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Feature 4
THE VORTEX CHESS SESSIONS
April this year was marked by the series of 5 Sunday afternoon gigs at the Vortex Jazz Club at its new venue in Dalston, London. While pleased to be involved with a series of performances at this pretigious venue I was intriigued that a Chess tournament was to be held simultaneously. Chess & Blues? Can that work? Are they really suitable bed fellows?
Well, the answer is yes. Much to my surprise music lovers of all ages and families came each week to play chess, draughts and other board games to the sounds of the "Here Is The Blues!" soundtrack. I wouldn't have guessed but 'Scrabble' players can be a rowdy bunch. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed. One friend who came to play chess did remark that the music was a bit loud at one point but I'm sure that was more to do with the fact that he was being soundly thrashed by our resident Chess Grandmaster Daniel King at the time.
Chris Parker writes for the 'Vortex' website and was the awarded the coveted attendance award for making it along to all five sessions - It should be said that this honour has nothing to do with his review below nor are Scotland Yard investigating any connection between these two events.
'The 'Chess sessions' got off to a relaxed, wholly enjoyable start (Sunday, 1), with Billy Jenkins and Steve Morrison regaling the audience (which included grandmaster Daniel King) with two sets of contemporary blues, dealing with such topics as the eschewal of modern technology and the mysterious build-up of female footwear in the family wardrobe, all delivered with deadpan humour and embellished with blisteringly eccentric guitar runs (Jenkins) and elegant, restrained ditto (Morrison). If there's a more delightful way of spending a Sunday afternoon, I'd like to hear about it.
'The 'Chess sessions' got off to a relaxed, wholly enjoyable start (Sunday, 1), with Billy Jenkins and Steve Morrison regaling the audience (which included grandmaster Daniel King) with two sets of contemporary blues, dealing with such topics as the eschewal of modern technology and the mysterious build-up of female footwear in the family wardrobe, all delivered with deadpan humour and embellished with blisteringly eccentric guitar runs (Jenkins) and elegant, restrained ditto (Morrison). If there's a more delightful way of spending a Sunday afternoon, I'd like to hear about it.
More about the The Vortex Jazz Club
Given the success of the Vortex Chess sessions there are plans to restage, what Richard Godwin of the Evening Standard described as, "an event which unites the cerebal eccentric worlds of Chess and Jazz". I believe November is in the rumour mill but of course any news of this pending event will be posted here.
