Elmo Hope

Elmo Hope

Born: June 27, 1923

This profile was inspired by an exceptional article here on All About Jazz by Derek Taylor called ��St. Elmo��s Fire�� where he focuses and expands on Elmo Hope��s music and recordings.

St. Elmo Sylvester Hope was born in New York on June 27, 1923, began piano studies by age seven and went on to win prizes for his piano recitals. He was a childhood friend of Bud Powell, and Thelonious Monk and they would play piano for each other. He continued to play and improve and upon his return from the army in 1943, he dedicated his life to jazz piano, paying his dues in small clubs in the Bronx, Greenwich Village, and Coney Island.

Trio and Quintet

by C. Michael Bailey
August 23, 2025

Pianist and composer Elmo Hope has more in common with Tadd Dameron than most of his other jazz peers. Both men were primarily composers and arrangers who concentrated on their own music rather than standards. Both men spent their professional lives in New York City during the twilight of bebop and the flourishing of hard bop. ...

Elmo Hope

Andrea Rinciari: Soho Sessions

by Neil Duggan
June 12, 2025

The tracks on this album are selected from the repertoire of songs performed during the weekly sessions held by guitarist Andrea Rinciari and his associates in Soho, London. As he explains, “This album is a reflection of the magic that happens when musicians play together regularly. The tracks capture the spirit of our weekly Soho sessions. ...

Peter Madsen, Immanuel Wilkins, and the WDR Big Band

by Jerome Wilson
April 9, 2025

This program contains new music from Peter Madsen, the WDR Big Band and the Steve Allee Big Band. It also features Immanuel Wilkins, Jaki Byard, and Taylor Ho Bynum. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 ...

Jutta Hipp, George Michael, Grammy Nods

by David Brown
February 11, 2025

We'll kick things off with some Latin energy from Mongo Santamaria and his Orchestra, recorded live at the Black Hawk in San Francisco in 1962. Next, we'll hear The Incredible Jimmy Smith with “Midnight Special" from his classic 1966 LP of the same name. Following that, we have some guitar music from alto saxophonist Tim Berne's ...

Kresten Osgood: Presence in the Room

by Jakob Baekgaard
December 23, 2024

It is hard to underestimate the influence of drummer Kresten Osgood on Danish jazz. As a co-founder of the prominent ILK Music label and the man behind several festivals and musical events, he has been a vital part of creating a vibrant modern jazz scene and community that has also welcomed visits from the many jazz ...

Kresten Osgood Quintet: Live At H15 Studio

by Mark Corroto
November 26, 2024

For a reader of contemporary fiction, sometimes you wade through some fine literature with skillful writing by authors who have honed their craft but have failed to give you a plot. Then, some books tell stories that seize your imagination. You can't put them down. There is a parallel occurrence in modern jazz. There are virtuous ...

Top Ten Sci-Fi Jazz Albums

by Chris May
October 14, 2024

On The Launch Pad Robert Frosch, head honcho at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1977 to 1981, wrote that at cocktail parties he was sometimes asked whether NASA had some gizmo or other that had recently been brought to fictional life in a sci-fi book or movie. If Frosch's answer was “No," the next ...