Search - Artist/Band: Horace Parlan

• Name: Horace Parlan
• Birthday: 01/19/1931
• Birth Place: Pittsburgh, PA
• Decades Active: 1960,1970,1980,1990,2000
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Hard Bop, Post-Bop
• Moods: Amiable/Good-Natured, Organic, Gritty, Joyous, Passionate, Playful, Rollicking, Sophisticated, Elegant

Title	Release
My Little Brown Book	08/28/2007
Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan	07/11/2006
Relaxin' With Horace	09/07/2004
We Three	06/21/2004
Horace Parlan Trio	05/24/2004
Behind the Blues	01/17/2002
Horace Parlan WA	11/20/2001
Alone	01/01/2000
Ellington Ballads WA	01/01/2000
Voyage of Discovery WA	09/14/1999
Hi-Fly	09/23/1997
Little Esther	03/1987
Glad I Found You WA	07/30/1984
Like Someone in Love	03/1983
Pannonica WA	02/11/1981
Musically Yours	11/26/1979
The Maestro WA	11/26/1979
Blue Parlan WA	11/13/1978
Frank-ly Speaking	02/05/1977
No Blues	12/10/1975
Arrival	12/21/1973
Happy Frame of Mind WA	02/15/1963
Up and Down WA	06/18/1961
On the Spur of the Moment WA	03/18/1961
Headin' South WA	12/04/1960
Speakin' My Piece WA	07/16/1960
Us Three WA	04/20/1960
Movin' and Groovin'	02/29/1960

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. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide