| Bebop or bop is a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuoso technique and improvisation based on harmonic structure rather than melody. It was developed in the early and mid-1940s. It first surfaced in musicians' argot some time during the first two years of the Second World War. Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, complex harmonies, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers. The music itself seemed jarringly different to the ears of the public, who were used to the bouncy, organized, danceable tunes of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller during the swing era. Instead, bebop appeared to sound racing, nervous, and often fragmented. But to jazz musicians and jazz music lovers, bebop was an exciting and beautiful revolution in the art of jazz. |
"The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" - Sonny Stitt (tenor sax) "Donna Lee" is a bebop jazz standard in A flat based on the chord changes of the traditional jazz standard "(Back Home Again in) Indiana". Miles Davis composed the tune, his first recorded composition, although authorship is often credited to saxophonist Charlie Parker. "Confirmation" is a bebop standard composed by saxophonist Charlie Parker in 1946. It is known as a challenging number due to its long, complex head and rapid chord changes, which feature an extended cycle of fifths. Charlie Parker and friends blow over this tune in a pitch corrected version (Bb) |
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