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Bertha Hope

At three, Bertha Hope wanted to play piano.

She studied music theory in high school and L.A. City College, met Eric Dolphy and Bud Powell's brother Richie who became her teacher.

In 1960 she married Elmo Hope, moved to the Bronx, and played with musicians including Jimmy Castor. She played workshops in the tri-state area with Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Philly Joe Jones and Nat Adderley who became a friend and mentor.

Elmo died in 1967. Together with long time companion, bassist Walter Booker, Jr., she formed ELMOllenium, a tribute ensemble.

In 1982, Bertha joined the women's Kit Mc Clure Big Band, the pre cursor to DIVA.

As co-founder of the all-women's quintet, Jazzberry Jam! she toured Europe and Japan.

Bertha appeared in the 2013 Galway Jazz Festival. She's played NYC clubs including Bradley's, Jazz Standard, Knickerbocker, Birdland, Lenox Lounge, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Apollo Theater and the Kennedy Center in D.C. She has four c.d.'s and a fifth is underway.

Bertha received two lifetime achievement awards; one in 2002 from Cobi Narita's Jazz Coalition

and the second from Dr. Billy Taylorin 2005 at the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C.

In 2014, Bertha's three year oral history project was made available in the Library of Congress,

and she was celebrated as a Bronx Living Legend by the Bronx Music Heritage Center.

A former Jazz Mobile teacher she now teaches at Manna House Workshops, East Harlem.

Since October, 2013 Bertha is in residency at Minton's Supper Club, Harlem.

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Radio & Podcasts

Late Fall Releases, New Holiday Music Plus A Birthday Shoutout to Bertha Hope

Read "Late Fall Releases, New Holiday Music Plus A Birthday Shoutout to Bertha Hope" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This broadcast presents new releases from Paul Jost, Elena Maque, Carn Davidson 9, Amanda Ekery with a single from Duchess, plus holiday music from The Moore McColl Jazz Society and June Bisantz, with birthday shoutouts to Bertha Hope, Maria Schneider, Etta Jones, Ethel Ennis, Gloria Lynne, and more. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during this time of pandemic so they can continue to distract, comfort and inspire. Playlist Bertha ...

5
New York Beat

Minton's: An iconic Jazz Haven Re-opens in Harlem

Read "Minton's: An iconic Jazz Haven Re-opens in Harlem" reviewed by Rob Mariani


An iconic jazz haven is born again. It's a name I don't think I've heard spoken of in many years. And so when I learned that after many years, “Minton's Playhouse" was re-opening at its original address at West 118th Street in Harlem on the ground floor of the old Cecil Hotel, I was really delighted. Delighted that the unassuming little nightclub where Bird and Diz' and Monk and the rest of the greats and near-greats all went ...

323
Album Review

Bertha Hope: Nothin' But Love

Read "Nothin' But Love" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Reservoir Music has quietly and effectively been building an impressive body of works by New York City pianists over the years, including Kenny Barron, Steve Kuhn, Rob Schneiderman and John Hicks. Now Reservoir has graciously given Bertha Hope, widow of deceased and under-recognized jazz pianist Elmo Hope, the opportunity to be counted in her own gentle way among some of her generation’s noteworthy pianists. “Nothin’ But Love” is her first recording on an American label.After Elmo Hope’s passing ...

193
Album Review

Bertha Hope: Nothin' But Love

Read "Nothin' But Love" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Pianist Betha Hope has certainly been a late bloomer. Long story short, this imaginative pianist was married to the equally inventive piano man Elmo Hope. Her talents, however, would largely remain dormant for most of the '60s and '70s, apart from the few duets with her husband that were heard on a mid-'60s Riverside date. It wouldn't be until after Elmo had prematurely passed on and she was done raising the kids that Bertha would return to the performing arena. ...

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343

Performance / Tour

Elmo Hope Tribute at Jazz Standard Featuring Bertha Hope on Piano

Elmo Hope Tribute at Jazz Standard Featuring Bertha Hope on Piano

Source: All About Jazz

Pianist Elmo Hope was one of the greatest composers of this music called Bop, along with Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. Seldom do we get to hear the genius of Elmo Hope's compositions in a live setting. With the gracious help of The Jazz Standard, these ambitious and dedicated musicians join forces with Don Sickler and Elmo's widow, Bertha Hope, on piano, to present two nights of Elmo's extraordinary music. Bertha's mission is to preserve, promote and play this music ...

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Performance / Tour

Saturday, March 23rd 8:00 PM Bertha Hope & ELMOllenium at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

Saturday, March 23rd 8:00 PM Bertha Hope & ELMOllenium at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

Source: All About Jazz

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

Jazz at the ConservatoryPresents Jazz Pianist Bertha Hope performing with her quartet and her “ELMOllenium Ensemble" Saturday, March 23 at 8 PM

Jazz Pianist Bertha Hope will bring her quartet and “ELMOllenium" ensemble to the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Jazz at the Conservatory series, sponsored by BNP Paribas, on Saturday, March 23 at 8 PM. The quartet will include Bertha Hope on piano, Sue Terry on alto saxophone, Walter Booker on bass, and Leroy Williams on ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Blues For The End Of...

Tzim Tzum Records
2023

buy

Nothin' But Love

Reservoir Music
2000

buy

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