The swing era largely focused upon music for dancing and entertainment. As a reaction against this came bebop, a style that was fiercely intellectual and very much meant for serious listening.
From the mid-1940s alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and pianist Bud Powell all improvised complex linear phrases full of surprising accents and chromatic passing notes, often at very fast tempos.
Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem was a key breeding ground, with Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke and Charlie Christian exploring the new sounds at all-night jam sessions.
Players would often write intricate new melodies over the chord progressions of existing jazz standards, in part so they could claim the composition royalties themselves. Examples of famous jazz songs from the bebop era include ‘Ornithology’ (based upon ‘How High The Moon’), ‘Donna Lee’ (based upon ‘Indiana’) and ‘Anthropology’ (based upon ‘I Got Rhythm’).
You can check out our overview of the best bebop artists in jazz history here.
Key bebop recordings
Charlie Parker – The Complete Savoy and Dial Studio Recordings Billie’s Bounce
Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz at Massey Hall Salt Peanuts
Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music: Volume 1 Ruby My Dear
Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell A Night In Tunisia
