Chris Torres has the blues.
And it’s not what you think. My students are doing fine. Instead, I have the blues because I like it that way.
For several years I have tried to come to terms with why my favorite styles of guitar are the polar opposites of classical and blues. Could it be that they relate to chess more than other genres of music?
The very fact that classical music and blues music have completely different fan bases is reminiscent of the white and black pieces beginning on opposite sides of the board. Classical music grew out of the white European scientific approach to complex structure. Blues music found its roots in the southern black plantation workers/slaves who valued feeling over simple chord progression spirituals. At times the game of chess feels as thought out as a Bach Invention and at other times even seemingly simple positions require a fighting spirit and passion to bring home the point. Even a single game of chess can begin innocently in a well structured manner before it distorts into a string bending emotional melee. I believe that Chess, like music, is a blending of cultures and as such benefits when the practitioner is an expert of more than just one style.
Getting to my point:
A few days ago I was invited to take part in the Eric Clapton Guitar Symphony which requires the contestants to record an original instrumental take on the Eric Clapton ant-drug anthem “Cocaine.” On my first attempt I was able to seamlessly combine a simple delta blues approach with the more layered Eric Clapton jam. The result, in my humble opinion, is exactly the kind of music Eric Clapton would appreciate. Should I garnish enough votes from those who agree with my musical interpretation, my arrangement will be used in an upcoming release by Eric Clapton. This sort of exposure is an ideal opportunity for gaining attention towards the goals of the Torres Chess and Music Academy. Below is a link to my submission. Please listen to my 45 second performance and cast a vote that will help me help the Northern California students who learn chess and music in our classes.
http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/a71b51927f04feb9fe79af9ac12f1660/839
Chess Musings 