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 sideman. With Dave Bailey With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Lou Donaldson With Booker Ervin With Dexter Gordon With Slide Hampton With Roland Kirk With Charles Mingus With Doug Raney With Archie Shepp With Idrees Sulieman With Stanley Turrentine With others