Bebop - developed in the early to mid-1940's
- style of Jazz characterized by quick
tempos and lots of improvisation.
- Minton's Playhouse became the place
where Bebop would be born.
- Meant for listening, not dancing.
- Musicians like Coleman Hawkins became a huge
influence to the up and coming bebop stars.
- A typical bebop group would consist of a saxophone,
trumpet, bass, drums, and piano.
Mintons, Dizzy, Bird (18:33)
This is the laboratory for Bebop
People Important to Bebop
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917-1993)
- Jazz Trumpeter who helped pioneer Bebop.
- Like a lot of the Bebop musicians, he was tired of the old
swing charts and wanted to expand the harmonic
structure of Jazz.
- He began experimenting with different harmonies.
- In addition to his great instrumental skills; his funny
personality, horn-rimmed glasses, bent trumpet,
puffed cheeks, beret, and scat singing made him a
lovable character, which helped popularize bebop.
This man puts chipmunks to shame
Salt Peanuts - first the recording, then the link
song link
Youtube link - Dizzy from the 70's
- features Kenny Clarke on drums, who was another
pioneer of Bebop
- Swing emphasized beats 1 & 3. Bebop often
emphasized beats 2 & 4.
Question to think about: Why is this a music for listening and not dancing.
...Here is a clip of Louis & Dizzy. Listen for the differences in their improvisational styles
Youtube link
Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920-1955)
- Alto Saxophone virtuoso who helped
pioneer Bebop.
- Together with Armstrong & Ellington,
Parker was one of the most influential
Jazz musicians.
- He was a Kansas City musician with a strong blues
background.
- Addicted to heroin and alcohol. Known for his mood
swings.
- Eventually died from pneumonia at 34, although all the
drugs and alcohol made his body look 55.
Bird, Dizzy, Bebop Birth (3:26)
...Between 1942-44 there was a musicians strike that put a halt to all recording for 2 years.
What this did:
1) Bebop was not recorded for 2 years. People didn't know about it.
2) The music of the Big Band was no longer America's pop music.
3) In popular music the emphasis was now on the vocalist as
opposed to the band behind the vocalist.
Koko - many people consider this the first time Bebop was ever recorded.
(in video clip below)
- It is said that Parker 'realized' bebop while playing a tune called
- The chords of Koko are the same chords as Cherokee.
After War Bebop Recording (5:04)
Cherokee.
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)
- Piano player responsible for pioneering Bebop.
- known for his dissonant harmonies and melodies that
twisted and turned all over the place.
- his piano playing featured strong percussive sounds
along with abrupt hesitations and silences. His wife
nicknamed this style of playing "Melodious Thunk".
- even though he helped found bebop, his later style
evolved away from it.
Straight, No Chaser - example of Monk's percussive melodies
Youtube link
and hesitations. Although not blazing
fast, definitely bebop. This is hard swing.
Brilliant Corners - an example of Monk's unique compositional style. This song was so difficult
to play that it took over a dozen takes to get it right.
Youtube link
...there would be times that Monk would just stand up in the middle of a performance and start "Dancing"
Youtube link - Dancing?
Cool Jazz -developed during World War II
- During the Second World War, as Bebop was being conceived, a new style of Jazz was also
being conceived in New York and California.
- predominantly white musicians from California had traveled to New York and had heard
the smooth saxophone styles of Lester Young & Coleman Hawkins.
- they preferred this style of playing over the aggressive tempos of Bebop.
- what emerged from this was a new style of Jazz called Cool.
- New York had it's own version and California Cool was known as West Coast Jazz
Differences between Bebop and Cool
1) Bebop was fast paced & focused
more on Rhythm
1) Cool was more relaxed & focused
on Melody
2) Bebop used lots of improvisation
2) Cool was more structured & used
less improvisation
3) Cool musicians developed their Tone
& worked to enhance the melody
3) Bebop showed the emotions &
technical abilities of the player.
People important in Cool Jazz
Miles Davis (1926-1991)
- born in St. Louis, but brought his style to
New York
- Widely considered one of the most
influential musicians of the 20th century
- while most Jazz musicians pretty much stuck to one style
throughout their careers, Miles was at the forefront of several
major developments in Jazz: bebop, cool, hard bop, modal,
and fusion.
- many well-known musicians got their start playing with Davis
...Miles got his start playing with his idol, Charlie Parker.
...He played with Parker until 'Bird' was committed to a mental hospital.
...It was then that Miles, together with composer Gil Evans, started working out
a new form of Jazz called Cool.
So What
Youtube link
- this is from his album Blue Note, which is considered the best selling Jazz album of all-time
- In 2003, the album was ranked number 12 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest
albums of all time.
Food for thought: Compare this to Dizzy's Salt Peanuts. The music highlights 2 words like
Salt Peanuts does, but how is this music different?
...Now out to the West Coast
West Coast Jazz - Cool Jazz out west
- some critics looked down on West Coast Jazz because it was played
predominately by whites
Dave Brubeck (1920- 2012)
- a Jazz pianist and composer whose style reflects that of his
classical training as a child with a hint of intensity.
- His music is known for having unusual
time signatures, as well as contrasting
rhythms and tones.
Unusual Time Signatures
Take Five
Youtube link
- instead of using the usual 4 count or 2 count this uses a 5 count
which gives the music a different feel.
Challenge: See if you can count along and find the 5 beat pattern.
Contrasting Rhythms
Blue Rondo a la Turk
Youtube link
- Brubeck heard these rhythms from Turkish musicians on the street and asked
them, "Where did you get that rhythm?" They replied, "This rhythm is to us,
what the blues is to you."
- it uses a 9/8 time signature divided as such: