May 19, 1967(1967-05-19) (aged 43) New York City, New York
Genres
Jazz
Occupation(s)
Musician, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)
Piano
Years active
1940s–66
Musical artist
St. Elmo Sylvester Hope (June 27, 1923 – May 19, 1967) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, chiefly in the bebop and hard bop genres. He grew up playing and listening to jazz and classical music with Bud Powell, and both were close friends of another influential pianist, Thelonious Monk.
Hope survived being shot by police as a youth to become a New York-based musician who recorded with several emerging stars in the early to mid-1950s, including trumpeter Clifford Brown, and saxophonists John Coltrane, Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, and Sonny Rollins. A long-term heroin user, Hope had his license to perform in New York's clubs withdrawn after a drug conviction, so he moved to Los Angeles in 1957. He was not happy during his four years on the West Coast, but had some successful collaborations there, including with saxophonist Harold Land.
More recordings as leader ensued following Hope's return to New York, but they did little to gain him more public or critical attention. Further drug and health problems reduced the frequency of his public performances, which ended a year before his death, at the age of 43. He remains little known, despite, or because of, the individuality of his playing and composing, which were complex and stressed subtlety and variation rather than the virtuosity predominant in bebop.
St. Elmo Sylvester Hope (June 27, 1923 – May 19, 1967) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, chiefly in the bebop and hard bop genres...
ElmoHope Trio is an album by jazz pianist ElmoHope recorded in 1959 and originally released on the Hifijazz label but rereleased on Contemporary Records...
Tickle Me Elmo is a children's plush toy from Tyco Preschool, a division of Tyco Toys, of the Muppet character Elmo from the children's television show...
American jazz pianist and jazz educator. She is the widow of fellow pianist ElmoHope, with whom she collaborated. She has toured Europe and Japan and played...
an album by jazz pianist ElmoHope which compiles sessions recorded in 1953, originally released as a 10" LP titled ElmoHope Trio, and 1954, originally...
friend of fellow jazz pianist ElmoHope during his childhood. Powell and Hope performed hymns and Bach compositions for Hope's mother, who had a piano at...
(Blue Note, 1957) Herbie Hancock, My Point of View (Blue Note, 1963) ElmoHope, Informal Jazz (Prestige, 1956) J. J. Johnson, The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson...
Hope Meets Foster is an album by jazz pianist ElmoHope and saxophonist Frank Foster recorded in 1955 for the Prestige label. The Allmusic review by Scott...
Jackie McLean, John Patton, Chet Baker, Kenny Drew, Walter Davis, and ElmoHope, and playing with Grant Green and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He worked and recorded...
multiple businesses in the Bronx since the late 1930s. ElmoHope Way – Jazz Pioneer; for ElmoHope, pianist, composer and arranger. Emmanuel Mensah Way...
luminaries as bassist Charlie Haden, trumpeter Chet Baker, and pianist ElmoHope, and had also collaborated with black soul/pop artists such as Shirley...
1953 New Faces, New Sounds Kenny Drew Blue Note June 18, 1953 ElmoHope Trio ElmoHope Blue Note June 23, 1953 Al Cohn's Tones Al Cohn Savoy October 25...
Tone Tantrum (Blue Note, 1977) Jimmy Heath, Swamp Seed (Riverside, 1963) ElmoHope, Informal Jazz (Prestige, 1956) Solomon Ilori, African High Life (Blue...
1954 Miles Davis Quartet Miles Davis Prestige (PRLP 161) 1954 ElmoHope Quintet ElmoHope Blue Note (BLP 5044) 1954 Thelonious Monk Quintet Thelonious...
Informal Jazz is an album by jazz musician ElmoHope, released in September or October 1956 on Prestige Records. It was reissued in 1969 under the title...
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