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52nd Street, New York 1948 (15)
Bebop became popular as swing bands faded out, in the mid-1940s. Smaller groups of musicians played bebop, which allowed them to take more time to solo and improvise in the music. Bebop’s style was more jagged than the smoother swing style. It contained lines with many fast notes that were accented differently and difficult to play and a broader and higher range of notes than earlier styles of jazz. The biggest bebop city in America was unquestionably Harlem, where African Americans were able to promote this new style of jazz. 52nd Street in New York was a nightclub strip where many bebop bands played nightly.
Notable Musicians:
Dizzy Gillespie was a talented trumpet player popular for his bebop style of playing. He played in the stratosphere, high notes many trumpet players today don’t even dream of playing. He began his jazz career playing in swing bands and was one of the pioneers of bebop. Later he incorporated a Latin feel into much of his music.
Thelonious Monk was a bebop pianist who was born in 1917 and grew up in Manhattan. He had a unique sound and many people did not realize or accept his talent until long after he started playing. He was the main pianist at Minton’s Playhouse, which was a club in New York. Monk also composed numerous jazz pieces.
Charlie Parker was a great alto saxophonist who introduced new ways of playing melodies and harmonies to the bebop scene. He is known as one of the most influential improvisers. Parker began playing in swing bands and later joined in on the bebop style. Unfortunately, Parker died young, at only age 34. Read a mock interview with Charlie Parker.
