Purpose of Bebop Jazz

On a contrasting note, American bebop rarely (if ever) served any religious purpose, though it could be argued that the improvisation solos told a story with their emotion. It came in a time of constant change in the jazz world, and this effected what both the musicians and the listeners want to hear. [7] Bebop acted as a chance for the standard jazz composer/performer to grab the reigns of their technical ability, and to create/perform at their highest skill level. In the 1920's and 30's, American jazz was for the pleasure of the listener. Whether it was enjoyed by the ear, or used for dance, composers were at the mercy of popular tunes. This change in the beginning of the 1940's allowed for the true expression of the jazz musician, which is why Bebop is known for it's showmanship of talent. 

Earl Hines

Jazz artist like Earl Hines, and others mentioned before, were now able to tweak the music to their desires. This resulted in fast and complex rhythms, and amazing solos.[7] The musicians were challenged by the solos that they could create, and that created a level of competition that brought the bebop technique to a new level. The most difficult part was the disconnect it had from 30's jazz, and because of this bebop lost an incredible amount of popularity within the jazz culture[7]. Despite this set back, the music of this era was for the performers, and was used for their expressive ability and creative freedom.

The creative freedom found in Bebop is clearly shown in "Bebop" by Gillespie. Though the piece lacks words, it certainly makes up for it in its innovative style. At a tempo of roughly 160, and a enough accidentals throughout the piece to keep you on your toes, the piece shows a style never seen in the previous decades.


                                                                                                            Signing Off,

Brianna Jones