Bertha Hope-Booker
Playing piano in Bryant Park, New York
Playing piano in Bryant Park, New York
Background information
Birth nameBertha Rosemond[1]
Born (1936-11-08) November 8, 1936 (age 87)
Los Angeles, California, US
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, band leader
Instrument(s)Piano

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]

Biography

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]

Discography

An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

As leader

Year recorded Title Label Notes
1990 In Search of Hope SteepleChase
1991 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

Year recorded Leader Title Label Notes
1961 Elmo Hope Hope-Full Riverside Duo, with Elmo Hope (piano)
2009* Jon Irabagon The Observer Concord Duo, with Jon Irabagon (tenor saxophone)
2018 (2022*) Félix Lemerle Blues For The End Of Time Tzim Tzum Records Quartet/quintet, with Félix Lemerle (guitar), Samuel Lerner (piano), Ari Roland (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

References

  1. ^ a b Weeks, Todd Bryant (2010) "Bertha Hope-Booker Interviewed for Allegro, January 13, 2010". Transcript of interview for Allegro. pp. 2–3.
  2. ^ Richard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, pp. 738–739. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "Jazz Berry Jam bio". Jazzberryjam.com. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  4. ^ Owen McNally (August 28, 1997). "Many Colors of Woman Concert Features Pianist Bertha Hope". The Courant. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  5. ^ Scott, Ron (November 30, 2006) "Bassist Walter Booker Dies at 73". New York Amsterdam News. p. 25.
  6. ^ Leslie Gourse, Madame Jazz, Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 165. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Iverson, Ethan. "Chronology: The Underappreciated Career of Bertha Hope". JazzTimes. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Scott, Ron (March 25, 2021). "Pianist Bertha Hope herstory". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Feather, Leonard (1999). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-19-507418-5.

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