Search - Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan on DVD

A lovely and intimate music documentary

06/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is something so sweet and emotional about this very appealing documentary, and it's well worth checking out.First of all, there is a lot of music, which is as it should be with a musical biography. It is only right to see the subject performing, to get a thorough idea of what their music is like, and to see their expressions when they are making music. (Too many music documentaries slice up the numbers).But this documentary doesn't just feature a lot of music, it is also extremely intimate and really seems to get into the soul of pianist Horace Parlan, who comes across as a lovely, dedicated artist.Dedicated is perhaps an understatement, as Parlan was struck with polio when he was very young. Watching him perform not only shows what a wonderful pianist Parlan became, despite this handicap, but how amazingly inventive he had to be. The sight of this musician, blissed out playing his music, is very inspiring, and a testament to his determination.Yes, I mentioned the music, which is very, very pretty, and a little about his life story - Parlan is an unassuming and pleasant storyteller. But there is a lot to recommend this documentary, jazz fan or not. This one will put you in a good mood, plus you'll learn some interestings things about Blue Note Records, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and what it takes to become a great musician."