Horace Parlan is probably best known as the pianist on Dexter Gordon's 1961 Blue Note album Doin' Allright. It's hard to imagine anyone but Parlan playing on that record, adding dramatic zest to songs like Doing All Right, For Regulars Only and Society Red. He also played piano on Charles Mingus's Mingus Ah Um (1959) and Roots & Blues (1959). Stylistically, I'd place his groove between Red Garland and Kenny Drew.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa, Parlan recorded for Blue Note until 1963, when he began playing as a sideman on other artists' recordings. He moved to Denmark in 1973, married and recorded and performed there until his death in 2017.
His first album as a trio leader was Movin' & Groovin'. Recorded and released in 1960, the LP featured Parlan, Sam Jones on bass and Al Harwood on drums. Of the eight tracks, only one was composed by Parlan.
Here's the complete Movin' & Groovin', without ad interruptions...
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa, Parlan recorded for Blue Note until 1963, when he began playing as a sideman on other artists' recordings. He moved to Denmark in 1973, married and recorded and performed there until his death in 2017.
His first album as a trio leader was Movin' & Groovin'. Recorded and released in 1960, the LP featured Parlan, Sam Jones on bass and Al Harwood on drums. Of the eight tracks, only one was composed by Parlan.
Here's the complete Movin' & Groovin', without ad interruptions...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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