Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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PARLAN, Horace

(b 19 January 1931, Pittsburgh PA; d 23 February 2017) Excellent modern jazz pianist, with a strong left hand. Discovered by Charles Mingus, came to fame playing and recording with him '57-9; then with others including the Lockjaw Davis - Johnny Griffin quintet, Booker Ervin, Tubby Hayes, Slide Hampton, Dexter Gordon, Roland Kirk '63-6.

His own albums on Blue Note included trio LPs Movin' And Groovin' with Sam Jones, Al Harewood on drums (b 3 June 1923, NYC; d 13 March 2014), then Us Three with George Tucker (b 10 December 1927, Palatka FL; d 10 October 1965, NYC) replacing Jones on bass. Headin' South added Ray Barretto, Speakin' My Piece and On The Spur Of The Moment had Tommy and Stanley Turrentine, all '60-1. Up And Down '61 included Booker Ervin with Grant Green on guitar; Back From The Gig '63 had Ervin, Green, Johnny Coles, Billy Higgins, Butch Warren on bass: this album was issued in a two-LP set with another Ervin album under Ervin's name as Back From The Gig, under Parlan's name as Happy Frame Of Mind '86.

Parlan moved to Copenhagen '73, made fine LPs on that city's Steeplechase label with various local sidemen, visiting Americans including trio/quintet Arrival '73 with Idrees Sulieman on trumpet (b 7 August 1923, St Petersburg FL; d there 23 July 2002; also recorded with Gordon on Steeplechase, played in Clarke/Boland Big Band), solo sets The Maestro and Musically Yours '79; trios No Blues '75, Hi-Fly and Blue Parlan '78, Like Someone In Love '83; quintet Glad I Found You '84 with Eddie Harris and Thad Jones. Also on Enja: trio Pannonica, and another LP with Lockjaw Davis live in Munich '81. Joe Meets The Rhythm Section '86 on Timeless features Joe Enkhuizen on tenor, as does Ellington Ballads and Joe Meets The Rhythm Section with Rufus Reid on Timeless. Quartet Little Esther was on Soul Note.