# Horace Parlan’s body of work remains special … Videos, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2020/10/26/horace-parlans-body-of-work-remains-special-videos-photos/
- Published: 2020-10-26T14:00:45+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Horace Parlan’s body of work remains special and he should be thought of as one
of the Top-10 post-war piano greats.**

Today, for the many newly minted Parlan fans, I thought I’d post a documentary of
the pianist in Denmark during his later years. A special thanks to Ken Deifik for
reminding me about the film.

Don McGlynn’s _Horace Parlan By Horace Parlan_ (2002)…

it’s no secret that Bill Evans is my favorite jazz pianist. In the No. 2 slot would
have to be Horace Parlan. Born in Pittsburgh, Parlan at a young age contracted polio,
which left his right hand partly disabled and disfigured. Two of the fingers in 
his right hand were out of commission. As a result, his left hand did double duty,
delivering heavy harmony and bass treatment while the three operating fingers of
his right hand handled melody improvisation. Parlan relocated to Denmark in 1972.[
Photo above of Horace Parlan by Francis Wolff (c) Mosaic Images]

[⌊Screen Shot 2020-10-20 at 8.08.23 PM⌉⌊Screen Shot 2020-10-20 at 8.08.23 PM⌉[
 Despite the
diminished use of one hand’s digits, Parlan became a superb and much-in-demand hard-
bop keyboard accompanist and a magnificent trio leader and solo player. For those
little familiar with Parlan, the best place to start is his first leadership album—
_Movin’ and Groovin’_. Recorded in February 1960 for Blue Note, Parlan’s trio consisted
of Parlan on piano, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Al Harewood.

[⌊Horace_Parlan⌉⌊Horace_Parlan⌉[
 As much as I love Red Garland, I give Parlan the
edge when it comes to taste and volume of superb material over the course of his
career. He had a lovely sense of swing, every one of his songs expressed a joy to
be able to play, and his chord voicings were sensational. All he seemed to care 
about was knocking out listeners. There was no idling or padding. Parlan was a sculptor
who kneaded and crafted every song he played into a singular expression.

[⌊WHAREA10w_Al+Harewood⌉⌊WHAREA10w_Al+Harewood⌉[
 The songs on this album are _C
Jam Blues, On Green Dolphin Street, Up in Cynthia’s Room, Lady Bird, Bags’, Groove,
Stella by Starlight, There Is No Greater Love_ and _It Could Happen to You_. All
are sensationally executed. Even songs you may feel you’ve heard enough of, like
_C Jam Blues_ and _Bags’ Groove_, are re-invented by Parlan’s groovy bluesy attack.[
Photo above of Al Harewood by Francis Wolff (c) Mosaic Images]

[⌊R-3380655-1328134230.jpeg⌉⌊R-3380655-1328134230.jpeg⌉[
 Parlan began his recording
career in 1957 with Charles Mingus and then moved on to Lou Donaldson in 1959 before
recording _Movin’ and Groovin’_. I came to Parlan in college after picking up Dexter
Gordon’s _Doin’ Allright_ (Blue Note) and hearing _Society Red_.

[⌊Screen Shot 2020-10-20 at 8.16.41 PM⌉⌊Screen Shot 2020-10-20 at 8.16.41 PM⌉[
 Parlan so
knocked me out on there that I began collecting. Everything I purchased by Parlan
had his ambitious playing style. Best of all are his stylistic fingerprints that
pop up often. These include building tension with chords in his left hand while 
swinging notes with his right, releasing with cascading block chords. Or his ascending
scales with three-finger modal riffs and his soul-jazz chords clustered together.[
Photo above of Sam Jones]

[⌊Screen Shot 2020-10-20 at 8.21.41 PM⌉⌊Screen Shot 2020-10-20 at 8.21.41 PM⌉[
 I could spend
the next 30 days writing about Parlan’s excellent albums as a sideman and as a leader,
but I wouldn’t dare. There are too many others to write about. But do yourself a
favor. Explore the pianist yourself. _Movin’ and Groovin’_ is a perfect gateway.
And dig Jones and Harewood here. Jones thumps it out and Harewood is all over the
snare. Perfect jazz is such a splendid thing.

![7pVrs5Jn3Wso2MPwHEWacfCWOcVrGal3mxAJvLwvhgUtQ7bQ3wBD_bIovH8-HmxZGPE8IMIaHxkU_9DUaRu5JTxttXLwEh66OFLKpsaEnC0d](
https://marcmyers.typepad.com/.a/6a00e008dca1f08834026bde9d5239200c-500wi)

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