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Peter Parcek - News ArchivePenguin Eggs Advance CD Review Text - CanadaEric Thom writes: "
Fans of electric blues seldom think of New England as a legitimate incubation zone. Yet, for fans of Peter Parcek – and especially his mother, it’s a fact. Part celebration of her life, if not the foundation for his nerve-shearing, heartache-laden tone, Parcek’s late mother plays a key role in his personal approach to the blues. From her staunch support of his musical dreams to encouraging the young intender’s detour to London to follow his love of British blues, Parcek’s third album is very much a reflection of this love. And, while the disc opens on a frighteningly accurate clone of Peter Green’s “World Keep On Turning”, Parcek is no one-trick-pony. His blistering version of Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “See that My Grave Is Kept Clean” may retain his Green-like, blues whisper of a vocal, but the track is contemporized through the addition of pedal steel (Andy Santospago), coupled with his own haunting lead guitar. His original instrumental, “Pat Hare”, pays tribute to Albert Collins, enlisting the added firepower of Luther Dickinson on guitar and Mickey Raphael on harmonica while another original barn-burner, “Shiver”, more closely adopts Collins’ ringing tone and muscular style, pushed higher by further sparring with Dickinson. Originally intimidated by the guitarists around him, Parcek opted for work as a singer and harpist – a state that reversed itself once he returned home to Boston. Before long, Parcek’s blues ascension included a soulful grasp of elements of country, rock and jazz which further distinguished his particular style. On Heaven, the percussion and production skills of Marco Giovino (Band of Joy), added to accompaniment by Spooner Oldham (keys), Dennis Crouch (bass) and the McCrarys (background vocals) further stir this sophisticated pot. However, it’s the highly personal songs like “Every Drop Of Rain” – dedicated to his mother – that anoint this release with deep-dish elements of heartfelt soul that further deepen his blues-steeped sound. Consider his mournful rendition of Don Nix’ “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” – a track which underlines his potential as a true blues contender. Or cue yet another raucous instrumental, “Mississippi Suitcase”, for a true taste of unbridled blues passion (again, aided and abetted by Dickinson). Fans of this exceptional release must promise to backtrack for another gem in 2010’ s “The Mathematics of Love”. At this rate, Boston may soon become known for much more than clam chowder and tea parties. American Blues Scene Feature - February 21, 2018Steven Ovadia writes: "
Peter Parcek’s ‘Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven’ Is the Real Deal..." [Read Full Review] Premier Guitar Feature - February 13, 2018Emile Menasché writes: "
Like all great blues records, Peter Parcek’s powerful new album Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven cuts close to the bone. Yet, from the opening track—a gut-punch rendition of Peter Green’s “World Keep on Turning”—Parcek takes us on a two-way journey. One direction is back to the deep emotion that defines the truest blues of every era; the other is forward into a modern sonic approach with which he breaks blues conventions without dishonoring them..." [Read Full Review] Rambles.net Review - February 10, 2018"
...A few select artists possess the knowledge and chops to fashion a successful blues and rock fusion. In the case of Boston-based Peter Parcek, on his latest in nearly a decade, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, the result is an atypically expressive contemporary guitar blues. Parcek can play it heavy or fluid or call up echoes of the distant era when one strain of the African-American folk tradition was evolving into a genre that for decades would shape the direction of mainstream popular music. To my hearing, modern-day blues works most successfully as a dialogue between origins and destinations. The consequent tension is what gives the blues its vitality. Parcek knows as much..." [Read Full Review] Blues Matters UK Review - January 2018Dave Drury says: "
This album from Boston based bluesman Parcek opens up with a powerful cover of Peter Green's song World Keep on Turning...Great stuff! This is an excellent album that goes on the recommended file." [Read Full Review] Blue Bytes Review - January 2018Graham Clarke reviews "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" for Blues Bytes: "It’s been seven years since guitarist Peter Parcek’s last CD, The Mathematics of Love, which earned him a BMA nomination as Best New Artist Debut, but his latest release, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (Lightnin’ Records) is well worth the wait..." [Read Full Review] Twangville Blues-Based Best of 2017 - 1/10/2018Bill Wilcox includes Peter Parcek in Bill’s Blues-Based Best of 2017: "Peter Parcek – Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven – Another ‘discovery’ of mine this year, Parcek has been a mainstay in the New England blues scene for years." Washington Blues Society - January 2018Malcolm Kennedy of Washington Blues Society highly recommends "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven." [Read Full Review] Jazz Weekly Review - 1/8/2018George W. Harris writes: "Guitarist and vocalist Peter Parcek rocks the boogie with a rotating team anchored around himself and Marco Giovino/dr, Luther Dickinson/g and Spooner Oldham/key and an assorted array of bassists, strings and steel guitarists. Some snarling harmonica provided by Mickey Raphael makes for a swampy “Pat Hare” while ominous shadows are cast on “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.” The guitars and rhythm develop a snarling Bo Diddley groove on “Mississippi Suitcase” and the team boogaloos on “Shiver” and the shuffling “Things Fall Apart.” Parcek’s guitar is 70s fuzzy and sinewy as on “World Keep on Turning” and gets bluesy on the thoughtful title tune.He’ll get you standing up from your chair if he comes to your town." Blurt Best of 2017Selected by Eric Thom of Blurt in "Revenge of the Writers" as Top Ten of 2017. Blues 411 Internet Radio #1 Album of 2017Michael Kinsman of "Hoodoo Ya Ya"
on Blues411 Internet Radio has selected
"Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" the #1 Album of 2017! Rambles.net 25 Favorite Albums of 2017Jerome Clark picks Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven as one of his 25 favorite albums of 2017. Guitar Moderne Top Records of 2017Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven selected by Guitar Moderne as Top Record of 2017. "Marco Giovano’s production helps guitarist/vocalist Parcek proffer an album of blues that delivers the dark mystery that makes the genre so attractive." Newsreview.com 12/21/17Peter Parcek, a Boston-based guitarist/vocalist, released his first album, Evolution, in 2000 and followed it up 10 years later with the highly acclaimed The Mathematics of Love. Now, after another gestation period, here’s Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, featuring the bluesman on 10 compositions, six of them his. A self-taught musician, he credits a 1960s stay in London and first-hand exposure to musicians there who were digging into American blues, such as Peter Green (his biggest influence), with inspiration. Fittingly, it’s Green’s impassioned “World Keep on Turning” that opens the album. Parcek calls his approach “soul guitar” and there’s no denying that description while listening to his nearly eight-minute powerhouse version of Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.” Recorded in Nashville, he shares guitar duties with Luther Dickinson—just one of several guests—and it’s hard to imagine anyone else more compassionate while entertaining Parcek’s muse. This is a stunning album from start to finish and the slow-paced title track should give everyone pause." Lee County Currier Review - Tupelo, Miss 12/07/17Electric bluesman gets Clapton comparison. How good is Peter Parcek? Well one of his heroes was Buddy Guy. He had some friends who got him into Buddy's dressing room after a show. 'I felt a little out of place, because I didn't know anybody, So out of nervousness, I guess, I gust absent mindedly pick up one of Buddy's guitars, unplugged and started playing, ' Peter said. 'After a while I realized the room was quiet and I looked up, and Buddy was watching me with his finger pressed ot his lips for silence.'..." [read full review] John Ems Music Review - 12/01/17John Ems says "Peter Parcek creates an entire album full of prime atmospheric blues on his latest album Everybody Wants to Go To Heaven. Excellent star turns from the great Luther Dickinson, Mickey Raphael and legendary keyboard man Spooner Oldham are very cool. Yet it’s the covers of Blind Lemon Jefferson’s See that My Grave is Kept Clean and Parcek’s very different take on the title track written by Don Nix that create a big buzz...." [read full review] Reflections in Blue Top Picks of 2017"Deeply rooted in the Blues and incredibly diverse, Peter Parcek nails it with tunes that range from the 1920s to his own originals. Joined by special guests Luther Dickinson, Spooner Oldham, the McCrary Sisters and Mickey Raphael, this is a solid piece of work. His guitar work is both highly technical and filled with pure raw passion. He is the kind of guitarist who could have those who are insecure, throwing their gear off of a bridge." No Depression Review - 11/27/17Joe McSpadden reviews Everybody Wants to Go to Heavenfor No Depression, The Journal of Roots Music: "The Bible talks about the number seven quite a bit. Seven years of famine, seven years of plenty. It’s been seven years since Peter Parcek last released an album, and that seems like a musical famine of sorts. Especially when the album is as good as his new release, Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven...." [read full review] don and sheryl's blues blog Review - 11/09/17"Peter Parcek has long been one of our favorite bluesmen. Now based out of New England, Peter got his start in the clubs of London in the Sixties, when blues-rock was just beginning to take root and spread “across the pond.” It’s been seven years too long since his last album, the highly-acclaimed “Mathematics Of Love” from 2010. He’s back with a new release, “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven,” on Lightnin’ Records. Peter’s sound has always been rooted in not only contemporary blues, but the sounds of the Delta and masters of the history of the genre’ as well. This collection touches on all his influences, with even a nod to the jug band sounds from the 1920’s and 1930’s. He’s assembled a stellar group of backing musicians, including Luther Dickinson on guitar on four cuts, Muscle Shoals legend Spooner Oldham on keys, Willie Nelson’s go-to harp man, Mickey Raphael, and the McCrary Sisters on backing vocals, and several others..." [read full review] Bill Copeland Music News - 11/07/17Bill Copeland reviews Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven: "Peter Parcek’s latest CD Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven offers, among fine musicianship, many tasty nuggets of tone that create exciting sonic landscapes. Parcek immerses his listener into his own world of sound. Whether he’s playing slidy material, contrasting guitar parts, or interesting chord progressions, Parcek maintains a freshness, originality, and a high level of excitement in every meter... " [read full review] reflections in blue blog - November 2017"Peter Parcek had the good fortune to land in London, in the thick of the British blues explosion. He had the honor of sitting in clubs and soaking up the work of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jeff Beck and more. Things were going well when fate stepped in. He was sent back to the U.S., for lack of a work permit. This would turn out to be the best thing that could possibly happen to him. Back in Connecticut, he had the opportunity to witness great American blues artists in concert: Skip James, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy and more. He would sit as close as possible in order to study their every move. Some years later he was introduced to Buddy Guy. In an awkward moment he picked up one of Buddy's guitars and began to play. Guy's response was polite and direct... You’re as bad as Eric Clapton," Guy remarked. "And I know Eric Clapton." The stage was set...." [read full review] Midwest record Review - 11/04/17Midwest Record reviews Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven: "Flat out real stuff for those that want their white boys with the blues to have it all on the ball. With a crew of nothing but hitters from top to bottom to insure quality, this guitar slinger goes deep into the belly of the beast offering up a must for those who demand it authentic. A wild ride that hasn't been rolling through these parts in years. " Making a scene! ReviewJim Hynes reviews Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven for Making a Scene! "This is the hard blues. It’s not that Peter Parcek plays hard constantly but it’s the feeling he evokes. He alternates dynamics but leaves vapors of Hendrix and The Cream in his wake. He can play cleanly like Peter Green but prefers to shroud both his guitar sound and vocals with a haunting, voodoo shear. This is heavy stuff. So much so that Buddy Guy said “You’re as bad as Eric Clapton. And I know Eric Clapton.” Yet, there’s a distinct sound and expressiveness to Parcek’s playing. He has a singular sound, especially when electric, which is the prevailing mode here..." [read full review] Top ten - The Alternate Root"World Keeps Turning" Selected as one of TopTen Songs of the Week Wednesday November 1, 2017 by The Alternate Root. 2017 Boston Music AwardsPeter is nominated in the Blues category of the 2017 Boston Music Awards!
VizztonePost by Peter Parcek.
PETER's New ALBUM
You get a taste of what's coming together on Peter Parcek's new record. And it gets better. Additional guitar work comes courtesy of Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars (whose "World Boogie is Coming", the seventh studio record by these Americana music luminaries, was released on September 3rd, 2013). Harmonica ace Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson) blew up a storm on several tracks. Acoustic bass was courtesy of two stellar upright players: Dennis Crouch (Robert Plant's Band Of Joy, Diana Krall, and others) and Domenic John Davis (Jack White). To top it off, session whiz Russ Pahl added pedal steel to a couple of tracks. (You heard right: Pedal steel on a Peter Parcek record.) The music on Peter Parcek's record is a new kind of creativity, sure, but it exists where American music has always existed: At the nexus of Blues, Folk, Country (Merle and Johnny's country, you know), and American curiosity. And like any good American tradition, it's not afraid to let it all blend together with the Blues as it's guide. - Brendan Hogan
Peter Parcek Live @ Smoken' Joe's 10/4/133
Review - Blues Blast Magazine October 3, 2013Featured Live Blues Review - Roots n Blues BBQ Festival "He may not yet be a household name, but Boston’s Peter Parcek left no doubt that a guitar is a lethal instrument in his hands as he, bass player Joe Klompus and drummer Chris Anzalone practically set fire to the Shelter Insurance Stage Sunday afternoon. After witnessing the destruction firsthand, it’s easy to see why none other than Buddy Guy has been singing Parcek’s praises as a must-see guitarist."
Roots N Blues N BBQ FestivalWe'll be heading to Columbia, MO in September to perform at the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. The incredible lineup includes The Black Crowes, John Hiatt and Mavis Staples among many talented others! See you there? http://rootsnbluesnbbq.com/#artists
The Alternate Root Magazine Top 20The Alternate Root Magazine has kindly honored PP & the band by selecting them as one of the Top 20 Bands in Boston Right Now.
Winner - 2013 New England Music AwardsPeter Parcek was was selected as Blues Act of the Year. Congrats!
2012 Boston Music AwardsPeter Parcek nominated for Blues Artist of the Year.
The BLUES AUDIENCEPeter Parcek named 2012 "Outstanding Guitar Player" in 15th Annual Readers Poll.
Thread on the Gear PageGreat thread of comments here on PP - http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=14707350 The blues foundation 2011 Music awards CDPeter Parcek 3 is featured on the newly released 2011 Blues Music Awards CD available from the Blues Foundation. Buy it here!
Cover me: Best Cover EPS of 2011"Blues-rock might not be the most original way to approach Bob Dylan songs, but Peter Parcek brings out the best of the genre in this four-song set. The band sounds like the Highway 61 sessions revisited: swirling Al Kooper organ and dirty Mike Bloomfield licks bringing even a recent deep cut way back to 1966." [full review]
Truefire.com: 100+ Gifted Guitarists you should know"Peter Parcek’s daring, incendiary and soulful style is a distinctive hybrid. He weaves rock, gypsy-jazz, country, folk, and blues--especially blues-- into a tapestry of melody, harmony and daredevil solos that push those styles to their limits without sacrificing the warmth of his own personality." [full review]
PP Nominated for 2011 Alternate Root Reader's Choice AwardPeter Parcek nominated in "Best American Roots Guitar Player" category.
Blog: Debra's Musical Musings"A friend of mine, Peter Parcek, was just nominated by the Alternate Roots Mag 1st Annual Readers Choice Awards for "Best American Roots Guitar Player"
Review: Real Gone"...When Dylan’s songs are stripped of their unique vocal and left in the hands of lesser artists, they can sometimes feel a little ordinary, despite retaining their highly original lyrical content. Occasionally though, there are artists who’ve managed to remould Dylan’s works into something (almost) as brilliant in their own right. These versions of Dylan songs may not ever take on a life of their own in the same way as The Byrds’ ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ or Jimi Hendrix’s earth shattering reading of ‘All Along The Watchtower’ (still the greatest Dylan cover ever); however, Parcek and his band must be applauded for twisting these four Dylan songs into brilliantly atmospheric, blues edged workouts which captivate the listener. Although a great singer and musician, it’s his gift for arrangements which really provides the true heart of this EP. For listeners with an interest in blues-based music, or anyone interested in Dylan covers – hopefully both – ‘Pledging My Time’ is an essential purchase." [full review]
PP Nominated for 2011 Blues Blast Music AwardPeter Parcek and The Mathematics of Love have been nominated as best "New Artist Debut Release"
by Blues Blast Magazine. In early May, a group of Blues music industry professionals including music critics, journalists, festival promoters, music venue managers, musicians and other Blues music industry professionals nominated the best of 2011 Blues music in eight categories.
