Jazz
Horace Parlan - Piano
Freddy Hansson Engineer
Mark Gardner Liner Notes
Nils Winther Photography, Producer
Per Grunnet Photography
Horace Parlan has recorded many albums for SteepleChase since moving permanently to Copenhagen in 1973. Parlan tends to sound at his best in a trio where he can draw inspiration from his sidemen, so this often-sparse set of unaccompanied piano solos, despite some good moments, is not his most essential outing. However, Parlan's chordal style is quite distinctive on the five jazz standards (including "Alone Together" and "Lullaby of the Leaves") and his own "Musically Yours," and his fans will be interested in what was his first purely solo date; another record issued later on (The Maestro) also resulted from the same day. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Horace Parlan
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Jan 19, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Post-Bop, Hard Bop
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 |
