Walter Parks Returns to Rockwood Music Hall

Article from Folio Weekly
September 29 2009 - by John Citrone.

"Walter Parks' greatest strength may also be his greatest weakness. You see, he's a sucker for sensuous balladry. As founder of The Nudes, Parks got his folk on, sharing the music with cellist Stephanie Winters. The two were regular visitors to N ortheast Florida's smaller clubs and coffeehouses, and made a name for themselves up and down the Eastern Seaboard. As a member fo the grungier Swamp Cabbage, Parks indulged his ZZ Top-like mosquito-blues. And, of late, the once-Jacksonville boy, now NYC resident, has taken up with Richie Havens, touring with the '60s icon as a constant sideman. But Parks' new self-titled release is something unexpected.

Opening with the richly distorted instrumental, "Epiphany," Parks throws the listener off for just a moment, setting the scene with what could be the soundtrack to a lonely, top-down adventure along a dark desert highway. But Track 2, "Troubadour," makes a sharp turn down another road and never looks back. It's a sweet-and-sour ballad a la the Eagles' "Desperado," and nearly as anthemic. It's a far cry from the Cabbage sound, and one Parks seems happy to investigate on his own terms. After a dip into spiritual and heartbreaker, he wraps things up with a really wonderful guitar/piano duet called "Requiem."

Don't be surprised if Parks breaks out some foot-stompin' blues at his upcoming European Street concert. But, if his new album is any indication of what to expect, don't be surprised if he doesn't."