PP takes part in A Team Band EPLong time friend John Monterisi -- guitarist,songwriter, producer, vocalist & spiritual force -- has assembled an all star ensemble entitled the A Team Band for a three song EP "Three Tastes With Duck Sauce," featuring Wild, Irresistible, Soul Makeover, and Don't Know Mind. The A Team band includes PP band members Marc Hickox & Peter Parcek. The A Team not only sounds good, it does good, as well. ALL proceeds of sale benefit two charities, Friends of Boston's Homeless and Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration.
BLOG: Republic of MathematicsPeter Parcek on "The Mathematics of Love" [read full article]
EP Review: The Alternate Root"As well as you know someone, it is always a tough call when it comes to birthday presents. On May 24, 2011, Bob turns the calendar back to reveal an accumulation of seventy years. Peter Parcek has combined reinvention of Bob Dylan’s music in a blue light and wrapped it all up in time for the birthday celebrations." [read full article]
EP Review: Bluesboston.com"With the release of the Pledging My Time EP Peter Parcek has done the impossible with music: forced me to look deep within and consider both Bob Dylan and his music in a far more positive light." -Georgetown Fats [read full article]
EP Review: Patriotledger.com"Peter Parcek has always loved the blues, but he’s always wanted to put his own new spin on the style. That’s the genesis of his latest release, an EP of blues-oriented re-interpretations of some Bob Dylan songs." -Jay N. Miller [read full article]
Boston.com: Hear Here: Peter Parcek & Brendan Hogan"Club Passim tips its cap tonight to a guy who has influenced probably every performer to grace its stage since the 1960s. "Series of Dreams: Songs of Bob Dylan and More" will feature an inspired pairing of local folk-blues singers Peter Parcek and Brendan Hogan." -James Reed [read full article]
EP Review: Cover Me.. This week on bandcamp"Peter Parcek saw Bob Dylan and the Band (then known as the Hawks) on their 1966 run, one of the most legendary tours in rock and roll history. That gives this bluesman all the cred he needs to deliver a dynamite Dylan EP. In addition to three period cuts, though (“Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat,” “She Belongs to Me,” “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry”), he turns to a much more recent nugget for this ripping cover: Dylan’s 2009 gem “Beyond Here Lies Nothing. " -Ray Padgett [read full article]
EP Review: About.com"Blues guitarist Peter Parcek has taken a giant step into the brave new world of the Internet with the digital release of his four-song EP Pledging My Time. Parcek's bluesy interpretations of four of his favorite Bob Dylan songs - "She Belongs To Me," "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat," "Beyond Here Lies Nothing," and "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" - are available to download on a "name your own price" basis. You can listen to the songs on Parcek's website, and if you like what you hear, download the EP for what you think the performances are worth. " - Reverend Keith A. Gordon [read full article]
MOL Review: Washington Blues Society"The Mathematics of Love features Steve Scully-drums and Marc Hickox-bass along with Peter Parcek on guitar and vocals; but this is not your average power trio. You won't find a bombastic assault of solos; you will find a rather more nuanced approach to a wide variety of music. I found information on Peter and the band rather difficult to come by; however the music speaks for itself and the BMA nominators felt the same giving The Mathematics of Love a nod for 2011 Best New Artist Debut as did the Boston Music Awards who nominated him for Blues Artist of the Year. " - Malcolm Kennedy [read full article]
Review: The Noise: Rock Around BostonThe Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA "The Lizard lounge is a small, basement club where bands play in what amounts to the middle of the room. Peter Parcek takes the stage around ten o'clock looking dapper in his three-button, pinstriped suit and black fedora. He proceeds to bleed his guitar dry for the next hour or so. It's amazing see someone so stoic play the guitar with such virtuosity. His body movements during the set are at a premium but his fingers fly over the frets at the speed of light. The incongruity of someone standing so still while moving so fast is striking. At times he stands so still you think he may have drifted off to sleep, all the while his guitar screams onward through the song. The set drifts through a variety of styles. From the traditional bluesy pop of "The Mathematics of Love," to the country-tinged "Rollin' With Zah," featuring its Johnny Cash-style backbeat. The songs split between vocal blues and instrumentals, some stretching out pleasantly into jam-band territory with Santana-esque Latin rhythms. Peter ends his set on a high note with an amazing slide guitar jam that leaves everyone pleading for more." - George Dow Review: Blog Critics: New Year's Eve"He may be in New York alone on New Year's Eve, but he sounds like Peter Parcek sounds like he's on that train that ran from Chicago and Mississippi during the great migration of the 20th Century. Parcek and the great Ronnie Earl trade stylish, gorgeous licks dripping with the electrified-Delta sounds that flowed freely from Chicago. Mike Fritz's downhome harmonica and Mike Levesque's gentle, tapping beat add to the immediacy and an intimacy that will have you believing these guys are playing this in your living room." - Josh Hathaway
The Sunday Night Blues Project: Top TenThe Mathematics of Love is included in Top Ten Blues releases of 2010.
