Search - Horace Parlan :: Horace Parlan - O.S.T.

A lovely CD highlighting a very special pianist

11/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had heard Horace Parlan on record for a number of years before I finally saw him peform. A lot of the time people know him from his playing with people like Charles Mingus, or Booker Ervin, or Archie Shepp. But I was struck by a couple of things. First of all, he was a great, great pianist, and it was especially wonderful to hear him play in solo or duo or trio sessions, because his playing is pulled to front and center.It was also fascinating to watch his playing style, as one of his hands was constricted by polio. But he played wonderfully nonetheless.This CD is a real pleasure to hear, because it is an undiluted slice of Horace Parlan - his own compostions, played in a duo setting with Jimmi Pedersen. And like a number of albums he has recorded in the past few years, his very unique piano style IS front and center.It is most obvious perhaps to appreciate his blues playing, which is excellent, and there is a lot of that heard here. But my favorite on the album was "Love and Peace", which is so beautiful. It reminds me more of one of those delicate, lovely Bill Evans compositions.I'd highly recommend this one. It's for people who love to hear great jazz piano. But others might like it too, as it is so pretty , while also being bluesy, spirited and kind of funky."