
                C: Kanstul 1510, Constellation
                D/Eb: Getzen Eterna
                Cornet: Schilke XA1, Yamaha Neo Eb
                Flugel: Kanstul 1525, Yamaha 625
                Conch shell in F

                JamieJazz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • administrator
                  administrator Global Moderator last edited by

                  I have to wonder, how Chet would have been had he not been a junkie. True, he likely would have lived longer and been a more consistent musician. However, some of the "misery" in his music is what makes it special. It's a very strange thought.

                  JamieJazz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GeorgeB
                    GeorgeB last edited by

                    Thanks for that interesting story, Jamie.

                    George

                    1960s King Super 20 Silversonic, 1940 Olds Recording, 1942 Buescher True Tone 400 ,1999 Conn Vintage One Bb trumpet, A 1952 Selmer Paris, A 2020 Getzen 400 and a Manchester Brass ACB custom pro Bb trumpet, a 1962 Conn Victor 5A Cornet.

                    JamieJazz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JamieJazz
                      JamieJazz Trusted Seller @Newell Post last edited by

                      @newell-post interesting! Thanks.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • JamieJazz
                        JamieJazz Trusted Seller @administrator last edited by

                        @administrator Indeed.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • JamieJazz
                          JamieJazz Trusted Seller @GeorgeB last edited by

                          @georgeb Cheers George!

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Dr GO
                            Dr GO last edited by Dr GO

                            I rectum the sound flows freely, and the finish I am sure is flushed.
                            Then to clean it with paper on a role, and then finish it off with a bristle brush.

                            When playing on any head, those emissions lengthen and grow,
                            As the ear hears wafting, swirling, as it circles into the void below.

                            On TM I was gmonady, on here I'm Dr GO, but when it comes to commenting on Ducolax, either way I'm in the know.

                            Allora Pocket Trumpet 2014
                            Harrelson Summit 2017
                            Kanstul 1526 2012
                            Getzen Power Bore 1961
                            Getzen Eterna 4-Valve Fulgelhorn 1974
                            Martin Committee 1946
                            Olds Super Recording 1940
                            Olds Recording (LA) 1953
                            Olds Recording (Fullerton) 1967
                            Olds Ambassador 1965

                            C JamieJazz 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • C
                              chelpres @Dr GO last edited by

                              @dr-go I thought your avatar had a "ring" to it.

                              Dr GO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • J. Jericho
                                J. Jericho Global Moderator last edited by

                                Did Chet Baker ever scat sing?

                                '62 Olds Studio Trumpet
                                '67 Olds Special Trumpet
                                2013 Dillon Pocket Trumpet
                                '83 Yamaha YFH-731 Flugelhorn
                                1919 York Perfec-Tone Cornet
                                '50 Olds Studio Trombone
                                Shofar

                                "If it was just up to me, I'd only have trumpet players on my show." - Jackie Gleason

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • Kehaulani
                                  Kehaulani Credentialed Professional last edited by

                                  Benge 3X
                                  Martin Committee
                                  Getzen Capri Cornet
                                  Adams F-1 Flugelhorn

                                  "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn."
                                  Charlie Parker

                                  "Even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis."
                                  Chet Baker

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • JamieJazz
                                    JamieJazz Trusted Seller @Dr GO last edited by

                                    @dr-go Lol!

                                    Dr GO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • Dr GO
                                      Dr GO @JamieJazz last edited by

                                      @jamiejazz said in An Unusual Chet Baker Artifact?:

                                      @dr-go Lol!

                                      You know, this just encourages him. So many thanks!!!

                                      Allora Pocket Trumpet 2014
                                      Harrelson Summit 2017
                                      Kanstul 1526 2012
                                      Getzen Power Bore 1961
                                      Getzen Eterna 4-Valve Fulgelhorn 1974
                                      Martin Committee 1946
                                      Olds Super Recording 1940
                                      Olds Recording (LA) 1953
                                      Olds Recording (Fullerton) 1967
                                      Olds Ambassador 1965

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • Dr GO
                                        Dr GO @chelpres last edited by

                                        @chelpres said in An Unusual Chet Baker Artifact?:

                                        @dr-go I thought your avatar had a "ring" to it.

                                        Yes. My TM avatar was my original design for a "Music in Medicine" symposium I helped develop for a medical school lecture series.

                                        Then I used that design to send to Jason Harrelson to insert as a brace in my tuning slide of my Summit. The avatar version I use here on TB is a picture of that plated insert Jason put into my tuning slide.

                                        Allora Pocket Trumpet 2014
                                        Harrelson Summit 2017
                                        Kanstul 1526 2012
                                        Getzen Power Bore 1961
                                        Getzen Eterna 4-Valve Fulgelhorn 1974
                                        Martin Committee 1946
                                        Olds Super Recording 1940
                                        Olds Recording (LA) 1953
                                        Olds Recording (Fullerton) 1967
                                        Olds Ambassador 1965

                                        JamieJazz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • JamieJazz
                                          JamieJazz Trusted Seller @Dr GO last edited by

                                          @dr-go I enlarged that avatar to get a good look at it too...super snazzy!

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
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