The Blues Foundation 2011 Blues Music Award NominationThe Math Adds Up: The Blues Foundation announces the 2011 Blues Music Awards with Peter Parcek nominated as "Best New Artist Debut" for his 2010 Redstar Entertainment release, The Mathematics of Love Redstar Entertainment announces that label artist Peter Parcek has been nominated by The Blues Foundation for the 2011 Blues Music Awards as "Best New Artist Debut." Parcek's nomination is the result of the overwhelming critical acclaim for his 2010 national album debut, "The Mathematics of Love." This is the first Blues Music Award nomination for the Boston guitar legend. [read press release]
The Boston Music Awards nominationThe Boston Music Awards nominates Peter Parcek as “Blues Artist of the Year” for his 2010 label debut from Redstar Entertainment, “The Mathematics of Love”. Boston, MA - Redstar Entertainment announces that label artist Peter Parcek has been nominated by the Boston Music Awards as “Blues Artist of the Year”. Parcek’s nomination is the result of the overwhelming critical acclaim for his 2010 national album debut, “The Mathematics of Love”. This is the first Boston Music Awards nomination for the local guitar legend. [read press release]
Bluesforum.com CD Award 2010The Mathematics of Love up for 2010 CD award on Bluesforum.com
Review: John Shelton Ivany Top 21"t’s a relief to finally hear a modern blues guy with some sex in his voice and sick in his guitar. Peter Parcek is fast-paced like Chicago blues, but without any cheese. He is well-produced, but it sounds accidental. He’s sharp as a glass of icy bourbon, and warm as a glass of icy bourbon. His voice is magnetic. But it must be the band as a whole that makes his new album work so well, because the melodies and coordinated playing are what really do the trick. Riffs that seem to hit you just right are echoed and coddled. Fuzz is turned up just so, drums are hollow and hungry and the bass is steady. The concepts in the songs are not too complex if the lyrics are taken alone. But with implications laid down heavily in the tone of the singing and the twists of the music, the Peter Parcek 3 create something truly deep, dark and lovely." - SAS
Gig Review: Copeland Music News"Peter Parcek delivers another fantastic performance; Smoken’ Joe’s crowd couldn’t get enough" - Bill Copeland [read full review]
Review: Good Tunes hub'GTH has shied away from “guitar” music– it’s a whole different game, and though I love this stuff, it’s not (yet?) what GTH is all about. BUT…Peter Parcek’s’ latest album, The Mathematics of Love, is a fresh dose of rock/blues-infused tunes for fans of blues / instrumental / guitar rock, and it deserves recognition. The album is best described as follows: blues/rockabilly/rock channeling the essence of Jeff Beck, Danny Gatton, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Keb’ Mo’, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ben Harper, and so on. This guy can play…. GENRES: Blues, Instrumental Rock. BUY IF YOU LIKE: Artists named above.
WFMO 91.5 FM Blues Top 25 List #1September 2010 Living Blues Top 25 List, WFMO 91.5 FM in Medford, MA, Prepared by Jim Carty, "Blues and Beyond" - MOL is #1 !!
B.B. King's Bluesville picks- #5Week of September 25, 2010: The Mathematics of Love moves up to #5 on B.B. King's "Pick to Click" this week at XM's Bluesville!
Review: Dr. Blues CD Reviews - 9/28/10"Searing slidework and deep core heartbeat vocals are the stuff of this CT born 6 slinger. Peter spent the Vietnam War alive and far from the draft in London where he absorbed the Blues explosion of Clapton, Green and Beck. Back at home years later, Parcek is what is known as a guitar magician. Peter’s time at the helm of the Singhs fostered an appreciation for cross cultural hybridization and a listen gives this idea new fuel. To this open mind came help from Al Kooper’s Hammond, Marty Ballou’s string bass and production by Ted Drozdowski. He opens with a flat out flying boogie called “Showbiz Blues” only to kick out sparks Dick Dale style in “Rollin’ With Zah.” Interpreting ad looping Jessie Mae Hemphill’s “Lord Help the Poor and the Needy”, PP gives Mooney competition for scarily dark and mean. “Tears Like Diamonds” has Clapton-like vocal and Fred McDowell’s “Kokomo Me Baby” tears it boogie hot and fast. “New Year’s Eve” is a blues as a lonely solo NYE can be and “Busted” is Ray Charles’ hit done Delta drone and killer with Kooper’s keys and semi-tonal glissandos which then ties on “Evolution” as the acoustic bluesman side of Peter Parcek finishes. Very, very nice. 8 snaves." - Dr. Blues
Review: Blues Review"Fans of guitarists Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, and even Peter Green will enjoy this sophmore release from guitarist/vocalist Peter Parcek...." - Brian D. Holland [read full review]
Review: The Bluegrass Special: It All Adds Up"Let’s face it, when Buddy Guy tells you “you’re as bad as Eric Clapton,” and Pinetop Perkins makes you his touring bandleader, you’re flat dealin’ some blues..." - David McGee [ read full review ]
Review: The Charleston Gazette"... As far as I can figure, Boston-based Parcek has been honing his talents "under the radar" for a while..." - Michael Lipton [ read full review ]
Review: BLues Blast Magazine, September 10, 2010"A new name to me, Peter Parcek has been around for some time, most recently playing guitar with the Singhs, a band that has a strong following in Asia and Europe. The three piece featured here is his main focus at present and the rhythm section of Steve Scully on drums and Mark Hickox on bass are also members of the Singhs. This CD offers a good variety of styles and provides an excellent introduction to Peter’s music..." - John Mitchell [ read full review ]
Review: BLog Crititcs - Blues power ratings"...Let's look at a couple other things on the chart that have pleased me. How about the major surge by Peter Parcek and his excellent Mathematics Of Love record? I haven't written a full review of the album yet but I've written about a couple songs from this in the weekly BPR 6-Pack; this is a very good record..." [read the review]
