[Dixielandjazz] Chords v. Melody

[Goggin, Brian (Dublin)]

Bop started as far back as the late 1930's
Minton's Playhouse managed by reedman and ex-bandleader Teddy Hill had Roy
Eldridge, Kenny Clarke, Thelonius Monk and all those guys there in the late
'30's and early '40's.
Charlie Christian was into Bop and he died in 1942.
As an example of chordal soloing, his solo on "Swing To Bop" is based on the
chords of "Rose Room" I think. That was recorded live in Minton's in 1941. 


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Stephen Barbone [SMTP:barbonestreet at earthlink.net]
> Sent:	Wednesday, January 22, 2003 6:32 PM
> To:	Charlie Hull
> Cc:	Goggin, Brian (Dublin); Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
> Subject:	Re: [Dixielandjazz] Chords v. Melody
> 
> Charlie Hull wrote: (agreeing with Brian Groggin)
> 
> > Re Barbone's question:  IMHO Hawkins' Body and Soul was both melodic and
> > chordal.  Beautiful lyric lines, but plenty of evidence he knew the
> chords.
> > Deservedly classic.
> 
> Yes, I think so too. That brief reference to the melody in the very
> beginning
> and then a new melody based upon chordal improvisation is how I hear it.
> Amazing how that record became so popular in the US without ever really
> stating the melody. It was still heavily played on juke boxes in the US in
> the
> 1950s. Bean was one of those players who was forever changing his style to
> experiment with more modern trends in jazz.
> 
> Seems to me that chordal improv came into its own with bebop, and really
> got
> going full blast circa late 1930s, early 1940s at Minton's and Monroe's in
> Harlem. Most of us think bop started about 1945 but that's only because of
> the
> recording ban during WW 2. Most people (excepting G.I.s who heard some on
> V
> discs) were not aware of it until regular recording resumed.
> 
> Cheers,
> Steve
> 
>