horace parlan

Biography

Horace Parlan (January 19, 1931 – February 23, 2017) was an influential American jazz pianist and composer, celebrated for his work in the hard bop and post-bop idioms. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Parlan faced significant adversity early in life after contracting polio at age five, which left his right hand partially paralyzed. Rather than letting this deter his musical ambitions, Parlan developed a unique piano technique, using strong, percussive left-hand chords and rhythmic right-hand phrases that became his signature sound. Inspired by a live performance by Vladimir Horowitz, he resumed piano studies in his youth and later left law school to pursue music full-time, quickly becoming a fixture in Pittsburgh's vibrant jazz scene.

Parlan's career took off in the late 1950s when he joined Charles Mingus' Jazz Workshop, contributing to landmark albums such as 'Mingus Ah Um' and 'Blues & Roots.' He soon became a prolific recording artist for Blue Note Records, both as a leader and a sought-after sideman, collaborating with jazz greats like Booker Ervin, Dexter Gordon, Lou Donaldson, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. In 1973, Parlan relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he continued to record and perform, notably in duet projects with Archie Shepp that explored gospel and spiritual themes. Parlan's soulful, blues-inflected style and his perseverance in the face of physical challenges left a lasting legacy in jazz, earning him international recognition and honors such as the Ben Webster Prize in 2000.

Fun Facts

• Parlan overcame childhood polio, which left his right hand partially paralyzed, by developing a distinctive piano style that relied heavily on his left hand.
• He moved to Denmark in 1973, joining a thriving expatriate jazz community and influencing the European jazz scene.
• Parlan was awarded the Ben Webster Prize in 2000 for his contributions to jazz.
• His duet albums with Archie Shepp are notable for their deep exploration of gospel and spiritual music, a departure from his earlier hard bop recordings.

Associated Acts

• Horace Parlan Quintet - original
• The Dave Bailey Sextet
• Thad Jones Eclipse
• Booker Ervin Quintet - piano
• Clark Terry’s Big‐B‐A‐D‐Band - piano
• Horace Parlan Trio

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• James Miller - Classical piano teacher who helped Parlan develop his left-hand technique after his polio diagnosis. (Early classical studies) [1940s]
• Ahmad Jamal - Indirect influence, as Parlan's teacher also taught Jamal; Parlan cited Jamal as a stylistic influence. (General influence on phrasing and approach) [1940s-1950s]
• Bud Powell - Stylistic influence; Parlan cited Powell as a prime influence on his jazz piano style. (General influence on bebop and hard bop piano) [1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Charles Mingus - Band member and recording artist; Parlan was pianist in Mingus' Jazz Workshop. (Mingus Ah Um, Blues & Roots) [1957-1959]
• Booker Ervin - Frequent collaborator; Parlan played on several of Ervin's albums. (Booker Ervin's albums (early 1960s)) [1960-1961]
• Lou Donaldson - Band member and recording artist; Parlan played on Donaldson's Blue Note albums. (Sunny Side Up, The Natural Soul) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Band member and recording artist. (Collaborations in the 1960s) [1960s]
• Archie Shepp - Duo partner, especially after moving to Denmark; explored gospel and spirituals. (Goin' Home (1977), Trouble in Mind) [1970s-1980s]
• Dexter Gordon - Sideman on Blue Note recordings. (Doin’ Allright) [1961]
• Stanley Turrentine - Sideman on Blue Note recordings. (Look Out!) [1960]

Artists Influenced

• Niels Lan Doky - Danish jazz pianist influenced by Parlan’s work and presence in Denmark. (General influence on Danish jazz scene) [1980s-present]
• Younger European jazz pianists - Inspired by Parlan’s adaptive technique and soulful style after his move to Europe. (General influence on European jazz recordings) [1970s-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Congalegre (Headin' South)
2. My foolish heart (No Blues)
3. Us Three - Remastered (Us Three)
4. Goin' home (Goin' Home)
5. Nobody knows the troubles I've seen (Goin' Home)
6. Headin' South (Headin' South)
7. It Could Happen to You - Remastered (Movin' & Groovin')
8. I Want To Be Loved - Remastered (Us Three)
9. The Other Part Of Town - Rudy Van Gelder Edition/Digitally Remastered 2009 (Up And Down (Remastered))
10. Wadin' - Remastered (Us Three)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #hard-bop, #jazz, #post-bop