Review: Hittin’ the Note - Issue 66, Exposing the gold in a Mountain Jam of CD’s"And then there’s Peter Parcek, a guitarist and all-around musician who’s in a league in a game of his own. As an American blues wolf in London in the 1960’s, Parcek rolled and tumbled through the British blues explosion and absorbed it all, from the straight stuff to the blues-rock shrapnel. But he didn’t stop there, as is plainly evident on The Mathematics of Love. The Peter Parcek 3—including bassist Marc Hickox and drummer Steve Scully—have created one astounding record. Most of it sounds like it derives from post-war hill country blues, but these guys really move across a unique, twisty spectrum, 100 % of it mesmerizing. Parcek’s words are miles from the run-of-the-mill and his guitar solos burn at all kinds of intensities and color. He even trades nearly inconspicuous barbs with Ronnie Earl on the loose-limbed “New Year’s Eve.” And there’s definitely something about “Rollin’ with Zah,” where Parcek rapid-fire hen-pecks his way through a cool as a cucumber groove. “Tears Like Diamonds” rolls lazily like a J.J. Cale or an early Dire Straits, and “Showbiz Blues” trudges the hill side like Moreland & Arbuckle. Does extremely creative, accessible, and wonderfully played music sound enticing?" - Tom Clarke
Interview: Iconfetch.com"Guitarist Peter Parcek is what you might call a late bloomer. Hailing from the New England area, his post-high school years were spent abroad, soaking up the British blues of Eric Clapton and Peter Green, and avoiding the Vietnam combat. Once things calmed down, Parcek returned to the States and took jobs as a school counselor and instrument salesman. A chance meeting with blues legend Pinetop Perkins resulted in Parcek leading Perkins' band for awhile. After gaining more confidence, Parcek decided to strike out on his own. The Mathematics of Love, only his second solo album, showcases his varied style, something he calls "soul guitar." He gets help from another legend, Al Kooper, on several of the tracks on the album." - Tony Peters [ listen to the interview ]
Review: Vintage Guitar"You'd never know from listening to Peter Parcek's The Mathematics of Love that the guitar was a mystery to him when he first encountered it. The record is a collection of blues-based tunes that go far beyond, mostly on the imagination and technical prowess of Parcek's playing." [ read full review ]
Review: FullTIMEBLUES.Com"Reading his bio, it's amazing that a man with Peter Parcek's credentials has flown under the radar for so long; but then, perhaps that was by design...OR, perhaps, I'm just out of the loop on this one. He's wowed Buddy Guy, led Pinetop Perkins band, and competed in the International Blues Challenge. Now, Parcek makes his national debut with the ten-song set, The Mathematics Of Love, produced for Redstar Entertainment and picked up by the Vizz-Tone camp for distribution. The finished product is a fantastic ride through musical styles, techniques, and effects that gives the listener a glimpse at what this virtuoso, Parcek, can do..." [ read full review ]
Review: BB King Bluesville Pick"The Mathematics of Love" selected by BB King Bluesville the Week of July 31, 2010.
Review: Seattle Pi“...He may be in New York alone on New Year's Eve, but he sounds like Peter Parcek sounds like he's on that train that ran from Chicago and Mississippi during the great migration of the 20th Century. Parcek and the great Ronnie Earl trade stylish, gorgeous licks dripping with the electrified-Delta sounds that flowed freely from Chicago. Mike Fritz's downhome harmonica and Mike Levesque's gentle, tapping beat add to the immediacy and an intimacy that will have you believing these guys are playing this in your living room...." - Josh Hathaway
Review: Blues Source“...This remarkable new CD by Boston based Peter Parcek delivers his thrashing series of guitar solo’s and improvised scales, all the while keeping tight with his band members. With 10 tracks set in stone that all have that bite of the blues, and his low down vocals, this new CD should turn some heads..." - Dirk Wissbaum
Review: Jazz and Blues Report“...The Mathematics Of Love is a first-rate recording of blues roots & guitar explorations that mixes tradition with a heavy dose of the contemporary....his guitar playing will unquestionably be the recording's strongest appeal; and fans of the legendary Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan should enjoy Parcek's impressive fretwork..." - Ron Weinstock
Review: Hittin' the Note"...And then there’s Peter Parcek, a guitarist and all-around musician who’s in a league in a game of his own. As an American blues wolf in London in the 1960’s, Parcek rolled and tumbled through the British blues explosion and absorbed it all, from the straight stuff to the blues-rock shrapnel. But he didn’t stop there, as is plainly evident on The Mathematics of Love. The Peter Parcek 3--including bassist Marc Hickox and drummer Steve Scully--have created one astounding record. Most of it sounds like it derives from post-war hill country blues, but these guys really move across a unique, twisty spectrum, 100 % of it mesmerizing. Parcek’s words are miles from the run-of-the-mill and his guitar solos burn at all kinds of intensities and color. He even trades nearly inconspicuous barbs with Ronnie Earl on the loose-limbed “New Year’s Eve.” And there’s definitely something about “Rollin’ with Zah,” where Parcek rapid-fire hen-pecks his way through a cool as a cucumber groove. “Tears Like Diamonds” rolls lazily like a J.J. Cale or an early Dire Straits, and “Showbiz Blues” trudges the hill side like Moreland & Arbuckle. Does extremely creative, accessible, and wonderfully played music sound enticing? (VizzTone.com)" - Tom Clarke
Review: Boston Herald“Local guitar ace Peter Parcek wanted to do something tricky: modernize the blues without losing the genre’s soulful guts. He succeeded. His new VizzTone release, “The Mathematics of Love,” is a blues triumph..." - Daniel Gewertz
