|
|
|
|
Jazz 101 Style
Bebop
|
|
Bebop, often referred to simply as "bop," was the first modern, major post-swing style to
emerge in jazz. Though considered revolutionary and startling at its inception, it is now regarded
as one of the fundamental, classic genres of jazz. Bebop was developed in the early and mid-1940s
by such legendary musicians as Charlie Parker; Dizzy Gillespie; Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach.
These boppers made harmonic elaborations on the contributions of important swing era figures like
Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, and embarked on a new and more rapid style of improvisation
that compressed more ideas into less space, and made far greater use of altered chords than earlier
jazz. Though some big bands explored bop, smaller groups such as quintets were usually preferred.
Bebop performances were highly syncopated and explored polyrythms to an unprecedented degree.
Melodies were given erratic contours, resulting in somewhat agitated sounding performances that many found
jarring. A huge debate erupted between those who felt the new music was a long-awaited breakthrough,
and those who feared that bop injected elitism into jazz and alienated a vast majority of its listening
audience. Both viewpoints have merit,but the profound and enduring impact of bebop on jazz history
is undeniable.
|
|
|
Traditional
