Bebop

Also known as Bebop, Bop was a radical new music that developed gradually in the early 1940's and seemed to explode in 1945. Among its key innovators were altoist Charlie "Bird" Parker, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Bud Powell, drummer Max Roach and pianist-composer Thelonious Monk. The main difference between Bop and Swing is that the soloists engaged in chordal (rather than melodic) improvisation, often discarding the melody altogether after the first chorus and using the chords as the basis for the solo. Bebop jazz was usually performed in small groups and featured extended improvisation.

Bop is characterized by a fast tempo, advanced harmonies and complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, complex rhythmic syncopation, instrumental virtuosity and intricate melodies, as well as improvisation based on a combination of harmonic structure, the use of scales, asymmetrical phrasing and occasional references to the melody.