Horace Parlan, the Hard Bop pianist sometimes referred to as a stickler for melody and rhythmic simplicity, is 70 years old today. Parlan, who started out his career as an R&B and Blues pianist, became known and respected as a jazz performer in the late 50s, playing and recording with Charles Mingus.
Last summer Mosaic released The Complete Blue Note Horace Parlan Sessions, a box set of all the recordings made by Parlan for Blue Note records throughout the 60s. Reviewers and critics alike believe that Parlan deserves and is worthy of more recognition as a great musician. Horace, who moved to Copenhagen in the early 70s, found more recognition throughout Europe than he ever did in America, and found a home at Steeplechase, recording nearly a dozen albums throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
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