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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHOPE, Elmo(b 27 June '23, NYC; d 19 May '67) Bop- era pianist, infl. by Bud Powell (his childhood friend); his personal use of harmony combined with sure technique made him unique. Recorded with Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, Lou Donaldson '53--4; Jackie McLean '56; to West Coast, contributing compositions and piano to Exploring The Future (Curtis Counce '58), The Fox (Harold Land '59), also played with Lionel Hampton in LA. Own records incl. trio and quintet dates on Blue Note '53--4; on Prestige: Meditations and Wail, Frank, Wail (now Hope Meets Foster with Frank Foster) '55, Informal Jazz '56 (with John Coltrane and Hank Mobley, later issued as Two Tenors); All Star Sessions on Milestone '56, Art Blakey/Elmo Hope '57 on Pacific Jazz with Land, Elmo Hope Trio on HiFi Jazz (later on Contemporary), Homecoming, Hope-Full, both '61 on Riverside (latter solo set with Bertha Hope's additional piano on some tracks). Most of these are now on Fantasy OJC CDs. Here's Hope and High Hope '61 on various labels with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones (or Edward 'Butch' Warren and Granville Hogan on three tracks) were combined on a Fresh Sound CD as Plays His Original Compositions. Hope From Riker's Island '63 appeared on Chiaroscuro. Hope ruined his life with drugs, but the complete trio Final Sessions '66 (John Ore on bass, Philly Joe or Clifford Jarvis on drums, also on several labels, now on Evidence two-CD set) have brilliance still flashing through. |