CiTR

The late Elmo Hope who was born in New York, the only child of West Indian parents, on June 27 1923 and died quite young of a heart attack on May 19,1967. Elmo grew up with pianist Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk and reflects a little of each in his style but remains his own man. Elmo's compositions reflect his complex personality and range from happy and swinging to bittersweet and melancholy. Unlike Powell and Monk, Elmo Hope never reached fame or fortune. His career was blighted by ill health and an addiction to hard drugs. His few recordings under his own name are not easy to find but worth looking for. His sideman appearances with Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Clifford Brown and Jackie Mclean are also worth the search. This recording done while Hope lived in Los Angeles is his masterpiece and was first issued on the Hifijazz label then reissued several times on the Contemporary label and can be found on the OJC label owned by Concord Inc. 'The Elmo Hope Trio' is a classic and features with the exception of one tune, seven of his own creations. His trio consists of Hope on piano, bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Frank Butler and was recorded in L.A. on February 8,1959.