Elmo Hope Project

This UK/ European quintet was formed in 2014 by Munich based pianist Claus Raible (Art Farmer, Andy Bey, Mark Murphy, Jon Faddis) and Austrian tenor man Herwig Gradischnig (Vienna Art Orchestra, Randy Brecker, John Swana, Benny Bailey, Conte Candoli, Dusko Goykovich).

Their first record, Searchin' for Hope followed soon after during an extensive tour of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Each member of the group is a band leader and prolific sideman in his own right, the group pays tribute to the music of the late great Jazz pianist Elmo Hope (1923-1967).

Hope was a contemporary of Bud Powell and Thelonius Monk. The band tackle the unique and challenging arrangements carved out of the Hard Bop tradition of the late 1950's, including arrangements for quintet by Claus Raible as well as many of the recordings Hope played together with tenor player Harold Land.

The challenging compositions of Elmo Hope deliver a hard swinging set fronted by the band's co leader Herwig Gradischnig and UK leading trumpet player Steve Fishwick ( Ron Carter, Cedar Walton, Peter King, Anita O' Day, Peter Erskine, George Mraz, Dado Moroni, Tardo Hammer) in the horn section. Greek Bass player Giorgos Antoniou (Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Jesse Davis, Doug Rainey, Terrell Stafford, Roy Hargrove, Tardo Hammer, Scott Hamilton).who resides in Bern, Switzerland and London based drummer Matt Home (Gary Smulyan, Grant Stewart, Eric Alexander, Claire Martin, Barry Harris, Stacey Kent) make up the rest of the rhythm section.

The group's latest CD, Mo is On, The Music of Elmo Hope Vol.2 is out on Trio Records.

www.matthomedrums.com

www.clausraible.com/