hard bop

American  

noun

1. an aggressive, driving, hot style of modern jazz developed by East Coast musicians in the late 1950s as a rejection of the more relaxed, cool style of West Coast jazz.

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hard bop British  

noun

1. a form of jazz originating in the late 1950s that is rhythmically less complex than bop

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Compare meaning

How does hard-bop compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hard bop vs. bebop

Example Sentences

He adds a funky countermelody, reminiscent of Horace Silver or Lee Morgan, and remakes “Billy Joe” into a remarkable slice of hard bop, a 12-minute roller-coaster ride.

From The Wall Street Journal

Heath, who was known as Tootie, was primarily a bebop and hard bop drummer but was adept in a range of styles.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Heath, who was known as Tootie, was primarily a bebop and hard bop drummer but was adept in a range of styles.

From New York Times

From Jan. 16-18, Cool School & Hard Bop concerts will explore midcentury jazz, featuring works from Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach and others.

From New York Times

Iconic jazz label Blue Note — home to essential hard bop albums from legends like Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock — is toasting its 85th anniversary by assembling an all-star band of some of its brightest contemporaries for a North American tour.

From Seattle Times