ELMO HOPE - HOMECOMING

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Elmo Hope - Homecoming!

Elmo Hope
Homecoming!
RLP 381

NYC, June 22, 1961
Personnel:
Blue Mitchell (tp)
Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath (ts)
Elmo Hope (p)
Percy Heath (b)
Philly Joe Jones (d)

Moe, Jr. (take 4)
Eyes So Beautiful As Yours
A Kiss For My Love (take 4&5)

NYC, June 29, 1961
Personnel:
Elmo Hope (p)
Percy Heath (b)
Philly Joe Jones (d)

La Berthe
Homecoming!
One Mo' Blues
Imagination
-----------------------------
Tracks
1. Moe, Jr. [Hope] 5:56
2. La Berthe [Hope] 3:14
3. Eyes So Beautiful As Yours [Hope] 6:33
4. Homecoming [Hope] 5:15
5. One Mo' Blues [Hope] 6:48
6. A Kiss For My Love [Hope] 5:33
7. Imagination [Burke/VanHeusen] 6:43

A great little album that Hope made upon his return to the east coast in the early 60s – not too long before he passed away. Half the tunes are cut with a sextet that features Blue Mitchell, Frank Foster, and Jimmy Heath – and the other are cut with a trio that features Hope, Percy Heath, and Philly Joe Jones, who provide the rhythm for the sextet tunes. The mix of settings is about half and half – and titles include "Moe Jr", "La Berthe", "Eyes So Beautiful", and "One Mo Blues". It's great to hear Hope back with horns, after cutting so many trio sides during this point in his life – and his unique style on the keys is still matched nicely with the larger group of players. © 1996-2012, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Review by Brandon Burke
Homecoming! is a particularly high-spirited record for this stage in Hope's troubled career. Following an extended stay in Los Angeles, a number of the day's top players helped welcome a refreshed Hope back to New York on this session. Tenor saxophonists Frank Foster and Jimmy Heath, as well as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, form the front line on the sextet numbers, while on all tracks Hope is joined by the rhythm section of Percy Heath and Philly Joe Jones.The Dameron-esque bop numbers sizzle and weave and the tenor work of Frank Foster is especially rewarding on the album's bouncing opener, "Moe, Jr.." The three ballads are equally fresh and less doom-ridden than comparable performances found elsewhere in his catalog. Expect fine performances by all. This great hard bop record is highly recommended.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fvo65l3yxwaheii