“This is the case of a musician whose talent was buried for a long time. While things were happening in New York in the mid and late Forties, Elmo Hope was traveling around the country with rhythm and blues bands. Although he was one of the first and best to play in the particular style which so many modern pianists work in today, he was never around for his playing to be appraised, much less praised. Last year he was discovered, unearthed might be a better term, and is at last starting to receive the recognition due to him.
“Elmo has a drive which is extremely reminiscent of Bud Powell. This is as it should be, for he and Bud grew up together and evolved along the same lines by exchanging ideas. On numbers like ‘Lucky Strike’ and ‘Elmo’s Fire’ this is best demonstrated, the left hand insistently building plateaus for the right hand to take off from. Elmo gets to the heart of the matter on the beautifully sad ‘Blue Mo’. There is no pounding, the piano counterpart of a honking tenor, or over-syncopation, the device which is used by some as an impoverished excuse for swinging. Elmo swings naturally.
“For his rhythm accompanists, Elmo has chosen two of the new talents who have been impressing musicians and serious listeners in New York during the past few years.
“John Ore, heard most often with Lester Young, is another in the line of illustrious Philadelphia (born there in 1933) bassists (Percy Heath, Nelson Boyd). He started on cello at 9, switched to alto later on and took up bass in 1951.
“Brooklyn born (1929) Willie Jones started playing in 1947. He studied at Parkway Institute in his native borough and has played with Randy Weston, Jay Jay Johnson and Thelonious Monk. Art Blakey and Max Roach are considered tops by Willie who is consciously working towards a melodic style where the accents simulate the rhythmic figures of melody phrases and are shaded accordingly.
“This LP represents something new for Elmo. In previous recordings he had concentrated on his own originals. This set has, in addition to four new originals, six standard which range from Kern to Rodgers with a stop at Berlin on the way.” (Ira Gitler. From the liner notes.)
Performers: Elmo Hope (pi), John Ore (bs), Willie Jones (dr)
A1. It's A Lovely Day Today
A2. All The Things You Are
A3. Quit It
A4. Lucky Strike
A5. I Don't Stand (A Ghost Of A Chance With You)
A6. Huh
B1. Falling In Love With You
B2. My Heart Stood Still
B3. Elmo's Fire
B4. I'm In The Mood For Love
B5. Blue Mo
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