Lecture 11

Bebop, Part II
John Birks Dizzy Gillespie (1917 1993)

Born October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, South Carolina

Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop
and modern jazz
He was instrumental in founding Afro-Cuban jazz, the modern jazz version of the
Spanish Tinge
Dubbed Dizzy by his peers for his madcap antics on and off stage

Influential Icon
Gillespie was a trumpet virtuoso and gifted improviser, adding layers of
harmonic complexity previously unknown in jazz
In addition to his instrumental skills, Dizzys beret and horn-rimmed
spectacles, his scat singing, his bent horn, pouched cheeks and his lighthearted personality were essential in popularizing bebop, which was originally
regarded as threatening and frightening music by many listeners raised on
older styles of jazz
He had an enormous impact on virtually every subsequent trumpeter, both by
the example of his playing and as a mentor to younger musicians
What happened to your horn?!
Gillespie used a trumpet whose bell was bent at a 45 degree angle rather than
a traditional straight trumpet
This was originally the result of accidental damage caused during a job on
January 6, 1953 where Gillespies horn was inadvertently knocked over by a
couple of dancers
The constriction caused by the bending altered the tone of the instrument, and
Gillespie liked the effect
A Night in Tunisia
Recorded live in Toronto on May 15, 1953
Written by Dizzy Gillespie with Frank Paparelli in 1942 on the bottom of a
garbage can
Personnel
Charlie Parker (alto saxophone)
Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet)
Bud Powell (piano)
Charles Mingus (bass)
Max Roach (drums)
Afro-Cuban Music

In the late 1940s, Gillespie was also involved in the movement called AfroCuban music, bringing Latin and African elements to greater prominence in
jazz and even pop music, particularly salsa
Gillespies most famous contributions to Afro-Cuban music are the
compositions Manteca and Tin Tin Deo
In 1977, Gillespie discovered trumpeter Arturo Sandoval while researching
music during a tour of Cuba

Dizzy for President

In 1964 the Gillespie put himself forward as a presidential candidate
He promised that if he were elected, the White House would be renamed The
Blues House, Ray Charles would be appointed Librarian of Congress, Miles
Davis would become the head of the CIA, and Malcolm X the Attorney
General
He also said his running mate would be Phyllis Diller
Later Years
In the 1980s, Gillespie led the United Nations Orchestra
Gillespies tone gradually faded in the last years in life, and his performances
often focused more on his proteges such as Arturo Sandoval and Jon Faddis
His good-humored comedic routines became more and more a part of his live
act
In 1989 Gillespie gave 300 performances in 27 countries, appeared in 100
U.S. cities in 31 states and the District of Columbia, headlined three television
specials, performed with two symphonies, and recorded four albums
He died of pancreatic cancer in 1993, aged 75

Clifford Brown (1930 1956)

Born October 30, 1930 in Wilmington, Delaware

An influential and highly rated jazz trumpeter
Had a highly developed sense of harmony and an up-tempo prowess
His sound was warm and round, and notably consistent across the full range of the
instrument
It is said that he played each set as though it would be his last

A Clean Life
The clean-living Brown has been cited as perhaps breaking the influence of
heroin on the jazz world, a model established by Charlie Parker
Clifford stayed away from drugs and was not fond of alcohol
His only vices were chess and doughnuts
Sonny Rollins said of him: Clifford was a profound influence on my personal
life; he showed me that it was possible to live a good, clean life and still be a
good jazz musician

Cherokee
The Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet
Released in 1955
Personnel
Clifford Brown (trumpet)
Harold Land (tenor saxophone)
Richie Powell (piano)
George Morrow (bass)
Max Roach (drums)
Untimely Death
In June 1956, Brown and pianist Richie Powell were being driven from
Philadelphia to Chicago by Powells wife Nancy for the bands next
appearance
While driving on a rainy night on the Pennsylvania Turnpike west of Bedford,
she lost control of the car and it went off the road
All three were killed in the resulting crash
Joy Spring
Recorded in July-August 1954 in Los Angeles
Personnel
Clifford Brown (trumpet)
Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone)
Bob Gordon (baritone saxophone)
Stu Williamson (valve trombone)
Russ Freeman (piano)
Joe Mondragon (bass)
Shelly Manne (drums)

Thelonious Sphere Monk (1917 1982)

Born October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina

The publicity department at Blue Note Records labeled him the High Priest of
Bop
He is often regarded as a founder of bebop, although his playing style evolved
away from the form

