Elmo Hope - Informal Jazz (Mono) / Analogue Productions

In the 1950s, Elmo Hope was known to insiders in New York as a pianist and band leader, but far from being a star of the jazz scene. But that didn't mean he couldn't record a great album with them.

One Friday in 1956, they met in Rudy van Gelder's studio. With Paul Chambers and "Philly" Joe Jones as the rhythm section, not much could go wrong. But when the tenor saxophonists John Coltrane

and Hank Mobley are added and trumpeter Donald Byrd joins in, even an "informal" jazz album can contain really complex material without many agreements.The two tracks "Weeja" and "On It" were

penned by Elmo Hope.

Title

1. Weeja

2. Polka Dots and Moonbeams

3. On It

4. Avalon