BEBOP’S DEVELOPMENT

Bebop is one of the many subgenres of jazz, characterized by quick tempos and a large focus on improvisation. Improvisation had not been very emphasized in the past, but its larger presence allowed for musicians to show off their virtuosity as individuals. There was also a bigger focus put on harmonic structure rather than the melody line, and more advanced chord progressions started being used during the bebop era.

Jazz musicians started heading in the direction of bebop around the 40s, a reaction of rebellion towards the restrictions they faced in swing bands of the previous decade. It marked the time when musicians started to express their creativity more individually, in contrast to the big swing bands of the 30s. Those who played bebop were unapologetic about making such a great leap in their playing style. 

Those in the vanguard of bebop music purposefully set out to create this new style of music, wanting to shift the perception of jazz as a serious art form rather than simple danceable music. Innovators like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie were important examples of bebop musicians who pushed the boundaries and sought this new art form as a way to express themselves during a time of growing racial tensions. 

It is important to note that the peak of bebop’s popularity coincided with the beginning of the civil rights movement, as it reveals much about the major connection between the bebop style and the desire to be free. Ultimately, bebop was a fun and experimental outlet for jazzers during the 1940s, and personally, it can be best defined as an outlet for both artistic expression and a means for asserting social resistance against the political pressures of the time.