Horace Parlan

Horace Parlan，1931年出生于匹茲堡，活躍于post-bop&hard bop音樂界的正統(tǒng)派樂手，因為幼時罹患小兒麻痹而導致右手局部障礙，但卻造就了他敏捷的左手，搭配起來成為最動人之獨特風格，親切的個性也是他受眾人愛戴的原因之一。Horace Parlan的鋼琴簡樸自然，他最杰出的一點就是將African-American roots的元素和bop的復雜性融為一體。他在1960年錄制推出的專輯《Speakin' My Piece》是Blue Note Records的經典錄音。在這個錄音中他與貝司手George Tucker、鼓手Al Harewood、薩克斯風手Stanley Turrentine和小號手Tommy Turrentine合作，全盤以輕盈活潑的姿態(tài)演繹爵士作品，在這張專輯里，你可以留意到Horace Parlan被稱作帶有早期"funky hard bop grooves"的鋼琴風格。
by Ron Wynn
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 Parlans made frenetic, highly rhythmic right hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. Hes 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. He left America for Copenhagen in 1973, and gained international recognition for some stunning albums on Steeplechase, including a pair of superb duet sessions with Archie Shepp. He also recorded with Dexter Gordon, Red Mitchell, and in the 80s Frank Foster and Michal Urbaniak. He also has recorded extensively for SteepleChase, Enja, and Timeless.