HOME   Reading Texts   "The Cult of Bebop"       ISSUES:   JAZZ CULTURE RACE                       HOME   Reading Texts   "The Cult of Bebop"       ISSUES:   JAZZ CULTURE RACE                     HOME   Reading Texts   "The Cult of Bebop"       ISSUES:   JAZZ CULTURE RACE

JAZZ HISTORY and Bebop Industry control Various industry practices made it more difficult for black bands to succeed.  Also, white musicians would be likely to make more money than African-American musicians due to demographics.  Racial regulations existed at music venues, and were also confronted in other ways whilst the musicians whilst touring.  INTERPRETATIONS QUESTIONS OTHER SOURCES INTERPRETATIONS DeVeaux:  Jazz music was always engaged with the wider industry through records, booking agents, journalists and so on.   African-Americans were able to use the music industry to establish a profession.  Bebop was part of an attempt to gain control over the industry, to create an art and an isolated niche where the African-American performer had the upper hand.  Economic and racial issues were always linked. Belgrad: Bebop artists were opposed to the corporate system behind the music industry.  Their emphasis was on a particular philosophy about the social meaning of their music in its  production, rather than reception. Linking Issues Jazz History Culture: Role of Subculture Culture: Avant-garde / Arts Race: Segregation Race: Civil Rights QUESTIONS In what area of their profession were Bebop musicians seeking authority?  To what extent did the musicians seem to have control? How do different theories of History affect the interpretations above? To what extent was Bebop a reaction to the (white) industry control evident in Swing? How did conflict within the music industry coincide with ethno-religious conflict? See "The Cult of Bebop" Intro    Lie One     Lie Three      Lie Four    Lie Six      Lie Six     Lie Six Lie Six    Lie Six     Lie Seven     Lie Seven    Lie Eight      Lie Eight      Lie Ten Lie Eleven   OTHER SOURCES & DISCUSSION John Andrews' critical review of DeVeaux's The birth of bebop, is a lively engagement with a range of issues.  Disagrees expecially with DeVeaux's emphasis of the imperatives of the commercial industry.