Results for "Horace Parlan"

Horace Parlan

Born: January 19, 1931

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.

The Label Head: Nils Winther

by B.D. Lenz
November 27, 2024

Talk to anyone from around the jazz business and they'll all tell you the same thing, there is no shortage of it. There is plenty of great music being made by plenty of great musicians. In fact, the supply is probably outpacing the demand. And yet independent jazz labels are having a tough time. Do they ...

A Fireside Chat With Lou Donaldson

by AAJ Staff
November 12, 2024

This interview was originally published on All About Jazz in December 2002. Some years back, before he passed, Andy Simpkins and I spoke about his journey and I recall how fondly he spoke of Lou Donaldson. I told Simpkins that most of the things I read about Donaldson are prefaced by Charlie Parker and ...

Bud Powell, Barry Harris, Les McCann & Larry Vuckovich

by Joe Dimino
January 21, 2024

We dedicate the 838th Episode of Neon Jazz to a titan on the keys in Larry Vuckovich. In that vein, we cover a host of musicians and vignettes that make up his storied career. From musicians like Duke Ellington, Eddie Vinson, Barry Harris, Lester Young, Horace Parlan, Bud Powell and Jon Hendricks. We wrap it up ...

Charles Mingus: At Antibes 1960 Revisited

by Chris May
September 28, 2023

Charles Mingus' exhilarating blend of roots and the avant-garde only rarely seems as binary* (see below) as it does on this recording from the 1960 Antibes Jazz Festival. Most often on a Mingus album, you do not hear the joins. This time, on one level, you do. Mingus leads a pianoless quintet completed by ...

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

January 19, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today! 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 ...

Bobby Broom: Keyed Up

by Jack Bowers
November 3, 2022

On his latest album, Keyed Up, the well-traveled and well-respected guitarist Bobby Broom pays tribute to pianists “who have been an important part of [his] musical life." As he writes, ..."many great pianists who didn't need to include my six-string version of what they could already do harmonically and melodically saw fit to include me. Perhaps, ...

Betty Carter, Horace Parlan, Shirley Scott & Quentin Baxter

by Joe Dimino
October 9, 2022

Just like we did last week, we travel to South Carolina for our first song from the very esteemed drummer Quentin E. Baxter with a cut off his 2022 album Art Moves Jazz with “For Minors Only." From there, we hear a classic from another South Carolina stronghold in Lucky Thompson. We also profile the nostalgia ...

Jazz Musician of the Day: Horace Parlan

January 19, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Horace Parlan's birthday today! 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 ...

Lester Young & Ron Wilkins

by Joe Dimino
January 2, 2022

Our 732nd hour of Neon Jazz arrives right before Christmas and is the penultimate for 2021. The most fitting musician for this episode is the mighty veteran trombonist Ron Wilkins. He survived a nasty bout with COVID and reigned on the top of the charts with a wonderful new album Trombcalist. He's the resounding testament to ...