Horace Parlan (January 19, 1931 – February 23, 2017) was an American pianist and composer known for working in the

hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...

and

post-bop Post-bop is a genre of small-combo jazz that evolved in the early to mid 1960s in the United States. Pioneers of the genre, such as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane and Jackie McLean, crafted syntheses ...

styles of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

. In addition to his work as a bandleader Parlan was known for his contributions to the

Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, pianist, composer, bandleader, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and ...

recordings ''

Mingus Ah Um ''Mingus Ah Um'' is a studio album by American jazz musician Charles Mingus which was released in October 1959 by Columbia Records. It was his first album recorded for Columbia. The cover features a painting by S. Neil Fujita. The title is a co ...

'' and ''

Blues & Roots ''Blues & Roots'' is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded in 1959 and released on the Atlantic label in 1960. It has been reissued on CD by both Atlantic and Rhino. Inspiration Mingus explained the origins of this record in the album's liner no ...

''.

Early life

He was born in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

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

Later life and career

Between 1952 and 1957, he worked in Washington D.C. with

Sonny Stitt Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his ...

, then spent two years with Mingus' Jazz Workshop. In 1973, Parlan moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. He later settled in the small village of Rude in southern

Zealand Zealand ( da, Sjælland ) at 7,031 km2 is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020. It is the 1 ...

. In 1974, he completed a State Department tour of Africa with

Hal Singer Harold Joseph Singer (October 8, 1919 – August 18, 2020), also known as Hal "Cornbread" Singer, was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and jazz bandleader and saxophonist. Early life Harold Joseph Singer was born in Greenwood District, Tul ...

. His later work, such as a series of duos with the tenor saxophonist

Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz. Biography Early life Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...

included the album '' Goin' Home'' (1977), steeped in

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

. Parlan received the 2000 Ben Webster Prize awarded by the Ben Webster Foundation. He died at a nursing home in Naestved, Denmark at the age of 86. He had been suffering from multiple ailments, including diabetes and failing eyesight.

Discography

As leader

* '' Movin' & Groovin''' (

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical co ...

, 1960) * '' Us Three'' (Blue Note, 1960) * '' Speakin' My Piece'' (Blue Note, 1960) * '' Headin' South'' (Blue Note, 1961) – recorded in 1960 * '' On the Spur of the Moment'' (Blue Note, 1961) * '' Up & Down'' (Blue Note, 1961) * ''

Arrival Arrival(s) or The Arrival(s) may refer to: Film * ''The Arrival'' (1991 film), an American science fiction horror film * ''The Arrival'' (1996 film), an American-Mexican science fiction horror film * ''Arrival'' (film), a 2016 American science ...

'' (

SteepleChase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

, 1974) – recorded in 1973 * ''

No Blues ''No Blues'' is the fifth studio album by Welsh indie rock band Los Campesinos!. It was released on 29 October 2013 via Wichita Recordings, Turnstile and Heart Swells. The album was produced by John Goodmanson and guitarist Tom Bromley, and is ...

'' (Steeplechase, 1976) – recorded in 1975 * ''

Frank-ly Speaking ''Frank-ly Speaking'' is an album by American jazz pianist Horace Parlan featuring performances recorded in the U.S. in 1977 and released on the Danish-based SteepleChase label.

'' (Steeplechase, 1977) * '' Goin' Home'' (Steeplechase, 1977) with

* '' Blue Parlan'' (Steeplechase, 1978) * '' Hi-Fly'' (Steeplechase, 1978) * '' Musically Yours'' (Steeplechase, 1979) * '' Trouble in Mind'' (Steeplechase, 1980) with Archie Shepp * '' The Maestro'' (Steeplechase, 1982) – recorded in 1979 * ''

Like Someone in Love "Like Someone in Love" is a popular song composed in 1944 by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was written (along with "Sleigh Ride in July") for the 1944 film, ''Belle of the Yukon'', where it was sung by Dinah Shore. It was a hi ...

'' (Steeplechase, 1983) * '' Pannonica'' (

Enja Enja Records is a German jazz record company and label based in Munich which was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971. The label's first release was by Mal Waldron, and early releases included European and Ja ...

, 1984) – recorded in 1981 * '' Glad I Found You'' (Steeplechase, 1984) * '' Happy Frame of Mind'' (Blue Note, 1986) – recorded in 1963 * ''

Little Esther Esther Phillips (born Esther Mae Jones; December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984) was an American singer, best known for her R&B vocals.Santelli, Robert (2001). ''The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia''. Penguin Books. p. 376. . She ...

'' (

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

, 1987) * '' Duo Reunion'' (L+R, 1987) with Archie Shepp * ''Keep Your Hands Wide Open'' (Olufsen, 1988) with Søren S. Eriksen * ''Jazzbühne Berlin'' (Repertoire, 1991) with

Mal Waldron Malcolm Earl "Mal" Waldron (August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He started playing professionally in New York in 1950, after graduating from college. In the following dozen years or so Wa ...

Sextet – recorded in 1983 * ''Swing Low'' (Plainisphare, 1993) with Archie Shepp – recorded in 1991 * ''Joinin' Forces'' (Olufsen, 1994) with Jan Kaspersen * ''We Three'' (Baybridge, 1998) * '' Voyage of Rediscovery'' ( Storyville, 1999) * ''The Horace Parlan Trio'' (M&I, 2001) – a.k.a. ' recorded in 1998 * ''Horace Parlan'' (Cope, 2001) – recorded in 1999 * ''Behind the Blues'' (Leafage Jazz, 2002) with

Staffan William-Olsson Staffan William-Olsson (born 13 December 1959) is a Swedish jazz guitarist in the band The Real Thing who has worked with Bob Berg, Lee Konitz, and Palle Mikkelborg. Career He played piano, guitar and drums already at the age of 7, and stud ...

recorded in 2001 * ''Relaxin' with Horace'' (Stunt, 2004) with

Jesper Lundgaard Jesper Lundgaard (born 12 June 1954) is a Danish jazz bassist, bandleader, composer and record producer. Since his debut in the mid-1970s, he has been among the most prominent bassists in Danish jazz and as a sideman he has appeared on more tha ...

Ed Thigpen Edmund Leonard Thigpen (December 28, 1930 – January 13, 2010) was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965. Thigpen also performed with the Billy Taylor trio from 1956 to 1959. Biograp ...

* ''My Little Brown Book'' (Stunt, 2007)

As sideman

With Dave Bailey * ''

One Foot in the Gutter 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

'' (Epic, 1960) * ''

Gettin' Into Somethin' ''Gettin' Into Somethin'' is an album by jazz drummer Dave Bailey which was originally released on the Epic label in 1961.Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...

* '' Goin' to the Meeting'' (Prestige, 1961) – recorded in 1960 * ''

Tough Tenor Favorites ''Tough Tenor Favorites'' is an album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded in 1962 and released on the Jazzland label.

'' (Jazzland, 1962) also with

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

* ''

Jaw's Blues ''Jaw's Blues'' is a live album by American jazz saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis recorded in Munich in 1981 and released on the German Enja label.Di Filippo, R.Enciclopedia del Jazz: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davisaccessed April 10, 2017 Critical recepti ...

'' (Enja, 1981) With

Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson (born November 1, 1926) is an American retired jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop ...

* '' The Time Is Right'' (Blue Note, 1959) * '' Sunny Side Up'' (Blue Note, 1960) * ''

Midnight Sun The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the Sun remains visible at the local midnight. When the midnight sun is seen in the Arctic, t ...

'' (Blue Note, 1980) – recorded in 1960 With

Booker Ervin Booker Telleferro Ervin II (October 31, 1930 – August 31, 1970) was an American tenor saxophone player. His tenor playing was characterised by a strong, tough sound and blues/gospel phrasing. He is remembered for his association with bassi ...

* '' That's It!'' (Candid, 1961) * ''

Exultation! ''Exultation!'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Booker Ervin featuring performances recorded in 1963 for the Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1963) With

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and actor. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians, which included other greats such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gi ...

* ''

Doin' Allright ''Doin' Allright'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label.

'' (Blue Note, 1961) * '' Stable Mable'' (SteepleChase, 1975) With

Slide Hampton Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tuba and flugelho ...

* ''

Jazz with a Twist ''Jazz with a Twist'' is an album by American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger Slide Hampton which was released on the Atlantic label in 1962.

'' (Atlantic, 1962) – recorded in 1961 * '' Explosion! The Sound of Slide Hampton'' (Atlantic, 1962) With

Roland Kirk Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Franks, Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known ...

* '' Gifts & Messages'' (Mercury, 1964) * '' I Talk with the Spirits'' (Limelight, 1965) – recorded in 1964 * '' Slightly Latin'' (Limelight, 1965) With

* ''

A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry ''A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry'' is an album by the jazz bassist, composer, and band leader Charles Mingus, released by Bethlehem Records in mid-1959. In spite of the title, the album does not contain any poetry. "Scenes in the Cit ...

