Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan

A nice portrait of a nice jazz musician, Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan catches up with Parlan, in Denmark where h e has lived for the past 20-some years. Parlan's childhood polio bout partially paralyzed his right side, which makes his story of success in the extremely competitive New York jazz scene of the '50s all the more remarkable. The film contains Parlan's reminiscences of his career, including his years with Mingus on the mercurial leader's most fabled recordings and his own classic recordings for the Blue Note label. Mingus's first wife Celia stops by for a visit (their first meeting in 40 years), and Parlan plays several classic compositions, still as nimble as ever on the keys. The filmmaker is to be commended for capturing a slice of life of this oft-underrated performer