Arts & Culture
The Function of the Rhythm Section in the Development of Bebop and Post-Bop Jazz
Quick fact
Before bebop, the bassist almost always played four steady beats per bar. In bebop, the bassist sometimes dropped bombs—sudden, loud notes that punctuated the music, making the beat feel elastic.
Why this is interesting
You know the steady beat that makes your foot tap in jazz? In bebop, the drummer and bassist started doing something far more daring—they turned that beat into a conversation.