Song Book

Horace Parlan Song Book

This book is based on an idea by the Danish tenor
saxophonist Jesper Thilo, and has been made possible by a
grant from The Ben Webster Foundation in Copenhagen
Transcription: Olivier Antunes.
Photos: Kirsten Malone

Horace Parlan - Born in 1931, the American jazz pianist Horace Parlan developed his own unique piano style as a result of his
affliction with polio, which partially paralysed his right hand. From 1957, Parlan was in high demand among the great jazz musicians and bandleaders of New York, such as Charles Mingus, Stanley Turrentine, Booker Ervin andRoland Kirk. During this time he was also busy recording under his own leadership.

In 1972, he relocated to Denmark where he became very active on the Danish jazz scene as well as in other
European countries. This led to an array of collaborations with such musicians as Archie Shepp, Jesper Lundgaard, Benny Carter, Jimmy Roger Pedersen, Idrees Sulieman, Christina von Bülow, Ed Thigpen, NHØP, Alex Riel, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, Mads Vinding and Red Holloway.
In 2000 Parlan received the prestigious Ben Webster Award.