Give a short answer to each question (Use whole sentences!) 1. What is the approximate time period for the Bebop era as given in the reading? (Years, not “3am ‘til 6am”.) 1pt 2. It is said that bebo
Bebop FAST!! COMPLICATED!! RISKY!! IMPROVISATION CENTERED!!! MUSICIAN FOCUSED!!! Our big three names for this chapter are: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Pa rker, and Thelonious Monk. These g uys (and many jazz musicians) grew tired of the formulaic, watered down, commercial music that swing had become . They wanted to get back to the exciting, challenging, risky, improvised music that jazz was suppose d to be. Although, when compared to big band swing, it seems that the Bebop jazz style came out of nowhere, it is actually a relatively straight -forward evolution of what jazz musicians were interested in. As the swing era progressed and enjoyed its massive commercial success, the “jazz” musicians playing it became more and more frustrated with the limitations it presented.Swing music WAS popular music and popular mus ic demanded a certain amount of restraint. The music was designed for dancing and popular song audiences. Challenging harmonies and rhythms with large areas open to improvisation did not fit the mold required for commercial viability. Many of the musician s in the swing bands longed for something more challenging and exciting to play. Early swing was new and fresh and the power of a large band was intoxicating to musicians, but after ten years, that newness had started to fade. Most big band music had simpl y become orchestrated, commercial “pop” music, manufactured for mass consumption. Listen to this excerpt of a typical Glenn Miller big band arrangement.