Vinyl Artwork & CD Cover

Third Album – The Jazz-Swingband Paris Gadjo Club. This vinyl artwork and CD cover is the design of the last album of the triptych “Café du Brésil” by the jazz band Paris Gadjo Club. The band founder, Christophe, needed a third music album for his of new compositions. He said to me: “This time, it really has to be night.” The prominent guest, Yamandu Costa, was to fit into the group and his contribution deserved to be honoured.

Step 1 – The Intention. Design for the last CD of the “Café du Brésil” series. After the first two CD covers with a light background, a night situation was appropriate. Musicians, singer, and audience have reached the final act of the day: the deep night. The mood has something magical: the music enchants everyone present – it is late, but no one wants to leave.

Step 2 – The Motif. The drawing should have something of an open-air concert on a mild summer night. The street should be recognisable as such, with city trees and a lamppost. The focus should be on the band playing for an attentive audience.

Step 3 – The Focus: The Music Band. On this album, there is a guest musician: the virtuoso Brazilian guitarist Yamandu Costa. A wonderful trumpeter and a sensitive accordionist expand the original lineup. All should be shown in full flow. The note “Special Guest Yamandu Costa” should be placed somewhere visible.

Step 4 – The Templates. I receive many templates from Christophe: photos of the band members and night shots of bars, cafes, and restaurants with string lights. This gives me an impression of the atmosphere he likes and he would like to incorporate into the drawing.

Step 5 – The Overall Composition in Pencil Draft. How do we occupy the format? Christophe wants to take the cafe as the setting again. I suggest showing very little of the cafe itself – unlike the previous two music albums – and instead creating a stage situation. For the spatial representation, the Parisian street at night is in the background. In the middle ground stands the music band, and in the foreground, we see the audience with the band’s name and the album title.

Pencil on paper. Sketch of an open-air concert scene in front of "Café du Brésil III". A lamppost and street trees frame the stage. On stage, a singer is accompanied by seven musicians. In front stands an attentive audience. Under the scene, the handwritten text reads "Swinging Brasil, Paris Gadjo Club". On the right of the image stands "Special guest Yamandu Costa".

Step 6 – The Composition of the Band. How should the musicians and the singer stand in relation to each other? In which direction are their bodies inclined? Who is standing, who is sitting? Christophe would like the lineup to be placed as it is during the concerts. I note the order and postures: the singer, the trumpeter, the double bassist, and the accordionist are standing. The guitarists are sitting.

Step 7 – Green Light from Christophe. I start with the final drawing. The final illustration emerges through numerous small decisions. I list a few below.

Step 8 – The Colour Selection. The background is kept rather cold, with indigo and very pale turquoise. The tree backdrop on the right and left in dark old Bordeaux highlights the night atmosphere, as does the white halo of the lamppost and the string lights. In contrast, the stage with its bright pink-orange colours jumps out at the eye. For a pleasant chromatic opposition, the musicians are dressed in cool blue and green tones, so that they stand out against the warm stage. The colourful shaded colours enliven the night, just as the jazz music enlivens the mood.

Step 9 – The Handwritten Text. Here I stick to the design of my last two vinyl and CD covers for Paris Gadjo Club. This album should fit well into the series. The “Café du Brésil” lettering is directly derived from the typography on the facade of the namesake bar in Paris. “Paris Gadjo Club” is written diagonally, with straight letters and a stylised shadow. The rather geometric lines contrast with the organic strokes of the rest of the drawing. The album title, “Swinging the Choro”, is written dynamically with a brush.

Step 10 – The Faces. Some band members look at their instrument, others look at other musicians, while others have their eyes closed – completely absorbed in themselves and the music.

Step 11 – Feedback from Christophe. Christophe asks me to revise a face and replace a costume.

Ink drawing. Illustration of an open-air concert scene in front of "Café du Brésil III". A lamppost and street trees frame the stage. On stage, a singer is accompanied by seven musicians. In front stands an attentive audience. Under the scene, the handwritten text reads "Swinging Brasil, Paris Gadjo Club". On the right of the image stands "Special guest Yamandu Costa". The colours of the concert are orange, pink, and purple. The colours of the night are cassia and dark indigo.

Step 12 – The Drawing is Finished!
And soon the project goes on, because the CDs need to be burned and the CD covers need to go to the printer promptly.

Step 13 – The Handover to the Graphic Designer.
Sabine receives my cover file and other files for the CD sleeve, the disc itself, and the booklet. For the booklet, she asked me for a few colourful “throws”. She also needed the characters separated individually. For the CD disc, she takes over my handwritten texts without a background. She handles the communication with the music publisher regarding the printing.
Click here to listen to Paris Gadjo Club’s music.