Bertha Hope

Bertha Hope-Booker ( Rosemond; born November 8, 1936, Los Angeles, California ) 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, bassist Walter Booker.

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, 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. 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

As sidewoman