'' (Bethlehem, 1957) * ''

'' (Columbia, 1959) * ''

'' (Atlantic, 1960) – recorded in 1959 With

Doug Raney Doug Raney (August 29, 1956 – May 1, 2016) was an American jazz guitarist. He was the son of jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney. Career Raney was born in New York City. He began to play the guitar when he was 14, beginning with rock and blues. He was ...

*'' I'll Close My Eyes'' (SteepleChase, 1982) *'' Meeting the Tenors'' (Criss Cross, 1983) – recorded in 1984 With

* '' Goin' Home'' (SteepleChase, 1977) * '' Trouble in Mind'' (SteepleChase, 1980) * '' Splashes'' (L+R, 1987) * '' Duo Reunion'' (L+R, 1987) * ''Black Ballads'' (Timeless, 1992) With

Idrees Sulieman Idrees Sulieman (August 7, 1923 – July 23, 2002) was an American bop and hard bop trumpeter. Biography He was born Leonard Graham in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, later changing his name to Idrees Sulieman, after converting to Isl ...

* ''

Bird's Grass ''Bird's Grass'' is a studio album by trumpeter Idrees Sulieman recorded in 1976 but not released on the SteepleChase label until 1985.

'' (SteepleChase, 1985) – recorded in 1976 * ''

Groovin' "Groovin" is a single released in 1967 by American rock band the Young Rascals that became a number-one hit and one of the group's signature songs. It has been covered by many artists, including the Young Rascals themselves in other languages. ...

'' (SteepleChase, 1986) – recorded in 1985 With

Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note label from 1960, touched on jazz fusion dur ...

* '' Look Out!'' (Blue Note, 1960) * '' Up at "Minton's"'' (Blue Note, 1961) * ''

Salt Song ''Salt Song'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the CTI Records, CTI Note label featuring performances by Turrentine with an orchestra arranged by Eumir Deodato. The CD rerelease added another track. Reception The Al ...

'' (CTI, 1971) * '' Comin' Your Way'' (Blue Note, 1987) – recorded in 1961 With others *

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

, '' Gene Ammons in Sweden'' (Enja, 1981) – recorded in 1973 *

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zo ...

and

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

, '' Motoring Along'' (Sonet, 1975) *

Johnny Coles John Coles (July 3, 1926 – December 21, 1997) was an American jazz trumpeter. Early life Coles was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 3, 1926. He grew up in Philadelphia and was self-taught on trumpet. Later life and career Coles spent his ...

, ''

New Morning New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1982) *

Pierre Dorge Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

, '' The Jazzpar Prize'' (Enja, 1992) * Frank Foster, '' The House That Love Built'' (SteepleChase, 1982) * Hugo Heredia, ''Mananita Pampera'' (Cote d'azur, 1976) *

Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, Hug ...

, ''

Weary Blues "Weary Blues" is a 1915 tune by Artie Matthews. Despite the name, the form is a multi-strain ragtime rather than a conventional blues. (At the time it was published, many hot or raggy numbers were published with the word "Blues" in the title). It ...

'' (MGM, 1958) *

Tommy Turrentine Thomas Walter Turrentine, Jr. (April 22, 1928 – May 13, 1997) was a swing and hard bop trumpeter and composer who was active between the 1940s and the 1960s. He rarely worked as a bandleader, and was known for his work as a sideman with dru ...

, ''Tommy Turrentine'' (Time, 1960) *

Kai Winding Kai Chresten Winding ( ; May 18, 1922 – May 6, 1983) was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of "More", the theme from the movie ''Mondo Ca ...

and

Curtis Fuller Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings. Early life Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 1932. ...

, ''

Giant Bones '80 ''Giant Bones '80'' is an album by trombonists Kai Winding and Curtis Fuller which was recorded in Denmark in 1979 and released on the Swedish Sonet Records, Sonet label.BBC World Service - A Portrait of Horace Parlan
* Biography at AllMusicbr>Article at ''All About Jazz''Soul Note CatalogueHorace Parlan -Pittsburgh Music History
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parlan, Horace 1931 births 2017 deaths American jazz pianists American male pianists Hard bop pianists Musicians from Pittsburgh Post-bop pianists SteepleChase Records artists Enja Records artists Blue Note Records artists People with polio Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania American male jazz musicians