Early Life
Monk started playing the piano at the age of nine
Although he had some formal training and eavesdropped on his sisters piano
lessons, he was essentially self-taught
He briefly toured with an evangelist in his teens, playing the church organ
In his late teens he began to find work playing jazz

An Original
Monk was renowned for his distinctively hip sartorial style in suits, hats and
sunglasses
He was also noted for the fact that at times he would stop playing, stand up
from the keyboard and dance in a counterclockwise fashion, while the other
musicians in the combo played
It is said that he would rarely speak to anyone other than his wife Nellie, and
in later years it was reported that he would go through an entire tour without
speaking to the other members of his group
Piano Style
Monks unique piano style was largely perfected during his stint as the house
pianist at Mintons
His improvisations are full of dissonant harmonies
He experimented with chord substitutions and reharmonization
His unorthodox approach to the piano combined a highly percussive attack
with abrupt, dramatic use of silences and hesitations
Many who heard him play thought him to be a hack, but a few recognized his
genius early
Due to his playing style, it was difficult for Monk to get any kind of work, let
alone make any recordings, but he stubbornly did not change
I Mean You
Recorded July 2, 1948
Personnel
Thelonious Monk (piano)
Milt Jackson (vibraphone)
John Simmons (bass)
Shadow Wilson (drums)
Early 1950s
In August 1951, New York City police searched a parked car occupied by
Monk and friend Bud Powell
The police found narcotics in the car, presumed to have belonged to Powell
Monk refused to testify against his friend, so the police confiscated his New
York City Cabaret Card
Without the all-important cabaret card he was unable to play in any New York
venue where liquor was served, and this severely restricted his ability to
perform for several crucial years
Although he continued to write and record, Monk became reclusive, staying at
home and not performing in New York City clubs for six years
Return to Performing
By 1957, the jazz community was finally starting to realize Monks creative
genius
When he returned to performing later that year, it was with great fanfare

His celebrated return gig at the Five Spot in Greenwich Village, which
included a young John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, was sold out for four
months
As his popularity diminished in the late 1960s, he returned to his reclusive
lifestyle
He died of a stroke on February 17, 1982

Ruby, My Dear
Recorded July 1957 in New York City
Personnel
John Coltrane (tenor saxophone)
Thelonious Monk (piano)
Wilbur Ware (bass)
Shadow Wilson (drums)
Rhythm-a-Ning
Recorded November 6, 1962 in New York City
Based on the chord changes to Gershwins I Got Rhythm
Personnel
Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone)
Thelonious Monk (piano)
John Ore (bass)
Frankie Dunlop (drums)
The Composer
Monks tunes were distinctly original in their rhythmic phrasing, offbeat
sparseness, and dissonance
They were, in effect, a natural outgrowth of his piano playing
Many of his compositions eventually became jazz standards
Round Midnight
Recorded November 1968 in Hollywood
Thelonious Monk (solo piano)

Other Important Bebop Figures

Bud Powell (1924 1966) Piano/Composer

Kenny Clarke (1914 1985) Drums
Max Roach (1924 2007) Drums
Dexter Gordon (1923 1990) Tenor Saxophone
J.J. Johnson (1924 2001) Trombone

Sources

History and Tradition of Jazz by Thomas E. Larson

Jazz for Dummies by Dirk Sutro
Jazz a film by Ken Burns
http://en.wikipedia.org

Discography
1. Daahoud by the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet
from the album Clifford Brown and Max Roach
EmArcy 814 645-2
2. A Night in Tunisia by The Quintet
from the album The Quintet: Jazz at Massey Hall
Debut Records
3. Manteca by Dizzy Gillespie
from the album Dizzy Gillespie: The Complete RCA Victor Recordings
BMG Entertainment
4. Cherokee by the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet
from the album Study in Brown
EmArcy Records 814 646-2
5. Joy Spring by Clifford Brown
from the album Clifford Brown Jazz Immortal
EMI-Manhattan Records CDP 7 46850 2
6. I Mean You by Thelonious Monk
from the album The Best of Thelonious Monk: The Blue Note Years
Blue Note Records D 101187
7. Ruby, My Dear by Thelonious Monk
from the album Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Riverside OJCCD-039-2 (JLP-46)
8. Rhythm-a-Ning by Thelonious Monk
from the album Thelonious Monk: Criss-Cross
Columbia CK 48823
9. Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk
from the album Thelonious Monk: Monks Blues
CBS Records CBS 467178 2
10. Parisian Thoroughfare by the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet
from the album Clifford Brown and Max Roach
EmArcy 814 645-2