# Horace Parlan

Horace Parlan (January 19, 1931 – February 23, 2017) was an American pianist and composer known for working in the hard bop and post-bop styles of jazz. 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.

## Early life

He 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. 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, 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. In 1974, he completed a State Department tour of Africa with Hal Singer.
His later work, such as a series of duos with the tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp included the album Goin' Home (1977), steeped in gospel music.
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/co-leader

| Recording date | Title | Label | Year released | Notes |
| 1960-02 | Movin' & Groovin' | Blue Note | 1960 | Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Al Harewood (drums) |
| 1960-04 | Us Three | Blue Note | 1960 | Trio, with George Tucker (bass), Al Harewood (drums) |
| 1960-07 | Speakin' My Piece | Blue Note | 1960 | Quintet, with Tommy Turrentine (trumpet), Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), George Tucker (bass), Al Harewood (drums) |
| 1960-12 | Headin' South | Blue Note | 1961 | Some tracks trio, with George Tucker (bass), Al Harewood (drums); most tracks quartet, with Ray Barretto (congas) added |
| 1961-03 | On the Spur of the Moment | Blue Note | 1961 | Quintet, with Tommy Turrentine (trumpet), Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), George Tucker (bass), Al Harewood (drums) |
| 1961-06 | Up & Down | Blue Note | 1963 | Quintet, with Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Grant Green (guitar), George Tucker (bass), Al Harewood (drums) |
| 1963-02 | Happy Frame of Mind | Blue Note | 1986 | One track quintet, with Johnny Coles (trumpet), Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Butch Warren (bass), Billy Higgins (drums); other tracks sextet, with Grant Green (guitar) added; originally released as part of Booker Ervin's Back from the Gig; released in Parlan's name in 1986 |
| 1973-12 | Arrival | SteepleChase | 1974 | Some tracks trio, with Hugo Rasmussen (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums); some tracks quintet, with Idrees Sulieman (flugelhorn), Bent Jædig (tenor sax) added |
| 1975-12 | No Blues | Steeplechase | 1976 | Trio, with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass), Tony Inzalaco (drums) |
| 1977-02 | Frank-ly Speaking | Steeplechase | 1977 | Quintet, with Frank Foster (tenor sax), Frank Strozier (alto sax), Lisle Atkinson (bass) Al Harewood (drums) |
| 1977-04 | Goin' Home | Steeplechase | 1977 | Duo, co-led with Archie Shepp (tenor sax, soprano sax) |
| 1978-02 | Hi-Fly | Steeplechase | 1978 | Trio, with Doug Raney (guitar), Wilbur Little (bass) |
| 1978-11 | Blue Parlan | Steeplechase | 1979 | Trio, with Wilbur Little (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums) |
| 1979-11 | Musically Yours | Steeplechase | 1980 | Solo piano |
| 1979-11 | The Maestro | Steeplechase | 1982 | Solo piano |
| 1980-02 | Trouble in Mind | Steeplechase | 1980 | Duo, co-led with Archie Shepp (tenor sax, soprano sax) |
| 1981-02 | Pannonica | Enja | 1984 | Trio, with Reggie Johnson (bass), Alvin Queen (drums) |
| 1983-03 | Like Someone in Love | Steeplechase | 1983 | Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums) |
| 1983-06 | Jazzbühne Berlin '83 / Jazzbühne Berlin '79 | Repertoire | 1991 | [2in1 CD] album shared with Mal Waldron; Solo piano |
| 1984-07 | Glad I Found You | Steeplechase | 1984 | Quintet, with Thad Jones (flugelhorn), Eddie Harris (tenor sax), Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Aage Tanggaard (drums) |
| 1987-03 | Little Esther | Soul Note | 1987 | Quartet, with Per Goldschmidt (baritone sax), Klavs Hovman (bass), Massimo De Majo (drums) |
| 1987-05 | Duo Reunion | L+R | 1987 | Duo, co-led with Archie Shepp (tenor sax) |
| 1988-01 | Keep Your Hands Wide Open | Olufsen | 1988 | Most tracks duo, with Soren S. Eriksen (alto sax); one track trio, with Thomas Helmig (vocals) added |
| 1991-09 | Swing Low | Plainisphare | 1993 | Duo, co-led with Archie Shepp (tenor sax, alto sax, vocals); in concert |
| 1994-04 | Joinin' Forces | Olufsen | 1994 | Duo, co-led with Jan Kaspersen (piano) |
| 1997-06 | We Three | Baybridge | 1998 | Trio, with Mads Vinding (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) |
| 1998-08 | The Horace Parlan Trio also released as Kōjō no Tsuki (荒城の月) | M&I | 1999 | Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) |
| 1999-01 | Voyage of Rediscovery | Storyville | 1999 | Solo piano |
| 2001-09 | Behind the Blues | Leafage Jazz | 2002 | Some tracks trio, with Mads Vinding (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums); some tracks quartet, with Staffan William-Olsson (guitar) added |
| 2003-12 | Relaxin' with Horace | Stunt | 2004 | Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums) |
| 2007-03 | My Little Brown Book | Stunt | 2007 | Trio, with Christina Von Bulow (alto sax), Jesper Lundgaard (bass) |
Main source:
Documentary, released on DVD: Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan