Bebop Pianists

Bud powell
Thelonious Monk
Lenny Tristano
Sonny Clark
Barry Harris
Innovations of bebop
Instrumental music not singable
Increase in complexity over earlier style
More diversified rhythmic textures
Harmonic vocab emphasis on the improvisation of rapid melodies
Improvisation favored over composition
Bud Powell 1924-1966
Influences include Fats Waller, Art Tatum
Modernized jazz piano
Foremost of the bop pianists
Transforms Charlie Parkers vocab to the piano
Does away with the left hand striding
Minimal left hand shell(1 and 7th, 1 and 5th, 1 and 3rd, tritone)
voicings, placed off the beat.
Thelonious Sphere Monk 1917- 1982
One of the architects of bebop
Impact as a composer and pianist has had a profound influence on
every genre of music.
Percussive, angular piano style
Playing emits humor and wit
Lenny Tristano 1919-1978
Influenced by Charlie Parker and Bud Powell
First to perform and free jazz
Over the bar line phrasing
Integrationalist; soloists would not only be playing in the moment but
sharing the same moment
Extended melodies-phrases
Overdubbing recordings