In this essay, I intend to distinguish the most important features of Swing and Bebop, how they developed and in so doing, ascertain how the two styles differed. Subsequently, I hope to understand why Bebop was not as successful an approach as the popularity of Swing despite their relationship.
The swing era began during the late 1920's and dominated until well into the 1940's. The music was quite different to earlier jazz in many ways such as the use of bands of ten or more men requiring more focus on written arrangements and less on collective improvisation. The music consisted of a stronger swing atmosphere, accomplished with an augmented use of swing eighth-note patterns. As a result, there was a smoother rhythmic feeling in swing. In the song, 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' by Lionel Hampton, we can evidently hear the swing eighth-note patterns and the distinct sections of the big band.
The use of the 'Big Band' as it was consequently named, was 'invented' by the composers / arrangers Fletcher Henderson and Don Redman. …
