Bertha Hope-Booker (née Rosemond;[1] born November 8, 1936, Los Angeles, California[2]) is an American jazz pianist and jazz educator. She is the widow of fellow pianist Elmo Hope, with whom she collaborated.[3] She has toured Europe and Japan and played with a diverse group of artists.[4] In the 1990s, she had her first CDs as a leader and additionally worked with her second husband,[5] bassist Walter Booker.[6]
Hope-Booker was born in Los Angeles in 1936.[7] Both of her parents worked in the entertainment industry. Her mother, Corinne Meaux Rosemond, worked as a chorus line dancer and her father, Clinton Rosemond, was a stage manager and singer who had worked with Mabel Mercer and Eubie Blake.[8] She began studying classical piano with her parents at the age of three. Her interested in jazz came from listening to Shelly Manne, Shorty Rogers and, most importantly, Bud Powell. Seeing Powell play at the Haig in the early 1950s influenced Hope-Booker's decision to play jazz herself.[9] Hope-Booker attended Los Angeles City College where she befriended Eric Dolphy. Dolphy introduced her to Max Roach and Clifford Brown.[7] Hope-Booker was encouraged to play by musicians such as Les McCann, Teddy Edwards and Vi Redd. For six months, Hope-Booker studied piano under Richie Powell.[9]
Hope-Booker started playing professionally in Johnny Otis's band as well as local trios. In 1958, Hope-Booker met Elmo Hope who was touring with Sonny Rollins. Hope-Booker married Elmo in 1960 and the following year they moved to New York City.[9] Together they recorded an album, Hope-Full, for Riverside which featured Hope-Booker on three songs.[7] After Elmo's death in 1967, Hope-Booker gave up her music career despite being offered a place in Art Blakey's band.[8]
Discographyedit
An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
bertha, hope, booker, née, rosemond, born, november, 1936, angeles, california, american, jazz, pianist, jazz, educator, widow, fellow, pianist, elmo, hope, with, whom, collaborated, toured, europe, japan, played, with, diverse, group, artists, 1990s, first, l. Bertha Hope Booker nee Rosemond 1 born November 8 1936 Los Angeles California 2 is an American jazz pianist and jazz educator She is the widow of fellow pianist Elmo Hope with whom she collaborated 3 She has toured Europe and Japan and played with a diverse group of artists 4 In the 1990s she had her first CDs as a leader and additionally worked with her second husband 5 bassist Walter Booker 6 Bertha Hope BookerPlaying piano in Bryant Park New YorkBackground informationBirth nameBertha Rosemond 1 Born 1936 11 08 November 8 1936Los Angeles California USGenresJazzOccupation s Musician band leaderInstrument s Piano Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 As leader 2 2 As sidewoman 3 References 4 External linksBiography editHope Booker was born in Los Angeles in 1936 7 Both of her parents worked in the entertainment industry Her mother Corinne Meaux Rosemond worked as a chorus line dancer and her father Clinton Rosemond was a stage manager and singer who had worked with Mabel Mercer and Eubie Blake 8 She began studying classical piano with her parents at the age of three Her interested in jazz came from listening to Shelly Manne Shorty Rogers and most importantly Bud Powell Seeing Powell play at the Haig in the early 1950s influenced Hope Booker s decision to play jazz herself 9 Hope Booker attended Los Angeles City College where she befriended Eric Dolphy Dolphy introduced her to Max Roach and Clifford Brown 7 Hope Booker was encouraged to play by musicians such as Les McCann Teddy Edwards and Vi Redd For six months Hope Booker studied piano under Richie Powell 9 Hope Booker started playing professionally in Johnny Otis s band as well as local trios In 1958 Hope Booker met Elmo Hope who was touring with Sonny Rollins Hope Booker married Elmo in 1960 and the following year they moved to New York City 9 Together they recorded an album Hope Full for Riverside which featured Hope Booker on three songs 7 After Elmo s death in 1967 Hope Booker gave up her music career despite being offered a place in Art Blakey s band 8 Discography editAn asterisk indicates that the year is that of release As leader edit Year recorded Title Label Notes1990 In Search of Hope SteepleChase1991 Elmo s Fire SteepleChase Sextet with Eddie Henderson trumpet Junior Cook and Dave Riekenberg tenor sax Walter Booker bass Leroy Williams drums 1992 Between Two Kings Minor Trio with Walter Booker bass Jimmy Cobb drums 1999 Nothin But Love Reservoir Trio with Walter Booker bass Jimmy Cobb drums As sidewoman edit Year recorded Leader Title Label Notes1961 Elmo Hope Hope Full Riverside Duo with Elmo Hope piano 2009 Jon Irabagon The Observer Concord Duo with Jon Irabagon tenor saxophone 2018 2022 Felix Lemerle Blues For The End Of Time Tzim Tzum Records Quartet quintet with Felix Lemerle guitar Samuel Lerner piano Ari Roland bass Jimmy Cobb drums References edit a b Weeks Todd Bryant 2010 Bertha Hope Booker Interviewed for Allegro January 13 2010 Transcript of interview for Allegro pp 2 3 Richard Cook and Brian Morton The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD pp 738 739 Retrieved November 16 2013 Jazz Berry Jam bio Jazzberryjam com Retrieved November 16 2013 Owen McNally August 28 1997 Many Colors of Woman Concert Features Pianist Bertha Hope The Courant Retrieved November 16 2013 Scott Ron November 30 2006 Bassist Walter Booker Dies at 73 New York Amsterdam News p 25 Leslie Gourse Madame Jazz Oxford University Press 1996 p 165 Retrieved November 16 2013 a b c Iverson Ethan Chronology The Underappreciated Career of Bertha Hope JazzTimes Retrieved June 27 2022 a b Scott Ron March 25 2021 Pianist Bertha Hope herstory New York Amsterdam News Retrieved June 27 2022 a b c Feather Leonard 1999 The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz Oxford University Press p 328 ISBN 978 0 19 507418 5 External links editHope s biography on the History Makers Project This article on an American jazz pianist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bertha Hope amp oldid 1166675984, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
