Horace Parlan: Biography

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• Duke Pearson
• Mulgrew Miller
• Elmo Hope
• James Williams
• Norman Simmons
• Sonny Clark
• Horace Tapscott

• Horace Silver
• John Lewis
• Bud Powell
• Duke Jordan
• Ray Charles
• Ahmad Jamal

• Peter Almqvist

• Clark Terry
• Archie Shepp
• Idrees Sulieman
• Thelonious Monk
• Randy Weston
• Duke Ellington
• Michal Urbaniak

• Dexter Gordon
• Rudy Van Gelder
• Alfred Lion
• Charles Mingus
• George Tucker
• Booker Ervin
• Nils Winther

Born:

Jan 19, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA

Genres:

Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

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 RB 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 RB 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