Horace Parlan,1931年出生于匹兹堡,活跃于post-bop&hard bop音乐界的正统派乐手,因为幼时罹患小儿麻痹而导致右手局部障碍,但却造就了他敏捷的左手,搭配起来成为最动人之独特风格,亲切的个性也是他受众人爱戴的原因之一。Horace Parlan的钢琴简朴自然,他最杰出的一点就是将African-American roots的元素和bop的复杂性融为一体。他在1960年录制推出的专辑《Speakin' My Piece》是Blue Note Records的经典录音。在这个录音中他与贝司手George Tucker、鼓手Al Harewood、萨克斯风手Stanley Turrentine和小号手Tommy Turrentine合作,全盘以轻盈活泼的姿态演绎爵士作品,在这张专辑里,你可以留意到Horace Parlan被称作带有早期"funky hard bop grooves"的钢琴风格。
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.