Horace Parlan

Horace Parlan (January 19, 1931 – February 23, 2017) was an American jazz pianist and composer known for working in the hard bop and post-bop styles. In addition to his work as a bandleader, Parlan was known for his contributions to the Charles Mingus recordings Mingus Ah Um and Blues & Roots (1960).

Early life Horace Parlan was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In his birth year, Parlan was stricken with polio, resulting in the partial crippling of his right hand. This handicap contributed to his development of a particularly "pungent" left-hand chord voicing style, while comping with highly rhythmic phrases with the right.

His later work, such as a series of duos with the tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp, included the album Goin' Home (1977), Both Korsør and Næstved are located in Zealand, Denmark. He had been suffering from multiple ailments, including diabetes and failing eyesight.

Discography As leader/co-leader Main source:

As sideman

With Dave Bailey One Foot in the Gutter (Epic, 1960) Gettin' Into Somethin' (Epic, 1961) – rec. 1960

With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Goin' to the Meeting (Prestige, 1961) – rec. 1960 Tough Tenor Favorites (Jazzland, 1962) also with Johnny Griffin Jaw's Blues (Enja, 1981)

With Lou Donaldson The Time Is Right (Blue Note, 1959) Sunny Side Up (Blue Note, 1960) Midnight Sun (Blue Note, 1980) – rec. 1960

With Booker Ervin That's It! (Candid, 1961) Exultation! (Prestige, 1963)

With Dexter Gordon Doin' Allright (Blue Note, 1961) Stable Mable (SteepleChase, 1975)

With Slide Hampton Jazz with a Twist (Atlantic, 1962) – rec. 1961 Explosion! The Sound of Slide Hampton (Atlantic, 1962)

With Roland Kirk Gifts & Messages (Mercury, 1964) I Talk with the Spirits (Limelight, 1965) – rec. 1964 Slightly Latin (Limelight, 1965)

With Charles Mingus A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry (Bethlehem, 1957) Mingus Ah Um (Columbia, 1959) Blues & Roots (Atlantic, 1960) – rec. 1959

With Doug Raney I'll Close My Eyes (SteepleChase, 1982) Meeting the Tenors (Criss Cross, 1983) – rec. 1984

With Archie Shepp Splashes (L+R, 1987) Black Ballads (Timeless, 1992)

With Idrees Sulieman Bird's Grass (SteepleChase, 1985) – rec. 1976 Groovin' (SteepleChase, 1986) – rec. 1985

With Stanley Turrentine Look Out! (Blue Note, 1960) Up at "Minton's" (Blue Note, 1961) Salt Song (CTI, 1971) Comin' Your Way (Blue Note, 1987) – rec. 1961

With others Gene Ammons, Gene Ammons in Sweden (Enja, 1981) – rec. 1973 Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, Motoring Along (Sonet, 1975) Johnny Coles, New Morning (Criss Cross Jazz, 1982) Pierre Dorge, The Jazzpar Prize (Enja, 1992) Frank Foster, The House That Love Built (SteepleChase, 1982) Hugo Heredia, Mananita Pampera (Cote d'azur, 1976) Langston Hughes, Weary Blues (MGM, 1958) Tommy Turrentine, Tommy Turrentine (Time, 1960) Kai Winding and Curtis Fuller, Giant Bones '80 (Sonet, 1980) various artists, A Moon of Roses

Film

Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan [ DVD] – documentary