Review: California Chronicle“Playing both acoustic and electric, Parcek spikes his blues with touches of jazz, rock, and country as he masterfully mixes tones to convey emotion _ from rawboned and dirty on Kokomo Arnold's boogie-fueled "Kokomo Me Baby" to clean and lyrical on his own "Tears Like Diamonds." Sometimes he shifts within songs, as on his own dazzling instrumental "Rollin' With Zah" and his mesmerizing version of Jessie Mae Hemphill's "Lord, Help the Poor and Needy..." - Nick Cristiano [ read full review ]
Review: Rambles.net“A Boston-based guitarist of much experience and diverse influence, Peter Parcek fashions a blues sound of many parts. Even as he manages to move the genre forward into the 21st Century, he does so without drowning its emotional core, the part that gives the blues its enduring appeal, in a tsunami of notes. Since nothing lasts forever, on the other hand, the blues won’t either. (Some years ago, perhaps in a portent of what is to come, I read an interview with a trendy New York art-rock guitarist who boasted he didn’t play a single blues note; ever since, I’ve made a point of not listening to him.) Artists like Parcek give the music a new lease on existence, one that transcends mere life support and proceeds to actual revitalization."- Jerome Clark [ read full review ]
Review: New Hampshire Union Leader“The guitar player on stage at the Strange Brew Tavern in downtown Manchester has an unassuming look. Sans fedora, he could be easily mistaken for any number of the ordinary looking older regulars that frequent the bar on Tuesday nights. But there is nothing ordinary or regular about this man and his ability on the guitar. His name is Peter Parcek, and if you've been lucky enough to catch him at the Strange Brew, you understand what I'm talking about..." - Adam McCune
Review: Boston Phoenix“Blues musicians have been recycling the same ol' same for so long that it's easy to forget just how exciting blues can be. Guitarslinger/singer Peter Parcek's thrill-a-minute The Mathematics of Love is a reminder of that. Parcek, like, say, Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan before him, is a lyrical, inventive player, equally reverent of economy and excess, dynamics and subtlety, raunch and smooth, sweet soul. He makes every note count while remembering that those notes must take their rightful place in the bigger picture..." - Jeff Tamarkin [ read full review ]
Review: Guitar Player, August 2010Barry Cleveland's interview with PP.
Review: Crossroads“Based out of Boston, Peter Parcek bursts onto the blues scene with a recording that showcases his guitar virtuosity. Opening with Peter Green’s “Showbiz Blues”, he delivers a non-stop flow of amazing picking engulfed in a variety of tasty guitar tones..." - Mark Thompson [ read full review ]
Review: The Boston Herald“Coming 10 years after his debut, this album delivers a powerful reminder of Brookline resident and former Pinetop Perkins bandleader Parcek’s monster talent.." - Nate Dow [ read full review ]
Review: Elmore Magazine"Peter Parcek rumbles, roars, slides and glides throughout his intense declaration, The Mathematics of Love. It's a raw, hard-edged blues sound of slides, resonator and electric leads, on both originals and covers...The highlight is his instrumetnal version of Ray Charles' 'Busted,' with Al Kooper on the B3, ending, appropriately, in psychedelic oblivion."
Review: Somerville News“Powderhouse Park blows blues power over Somerville...to a particularly rapturous rendition of Bob Dylan's "Beyond Here Lies Nothing" performed by blues master Peter Parcek as his guitar wailed brilliantly..." - Andrew Firestone
Review: Rascal's Fair“This opulent tapestry is fertile ground for this distinctive musician, who weaves the rich colors of jazz, rock, psychedelic, folk, country, and blues into a wonderful woven blanket for the ears, just give a listen to the opening of “Showbiz Blues,” that touches most of those bases. The blues based body of the song shows his prowess at wringing tones out of his guitar that might leave you shaking your head, if it isn’t already bobbing with the beat of the music. It is a disc filled with his daring solos that never get excessive; he knows the meaning of not playing at times. His melodies and harmony create a warmth in the disc that most who strive for this elegant peak lose in the striving, and he makes these tones and music sound effortless and free flowing." [ read full review ]
Review: All Music Guide“New England-based blues guitarist/vocalist Peter Parcek varies between hard and soft sounds, keeping the music contemporary while occasionally throwing the voodoo down. With his appeal stretching out on several different levels, one cannot help but be compelled with every move he makes, and listen to more of this fine CD." - Michael G. Nastos [ read full review ]
Review: Jazz and Blues Report“"The Mathematics of Love,' is a first-rate recording of blues roots and guitar explorations that mixes tradition with a heavy dose of the contemporary. While his vocals may vary in convincingness, (he shines when he is in an acoustic-oriented vein), he always is listenable. However, his guitar playing will unquestionably be the recording’s strongest appeal; and fans of the legendary Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan should enjoy Parcek’s impressive fretwork." - Ron Weinstock Review: Vintage Guitar ,Vol. 24 No. 10...."Parcek has the touch - pure and simple; the components of
PP To Be Featured on The Guitar Show June 4 and 5Peter Parcek will be featured on "The Guitar Show" Player Spotlight segment this week. "The Guitar Show" is a weekly radio show that eminates out of Nashville & is hosted by Guitar Player magazine writer Andy Ellis. "The Guitar Show" airs in Nashville on WRFN - 107.1FM & www.radiofreenashville.com. Also airs Fri.10pm Central & Sat. 8pm Central on 1670 AM in San Antonio, TX.
Review: Goldmine"PETER PARCEK 3 Starting with the pensive opening slide guitar notes, The Mathematics Of Love, with its traces of lo-fi fuzz, parallels its producer Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen in delving into the late Fred McDowell’s Mississippi hill country blues. On the other hand, “New Years Eve” shows how far blues lyrics have moved geographically even when the spirit remains at its roots. Al Kooper plays organ on a sonically evolving seven-minute-plus instrumental take on “Busted,” a 1963 R&B hit for Ray Charles penned by country tunesmith Harlan Howard. As for the CD’s title and title track, if there’s a mathematics to Bach’s music, why shouldn’t there be a mathematics to the blues? - Bruce Sylvester"
Interview And Review: The Boston Blues Society"The Mathematics of Love is a tricky thing. Yes, it's a guitar record made by one of the most underrated players out there, but that may not mean what you think it does. The record doesn't have the kind of calibrated and showy “look Ma, no hands!” noodling that mysteriously passes for inspirational guitar work these days. Instead, Parcek's songs have layers of thoughtful, subtle, genre-bending guitar work that weave intricate textures around the rhythm section. -- Mike Mellor" [ read full review ] To read Mike Mellor's interview with Peter Parcek, click here.
Review: Guitar Edge"On his new album Peter Parcek serves up propulsive, fuzztoned blues and slide excursions that visit parcels of rock, jazz, country, and folk while keeping homestead in the swamp and surrounding hill country. The playful slapback shred-billy instrumental “Rollin’ With Zah” will make chops fans take notice, as will “Get Right With God” and Parcek’s version of the Ray Charles tune “Busted.” Meanwhile “Kokomo Me Baby” offers occasional flashes of Django-inspired jazz phrases nestled into down-home blues, while the slow spiritual “Lord Help the Poor and Needy” is a master class in tasty restraint. –MM"
Review: Blue BytesPeter Parcek goes back to the 1960s, where his bands were influenced by that era’s blues/rockers like Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, the Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. He previously served as sideman for bluesmen like Hubert Sumlin and Pinetop Perkins and the rock group The Singhs, before striking off on his own with the Peter Parcek Band and a duo project called Forty-Four. His latest release, The Mathematics Of Love (Redstar Entertainment/Vizztone), mixes the blues with rock, surf, country, jazz, and roots music. The result is an original and diverse set that will please guitar fans of any ilk. - Graham Clarke
Review: BLog Critics Music"Surely there's enough of it now to justify a genre; call it neo-blues, if you will, as practiced by New England-based guitar wizard Peter Parcek." - John Taylor
Peter Parcek To be featured in June Boston Blues Society E-ZineFor a preview of the interview with Mike Mellor visit The Killing Floor.
Roots Music Report, Blues Weekly ChartThe Mathematics of Love debuts at #25 on the Roots Music Report weekly chart.
Review: About.com - Blues“One of the best-kept secrets of blues music, innovative guitarist Peter Parcek performs a mixed-bag of blues, rock, jazz, and soul, and makes the whole thing work like few could.” -Rev. Keith A. Gordon [ read full review ]
Review: Blues Underground Network“The Mathematics of Love is the strongest, most incendiary guitar driven album I have heard in a long, long time, and has placed Peter Parcek and his trio, the Peter Parcek 3, firmly into the spotlight, not only with the blues, but also with the wide tapestry of genres he weaves throughout this unique and exceptional album.” -John Vermilyea
Review: Cashbox Magazine“Peter Parcek has got the blues, and thank goodness for it. He was raised on the best the genre has to offer, and fused blues history with his own experience to create a modern sound with few rivals.” -Christopher Llewellyn Adams [ read full review ]
Review: Fame Magazine“Not a moment of this CD is less than jaw-dropping for its mind-bending meld of every possible mode from the ‘50s up to ten minutes ago…though, really, the entirety of The Mathematics of Love is a matter of the ‘60s and ‘70s being played one more time for all they're worth, full fury and dripping with blown-out inventiveness. This guy must be unf***ing real in concert...excuse my French.” -Mark S. Tucker
Review: Blues and Rhythm, U.K."Living in London in the late 1960s, guitarist Peter Parcek was heavily influenced by the heavy hitters on the scene – Green, Clapton, Beck et al. Back in the States, he saw as much as he could of guys like Muddy, B.B., Albert King, Hendrix, a.o. and concentrated on honing his technique. The PR states that he is one of the ‘most respected instrumentalists in New England ’, and is currently a member of an outfit called The Singhs. [ read full review ]
Review: MIDWEST RECORD – CHICAGO, ILVolume 33/Number 182 - May 2, 2010
Press releasePeter Parcek Explores The Mathematics Of Love On Label Debut For Redstar Entertainment, Out May 18
More NewsJim Hynes is reviewing the Peter Parcek CD in the next issue of Elmore Magazine (July/August), out in June. Feature story in August Guitar Player Magazine Feature story and cd review in Vintage Guitar Reviews and/or features in Blues Revue, Elmore, Guitar International Boston Blues Society Blog - interviews & cd reviews Cover of May issue of The Alternate Root online magazine - www.thealternateroot.com  Peter Parcek 3 will be featured in two upcoming episodes of Alternate Root TV. (nationally distributed cable access programming) Peter Parcek 3's "Kokomo Me Baby" is used as the intro music for Alternate Root TV
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Add one part Robert Plant's Band of Joy in-the-pocket rhythm section (with drummer Marco Giovino producing)... A touch of Muscle Shoals keys legend Spooner Oldham (who was seen most recently on stage with Neil Young during his surprise appearance at a small Boston area venue!)... And a healthy helping of the spirited McCrary Sisters backing vocals...