Up & Down
Horace Parlan · 1961
44 min · 6 tracks · jazz
A vibrant blend of accessible melodies and intricate rhythms that captures the essence of early 1960s jazz.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
The Book's Beat — This track opens the album with an engaging rhythmic complexity that sets the tone for Parlan's artistic vision. Its intricate interplay between melody and rhythm showcases his technical prowess.
-
→
Up and Down — The title track exemplifies Parlan's ability to fuse catchy hooks with sophisticated jazz structures, making it both memorable and intellectually stimulating.
-
→
Fugee — Here, Parlan explores deeper harmonic territories while maintaining a lyrical quality, highlighting his unique voice in the jazz landscape.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album displays strong compositional elements and skilled execution, with a cohesive flow that rewards multiple listens.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of syncopated rhythms across all tracks, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.
- Each track showcases Parlan's piano work prominently, often accompanied by a tight rhythm section that complements the melodies.
- The first three tracks maintain a brisk tempo, while the last three introduce more contemplative themes and slower tempos.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intricate rhythms for attentive listeners
- engaging melodies for social settings
- patient grooves that evolve gradually
- sophisticated background for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- seek instant gratification
- prefer standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Up & Down is Horace Parlan's third album, released in 1961 after his breakthrough record, 'Montreux,' which established him as a prominent voice in jazz. By this time, he had begun to develop his distinctive style, characterized by a unique approach to harmony and rhythm that would define his later works.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Andrew Hill· McCoy Tyner· Cecil Taylor
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Book's Beat 9:49
- 2 Up and Down 6:10
- 3 Fugee 7:08
- 4 The Other Part of Town 11:41
- 5 Lonely One 4:06
- 6 Light Blue 6:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.