Isaiah J Thompson receiving his award

Text and photographs by Mary James:

Horace Parlan (b.1931), the great US pianist who played on classic Mingus albums such as Mingus Ah-Um and Blues and Roots, has lived in Denmark since 1972, joining Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Kenny Drew and others who found their creative and physical home there. To celebrate the special bond between American and Danish jazz musicians that has existed since the 1960s, Parlan has created the Horace Parlan Talent Award.


On 30th September 2016 at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, the first awards were presented to American pianist Isaiah J Thompson and Danish bassist Felix Moseholm in recognition of their great ability and potential. Both are 19 years old.

Thompson (full biography) studies at The Juilliard School, having previously performed with the Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra. Moseholm follows in the footsteps of bass player, and relative, Erik Moseholm, and was playing one of Erik’s basses. The award winners played two lively sets of enjoyable standards with the stalwart Danish drummer Alex Riel.

Felix Moseholm

Horace Parlan at the ceremony

LINK: JazzTimes feature about Horace Parlan by Stuart Nicholson from 2001