What was I to say
What can you say
When a love affair is over …
He held the microphone and said a few words to thank the visitors then he sat by the piano and started to play. He played Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Insensatez,” more popularly known as “How Insensitive.” “Insensatez” is a mellow bossa nova jazz standard loosely based on Frédéric Chopin’s Prelude No.4 with lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes. Somehow the sentiment of the song was mirroring what was transpiring on the last day of Geneva’s beloved community music store called “Disco Club.”
Shop owner Philippe Munger, who seemed to be grasping what to say, released his feelings on the ebony and ivory keys of a century-old Hornung & Møller grand piano accompanied by a saxophone player and a percussionist on a portable drum kit as they played “How Insensitive.” A mixed of gloom and happiness pervaded in this 52 square meters shop as people started to arrive to bid farewell and felicitations to this small record store that provided music and built friendship amongst the owner, patrons and guests.
I came to know Philippe when me and my wife moved here in Geneva in mid-April of 2022. Our shipment from Bangkok arrived in Switzerland but some of our belongings including my turntable were damaged during the transport. The cargo insurance agent said that we need to look for a repair shop to estimate the cost. So, I googled for “record store in Geneva” and it gave a few results including “Disco Club.” The name did not attract me at first as I imagined a discotheque or a dance club rather than a vinyl shop. But since it was not so far from our place I went to check it out.
As soon as I walked inside this antiquated and dimly-lit store, my eyes widened and started to wander around. I was like a child entering a candy store. I saw stacks of neatly arranged and categorized vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and books below clotheslines of jam session pictures hanging all over the room. Large photographs and posters of Miles Davis, Charlie Bird Parker, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Rokia Traore, Montreux Jazz Festival, including a huge iconic image of 57 jazz giants posing for a “class picture” called “A Great Day In Harlem” taken in 1958 by photographer Art Kane, adorned the store. An old black grand piano also added to the homey and interesting interior of the store.
Then an unassuming man with a friendly smile seated in front of his computer screen, greeted me in French and said “Bonjour!” I coyly greeted back and said “Hello!” and asked “Do you speak English?” In his calm and welcoming demeanor, Philippe replied, “Yes. Can I help you?” I felt at home right away and explained to him my purpose. Philippe told me to bring the turntable to the shop for him to see. I went home immediately and brought it to the store. He looked at my record player and directly said that it would be hard to find spare parts for my old Pioneer turntable. Nevertheless, he wrote a letter to the insurance company explaining the condition and cost it will entail. To cut the story short, the insurance agreed to pay for my damaged record player.
That was the start of my regular visits to his store as our friendship blossomed and learned more about the shop. Philippe gave me his phone number and included me in his email mailing list updating me with new releases, upcoming jam sessions, concerts and other musical events happening in the city.
Disco Club was opened in 1958 by Swiss jazz musician/double bass player Alain Dubois at the Rue des Terreaux-du-Temple 22 in the same location since its inception. Though the store’s name remained an enigma, baffling patrons and even Philippe how it got its moniker. Disco music was not in their playlist. The term “disco” only became popular in the late-60’s to the 70’s when discotheques or dance clubs hit the music scene. The name origin could be a derivation of the French word “disque” for records and the French term “discothèque” that originally meant “record library,” based on “bibliotheque” or library.
Disco Club steadily built a following and became a reference shop in the field of jazz music records or vinyl in Geneva. The business was later acquired by graphic designer Paul Meyer and was then transferred to Marc-Olivier Leschot, who both contributed to the development of the store bringing in wider range of music. From jazz to blues, world music including Latin, African, Oriental and other ethno-traditional sound.
In 2003, Philippe Munger took over and introduced a more personal touch to the enterprise. Philippe, who is an adept piano player himself, gave advices, backgrounds, recommendations, and even a bit of music history to customers. He welcomed children in the store. Philippe was in the air logistic industry for 30 years before acquiring Disco Club. But his passion for music, especially jazz, transcends to his clientele.
Over the years, Disco Club had been visited by jazz stalwarts like Americans trumpeter Buck Clayton and pianist Sir Charles Thompson, South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim, also known as “Dollar Brand” to Armenian jazz pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan. Swiss pianist Michel Bastet and Cambodian bluesman harmonica player Bonny B had also graced the store along with countless musicians who jammed or walked-in the store. It became a favorite stop for jazz enthusiasts and music collectors.
While business started to improve after the Covid outbreak, Philippe had already planned for his retirement. The handover of the store to a friend to continue the operation was already in the pipeline. But fate had other plans. His friend backed out. An eventual 95% rise of rental fee from CHF 1550 to 2950 compounded the situation. “It’s not the rent that pushes me to quit nor the difficulties inherent in selling records. I wanted to spend time doing something else.” Philippe said in an online article interview.
When I asked him personally how he felt about the closing of Disco Club, he gave a brief reply. “Relieved and released.” He was relieved when the remaining jazz records and CDs in the store were all bought by a friend and he was released from the 20 years of running the store.
As the jam session continued, friends, music aficionados, patrons and record collectors trickled in and out, not really to say goodbye, but to join a joyful celebration of music, life and friendship. Musicians took turns in providing jazz standard pieces for entertainment until the wee hours. The tiny space overflowed with food, wine, music, laughter and a few tears. It was an evening full of emotions.
Its website now displays in French: /// Historique! LA FIN D’UNE BELLE HISTOIRE: DISCO-CLUB A DEFINITIVEMENT FERME SES PORTES FIN MARS 2023.
Translated in English: /// History. THE END OF A BEAUTIFUL STORY: DISCO-CLUB DEFINITELY CLOSED ITS DOORS AT THE END OF MARCH 2023.
After 65 long years of existence, Disco Club ceased to exist. It is now history.
Philippe’s passion for music will always remain and he will continue playing the piano in his own free time but his love affair in managing a music store is over.
Why, he must have asked
Could I just turn and stare in icy silence
What was I to do
What can one do
When a love affair is over.
©All Rights Reserved, 2023. Text and Photos by Claro Cortes IV