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Horace Parlan

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan's made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He's also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion. Parlan has always cited Ahmad Jamal and Bud Powell as prime influences.

He began playing in R&B bands during the '50s, joining Charles Mingus' group from 1957 to 1959 following a move from Pittsburgh to New York. Mingus aided his career enormously, both through his recordings and his influence. Parlan played with Booker Ervin in 1960 and 1961, then in the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis-Johnny Griffin quintet in 1962. Parlan played with Rahsaan Roland Kirk from 1963 to 1966, and had a strong series of Blue Note recordings in the '60s.

He left America for Copenhagen in 1973, and gained international recognition for some stunning albums on Steeplechase, including a pair of superb duet sessions with Archie Shepp. He also recorded with Dexter Gordon, Red Mitchell, and in the '80s Frank Foster and Michal Urbaniak. He also has recorded extensively for SteepleChase, Enja, and Timeless.

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11
My Blue Note Obsession

Horace Parlan: Up and Down – 1961

Read "Horace Parlan: Up and Down – 1961" reviewed by Marc Davis


I have a new hero: Pianist Horace Parlan. Until recently, I had heard of Parlan, but never really heard him. I certainly never knew his back story. It's inspirational--and his music is pretty damn good, too. Parlan had a handicap. As a child, he lost some function in his right hand due to polio. Various bios disagree on the extent of the loss. Some say two fingers, others three. Either way, it's the kind of injury that makes ...

286
Album Review

Horace Parlan: The Complete Blue Note Horace Parlan Sessions

Read "The Complete Blue Note Horace Parlan Sessions" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Aside from the obvious heavyweights who came through the Blue Note fold, there’s that whole cast of musicians who fall under the category of “talent deserving of wider recognition”. Arguably, Blue Note might have been even more proficient at expounding the work of these neglected artists. Although not an exhaustive list, some of the names to be mentioned in this camp would have to include Dodo Greene, Fred Jackson, John Patton, Harold Vick, Tina Brooks, Freddie Roach, George Braith, Bennie ...

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Recording

Backgrounder: Horace Parlan - Movin' & Groovin'

Backgrounder: Horace Parlan - Movin' & Groovin'

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Horace Parlan is probably best known as the pianist on Dexter Gordon's 1961 Blue Note album Doin' Allright. It's hard to imagine anyone but Parlan playing on that record, adding dramatic zest to songs like Doing All Right, For Regulars Only and Society Red. He also played piano on Charles Mingus's Mingus Ah Um (1959) and Roots & Blues (1959). Stylistically, I'd place his groove between Red Garland and Kenny Drew.  Born in Pittsburgh, Pa, Parlan recorded for Blue Note ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan's made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He's also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion. Parlan has always cited Ahmad Jamal and Bud Powell as ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan's made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He's also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion. Parlan has always cited Ahmad Jamal and Bud Powell as ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan's made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He's also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion. Parlan has always cited Ahmad Jamal and Bud Powell as ...

1

TV / Film

Documentary: Horace Parlan

Documentary: Horace Parlan

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

The response to my Horace Parlan post earlier this week was enormous. Parlan really was special and should be thought of as one of the Top-10 post-war piano greats. So why not another post on Parlan. Though I posted the following documentary some years back, I thought I'd post it again for the thousands of readers who are newly minted Parlan fans. A special thanks to Ken Deifik for reminding me about it. Here's Don McGlynn's Horace Parlan By Horace ...

2

Recording

Horace Parlan: Movin' + Groovin'

Horace Parlan: Movin' + Groovin'

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

By now, it's no secret that Bill Evans is my favorite pianist. In second place would have to be Horace Parlan. Born in Pittsburgh, Parlan at a young age contracted polio, which left his right hand partly disabled and disfigured. Two of the fingers in his right hand were out of commission. As a result, his left hand did double duty delivering heavy harmony and bass treatment while the pinky, pointer and thumb of his right hand handled melody improvisation. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan's made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He's also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion. Parlan has always cited Ahmad Jamal and Bud Powell as ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan\'s made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He\'s also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan\'s made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He\'s also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today!

Horace Parlan has overcome physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially crippled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan\'s made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He\'s also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

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