How Did Swing And Bebop Develop

If swing and bebop were movie characters, swing would be the energetic, organized sibling who gets voted for prom queen, while bebop would be the defiant younger sibling who hangs out with the wrong crowd after school. Swing became so formulaic and predictable that artists needed a new creative outlet for their emotions. This is how bebop emerged, as a criticism and rebellion “against the populist trappings of swing music” (Gioia, 187). In the 1940’s bebop matured as a style in New York City, where influential artists such as Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis mastered their craft while playing at locations such as Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem, 52nd Street, and San Juan Hill. New York City became a hub for African-American artistic culture starting back in the 20’s with the Harlem Renaissance. There were many factors that drew young musicians to the big apple in the 30’s and 40’s as well, like how “New York had become the nation's undisputed jazz capital and jazz musicians considered it to be the ultimate proving ground (Stump). There was also an

Thousands of poor and middle-class black people resided here, including musician Thelonious Monks. Over time, more people moved into the neighborhood, and “with a diversity of people came a diversity of cultures” (Kelley). However, this diversity did little to combat the violence that occurred on a daily basis is this area, the area is known as one of the “busiest crime areas in New York City” (Kelley). Despite the heavy crime and racial tension, there was a strong community bond and enriching jazz scene. Most of the residents in the neighborhood had instruments like guitars or even a piano. This musical backdrop in the community is what turned Monks onto music, he once received a piano as a gift and “began teaching himself as soon as they rolled the old upright into the door”