horace parlan on blue note

[Soul Stream]

proof beyond proof that mere musical gymnastics almost always lose out to imagination and inventiveness. i've never seen someone with such a physical handicap (the right hand of a piano player!?) who nonetheless succeeds and exceeds. ideas and swing. plus great backing bands make his mosaic work some of the most enjoyable and swinging events on the label.

any other horacites out there...?

[Robert J]

I just took out a DVD from my local library last week, Horace Parlan By Horace Parlan. I would recommend it highly.

Just Parlan and bassist Jimmi Pedersen.

I was amazed (as a pianist myself) at the way he plays. I know, like everyone else, about th epolio and how his right hand only uses 3 fingers. I just was not aware of how he executes 80% of all of his playing with the left hand. It was revealing to see that and a testament to his strength, conviction and uniqueness.

He says some pretty candid things about jazz, the business, racism, Charles Mingus etc. At one point Mingus's widow is on the DVD with him and it provides for a unique commentary. Horace's wife whom he met in in Denmark - and perhaps why he stayed there - is on the DVD throughout.

[Parkertown]

Thanks for posting that Robert J!

I'm definitely gonna have to track that DVD down...hopefully at my library.

I recently purchased the Mosaic set as well, and have been taking it in slowly. But damn!, the first track off the set blew me away! (It's not in front of me now) The playing is amazing, especially that cascading set of riffs he does in a out-of-time fashion! Jaw on the floor!

Edited April 4, 2003 by Parkertown

[James]

This is a great piece of info., Robert - thank you! I'm going to search for this.

[James]

Wow, Parkertown - we posted at exactly the same time. I found my Parlan Mosaic set at a used music store - one of my very best used finds! And a set that I find myself returning to with some regularity.

[Soul Stream]

that mosaic is solid! just pure jazz throughout. no surprises really, just straightahead played with conviction and enjoyment.

[king ubu]

Actually due to the amount of money I can spend on music, I started to buy only those Mosaics which are running low - but I got the Parlan when it was quite new. And I loved it from the time I first listened to it. I mostly got the set for Booker Ervin and Stanley Turrentine (and Johnny Coles), but I fell in love with the three trio LPs as well. Wonderful stuff! Knew Parlan only from his sideman work with Mingus (which I like a lot, too), and the music on the Mosaic was all new to me!

ubu

[mikeb]

"Headin' South" ... 'nuff said!

[AfricaBrass]

I always forget how much I enjoy Parlan.

Almost everytime I play one of his albums, I think to myself, "Why don't I listen to him more?"

I've already got half the stuff available on the Mosaic and I've been waiting until it's time starts to run out. Now I'm thinking, how can I get this set (and the Donald Byrd too)?

I'll say this again, hanging out here is expensive!

[theteach]

Maybe some one can help me out here. Did Parlan get shafted by Booker Ervin? Parlan recorded Low Down on the Headin' South album and was credited as writing that tune. That same exact tune appears on Booker Ervin's Cookin' as Well, Well and authored to Ervin. I swear they are the same tunes. What gives?

Lou

[Peter Johnson]

Waaaaaahhhhhhhh

I miss Africabrass

[bertrand]

I believe both tunes were copyrighted by their respective authors. I will double check that. Which was recorded first?

Bertrand.

[theteach]

Well well was recorded on November 26, 1960 and appeared on Cookin'.

Low Down was recorded on December 4, 1960 and appeared on Headin' South.

Days within each other and looked like Horace did some borrowing from Booker.

Lou

[catesta]

Waaaaaahhhhhhhh

I miss Africabrass

Yeah, I hear you.

I always thought he would return, but he stuck to his guns and stayed gone.