Jeff Parker is known as the guitarist of Chicago-based post-rock group
Tortoise, but is also part of many other, mostly jazz-related and experimental projects. On his penultimate solo effort
Suite For Max Brown(2020) he didn't make it easy for the listener. Successor album Forfolks is a lot more accessible. This time, Parker can be heard without the help of other musicians, with just his guitar and
… an arsenal of effects. It's more than enough to keep him enthralled for 40 minutes. The short loops that form the basis of many of the songs create a minimalistic effect, which Parker freely uses to play over. At times this sounds like he is playing on the couch. But appearances can be deceiving: precisely because he keeps on surprising us with melodies and sounds, eagerly making use of jazz, rock and folk idioms, Forfolks is a fascinating album. (JV)more
