Bertha Hope-Booker ( Rosemond;Weeks, Todd Bryant (2010) "Bertha Hope-Booker Interviewed for Allegro, January 13, 2010". Transcript of interview for Allegro. pp. 2–3. born November 8, 1936, Los Angeles, CaliforniaRichard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, pp. 738–739. Retrieved November 16, 2013.) is an American jazz pianist and jazz educator. She is the widow of fellow pianist Elmo Hope, with whom she collaborated. She has toured Europe and Japan and played with a diverse group of artists. In the 1990s, she had her first CDs as a leader and additionally worked with her second husband,Scott, Ron (November 30, 2006) "Bassist Walter Booker Dies at 73". New York Amsterdam News. p. 25. bassist Walter Booker.Leslie Gourse, Madame Jazz, Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 165. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
Biography Born Bertha Jean Rosemond in Los Angeles in 1936, Hope-Booker was the child of performing artists. Her mother, Corinne Meaux Rosemond, worked as a chorus line dancer, and her father, Clinton Rosemond, was a well known actor, as well as a stage manager and singer who had worked with Mabel Mercer and Eubie Blake. 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. Hope-Booker attended Los Angeles City College where she befriended Eric Dolphy. Dolphy introduced her to Max Roach and Clifford Brown. 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.
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. Together they recorded an album, Hope-Full, for Riverside which featured Hope-Booker on three songs. After Elmo's death in 1967, Hope-Booker gave up her music career despite being offered a place in Art Blakey's band.
Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1990In Search of HopeSteepleChase1991Elmo's FireSteepleChaseSextet, with Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Junior Cook and Dave Riekenberg (tenor sax), Walter Booker (bass), Leroy Williams (drums)1992Between Two KingsMinorTrio, with Walter Booker (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)1999Nothin' But LoveReservoirTrio, with Walter Booker (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)
As sidewoman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabelNotes1961Hope-FullRiversideDuo, with Elmo Hope (piano)2009*The ObserverConcordDuo, with Jon Irabagon (tenor saxophone)2018 (2022*)Blues For The End Of TimeTzim Tzum RecordsQuartet/quintet, with Félix Lemerle (guitar), Samuel Lerner (piano), Ari Roland (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)
References
External links Hope's biography on the History Makers Project