Peter Parcek - News

Review: Concert Monkey

Walter Vanheuckelom Concert Monkey Review of "Most Of The Time"
English Translation

American singer, guitarist, and songwriter Peter Parcek was born in Connecticut. After high school, Peter moved to London, where he had the opportunity to experience Peter Green, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck & other greats live. Upon returning to the US Parcek immersed himself in a study of American blues legends such as Skip James, Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, and Jimi Hendrix seeing as many of them live as possible. Moving to Boston, Peter developed into a very skilled guitarist. He was invited to play on Pinetop Perkins' album 'On Top' in 1992. Later, Peter toured with Pinetop Perkins. In 2010, Parcek released his debut album, 'The Mathematics of Love’ which was nominated for Best New Artist Debut at the Blues Music Awards. In 2017, the follow-up, 'Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven', was released. This album received rave reviews everywhere. On September 4, 2020, his third album, 'Mississippi Suitcase', was released. & received a nomination for Best Blues Rock Album of the Year from the Blues Foundation in 2021. Parcek's name appeared three times at the Independent Blues Awards that year. His new work, 'Most Of The Time', is a logical development in the success story of this interesting artist. On 'Most Of The Time', Parcek combines catchy original compositions with cleverly selected covers of Mose Allison, Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, Elmore James, Fred McDowell, Bill Withers, plus bonus tracks by Jessie Mae Hemphill, and Freddie King.

Marc Hickox opens the impressively rocking original blues track 'Twistified' with a fine bass intro. Eric Clapton influences can be found in this song about aging. Peter Parcek and Duke Robillard provide the excellent guitar work in 'Twistified'. The solid work on the horns comes from Mark Earley. Drummer Tim Carman captivates with an infectious West African drumbeat in the attractive original 'How Many Times', in which Parcek wonders how often his beloved will still treat him unjustly. Tom West is excellent and distinctly present on the organ throughout. Parcek once again showcases his class as a guitarist with fine and soulful string work on his six-string. Mark Earley breathes the necessary soul into the track. The first cover follows with Bob Dylan's 'Most Of The Time'. This song from 1989 is from Dylan's album 'Oh Mercy'. Parcek turns it into an eight-minute soulful gem that remains captivating every second. There is a great deal of feeling and emotion in Parcek's voice when he sings 'Most Of The Time'. With her beautiful voice, Danielle Miraglia provides the perfect vocal complement, and together they complete the vocal section entirely. The beautiful lap steel guitar sounds of Kevin Barry and the soulful string work of guitarist Peter Parcek ensure instrumental delight. Top version.

Danielle Miraglia's voice is once again a valuable addition to 'I Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing’, a Mose Allison song from 1962. Peter and his band members leave their mark as well. We are treated to brilliant guitar and organ work from Peter Parcek and Tom West once again. The instrumental blues shuffle 'Just Play Rhythm, Baby' was written by Parcek. For this track, Peter found inspiration in Ronnie Earl, one of his blues guitar mentors. Thanks to drummer Tim Carman and bassist Marc Hickox, 'Just Play Rhythm, Baby' has a cleverly swinging groove. Saxophonist Mark Earley adds the right dose of soul. For the excellent solo work, we must give all praise to organist Tom West and guitarist Peter Parcek. The slow, soulful 'Mississippi Phoone Booth' is a cover of John Hiatt from 2021. Bassist Marc Hickox steals the spotlight with a brilliant bass line. The soulful and sublime string work of guitarist Peter Parcek is once again a delight to our ears. No lengthy solos, but always in service of the song. Peter Parcek turns the Elmore James classic 'Stranger Blues' from 1962 into a sweet, compelling blues, which he colors once again with soulful guitar work.

Regarding 'Poor Boy', which Parcek wrote with David Herwaldt, Peter says the following: My mother used to say that a person is happy if he or she can count their true friends on one hand. Peter realizes that he has now reached an age in his life where he feels and fully understands the wisdom and influence of his mother's words. 'Poor Boy' is a melancholic, slow blues with skillful harmonica work by Marcos Anthero da Silva. Together, Peter Parcek and Duke Robillard ensure once again that guitar enthusiasts are thoroughly satisfied. In their sublime solo work, both guitar virtuosos showcase their instrumental class and complement each other in an incredible way. Parcek's voice sounds resigned and melancholic as he sings 'Poor Boy'. This is followed by the original 'When I'm Dead And Gone', with the dominant drumming of Marco Giovino setting the tempo. Dominic John Davis plays the electric and acoustic bass, and Luther Dickinson joins Parcek on guitar. The harmonica solo is provided by Mickey Raphael. With these names, one can already speak of an All Star Band. 'Cold In Hand' is an original instrumental ode to Albert Collins. Here we hear an excellent trio with Peter Parcek on guitar, Tim Carman on drums, and Marc Hickox on bass.

Peter Parcek's track 'Three Feet In Back Of My Head', is about an out-of-body experience. With nimble and sharp string work, Parcek impresses in a fantastic solo. Tom West is once again sublimely present on the keyboards throughout the song. Parcek goes way back in time, to Mississippi Fred McDowell’s classic Delta blues number '61 Highway'. There is fantastic interplay between Parcek's guitar and Kevin Barry's lap steel guitar. Bill Withers wrote 'Grandma's Hands' as a tribute to his grandmother. Peter Parcek turns it into a long, seven-minute version. In the second part, we can enjoy a delightful jam between Peter, keyboardist Tom West, drummer Tim Carman, and bassist Marc Hickox.

Two bonus tracks follow, with an instrumental version of Jessie May Hemphill's 'Lord Help The Poor And Needy'. Peter and the band dedicate this song to Ducky Carlisle, sound engineer and producer who passed away in 2023. Carlisle worked with Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi & Tom Hambridge among others. Peter says of this song that it was a prayer they expressed through their instruments. Daniel Kellar on violin helps set the atmosphere in 'Lord Help The Poor And Needy'. It is a song that is very fitting for the times we live in, where many people are homeless and depend on food banks. The final track is the swinging blues shuffle 'Swooshy', a cover of Freddie King. With Duke Robillard and Peter Parcek, we have two guitarists who guarantee sublime and fine guitar work. It is not only the beautiful guitar solos that captivate; keyboardist Tom West also delivers a fantastic organ solo.

With 'Most Of The Time', Peter Parcek delivers a convincing, versatile, and above all, musically very strong blues album. The album is not an attempt to reinvent the blues. That is not the ambition at all. Parcek does something that is perhaps much more difficult. He takes a rich musical tradition, adds his own personality to it, and creates an album that radiates both respect for the past and love for the present. The greatest asset is, of course, Peter Parcek's guitar playing. Parcek is one of those guitarists who can establish character with just a single note, but who are simultaneously not afraid to let loose occasionally. His playing is technically impressive, but fortunately also expressive and functional. The combination of original work with songs by Bob Dylan, Bill Withers, John Hiatt, Mose Allison, and Jessie Mae Hemphill gives the album sufficient variety. As a result, 'Most Of The Time' remains more than just a showcase for an excellent guitarist. The collaboration with the many guest musicians is also a plus. Guests Duke Robillard and Luther Dickinson give the album extra shine, without Parcek losing his own identity. (9/10)