Search - Horace Parlan :: Happy Frame of Mind

An Above Average Session

Andrew Waid | Tulsa, OK United States | 09/17/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This album used to be available in a limited edition version in the US- and may still be if you can find it in stores. "Happy Frame of Mind" is not exactly the Horace Parlan, Johnny Coles, and Booker Ervin sounds the listener may be used to from hearing their contributions on various Mingus releases, but all the same they all display formidable musicianship here. The first number, Home is Africa, remains for me the best track here: a minor key blues, with ruminative modal solos from all the front linemen, including an especially expansive one from Parlan. The album also features a couple of other satisfying blues performances and two originals by Parlan and Ervin. Summarily, you might enjoy this if you would like to hear how some excellent jazz musicians played for a rather informal and loose Blue note recording session: although Horace Parlan is listed as the leader here, there's really no striking evidence of his leadership or organization, it seems more a cooperative effort."

Twice Forgotten Blue Note Masterpiece

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Horace Parlan's "Happy Frame Of Mind" is one those absolute classic Blue Note albums recorded in the 60s that inexplicably sat in the vaults until Michael Cuscuna rediscovered and released them in the 70s. As if it wasn't insulting enough for this session to be neglected once, it happened again as this was released on CD in the late 80s only to be deleted shortly thereafter by bean-counters at Capitol/EMI. (It did resurface once more, though briefly, in the Collector's Choice CD reprint series.) Featuring the unusual lineup of Johnny Coles, Grant Green, Booker Ervin, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins, this recording is a unique, creative hard bop expolration, complete with a soul jazz style hit, a good nine months before "The Sidewinder" phenomenon would make this a standard (and winning) formula for all Blue Note albums. Parlan contributes two compositions with Ervin, Coles, Ronnie Boykins, and Randy Weston chipping in one apiece. For those of you new to Parlan, this is his best album as a leader. I know this is a lot of money to pay for a single disc, but it will be worth every penny."

Hard to find gem

N. Johnson | Placerville CA | 06/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you can find this, get it! This has some of Billy Higgins best playing, this is one of my favorite blue notes, and that says a lot. The sound is very clear! I have no idea why more people don't know about this one, the tunes are great."