LONG BEACH, Calif. – Anime fan Trevor Linden, 26, is “in love with the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack,” but has expressed absolutely zero interest to further…
The subgenre is called “bebop.” Get some Charlie Parker albums. He recorded some great songs with Dizzy Gillespie. Jet is talking to Spike about talking to Charlie Parker in a dream in the casino episode, iirc. The style of music is fast tempo, quick key changes, novel chord progressions, and virtuoso performers making new music out of standards. It’s analogous to the storytelling in the manga, and to the characters themselves. Each is supremely competent, acting on their own, but complementing and supporting the others to make something extraordinary. The whole soundtrack is a wide range of genres, and it was all written and performed by Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, which is especially impressive because of the sheer variety of styles.
Tank! is more driving trumpets and melodic than classic bebop, so you might also check out some Wynton Marsalis. He played what is called “neo-bop” which was a popular revival of bebop in the 1980s.
Jazz aficionados would probably classify Tank! as “hard-bop” of which there are many great albums and musicians. John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme was one of my favorite albums growing up, but that was the tail end of his hard-bop phase. I would probably suggest Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers album “Hard Bop” as the quintessential hard-bop album.
Thanks very much for the details, will check out everything you recommended, but the trumpets are the hook for me, so I think “hard-bop” is going to be my sweet spot.
Wow, this is a super helpful and informed comment! If you don’t mind, I have a similar question. What would you call the theme for Baccano!? Is that still jazz?
I never watched that show, but I just googled the theme song. It’s more big-band funk and swing jazz, maybe a little rock. I only listened to it once, but it immediately reminded me of Maynard Ferguson.
Take that with a huge grain of salt, because I’m not an expert. I just had a bunch of jazz records as a kid, and loved Cowboy Bebop and bought all the OSTs.
Tank! is more driving trumpets and melodic than classic bebop, so you might also check out some Wynton Marsalis. He played what is called “neo-bop” which was a popular revival of bebop in the 1980s.
Wynton is not dead and still performs.
For hard bop trumpet, you can’t go wrong with Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan.
Yoko Kano is even more impressive when you realize she also worked on Stand Alone Complex and Turn-A Gundam. None of which sound anything like any of the others, but they’re all top notch.
John Williams has a style you can always pick out. So does Hans Zimmer. Yoko Kano? Could be anything, but it’s going to be good.
The subgenre is called “bebop.” Get some Charlie Parker albums. He recorded some great songs with Dizzy Gillespie. Jet is talking to Spike about talking to Charlie Parker in a dream in the casino episode, iirc. The style of music is fast tempo, quick key changes, novel chord progressions, and virtuoso performers making new music out of standards. It’s analogous to the storytelling in the manga, and to the characters themselves. Each is supremely competent, acting on their own, but complementing and supporting the others to make something extraordinary. The whole soundtrack is a wide range of genres, and it was all written and performed by Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, which is especially impressive because of the sheer variety of styles.
Tank! is more driving trumpets and melodic than classic bebop, so you might also check out some Wynton Marsalis. He played what is called “neo-bop” which was a popular revival of bebop in the 1980s.
Jazz aficionados would probably classify Tank! as “hard-bop” of which there are many great albums and musicians. John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme was one of my favorite albums growing up, but that was the tail end of his hard-bop phase. I would probably suggest Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers album “Hard Bop” as the quintessential hard-bop album.
Go figure! 😂
Thanks very much for the details, will check out everything you recommended, but the trumpets are the hook for me, so I think “hard-bop” is going to be my sweet spot.
Maybe check out Buddy Rich or Maynard Ferguson.
Thank you, added to the list!
more trumpet stuff…
Earth Wind and Fire: In the Stone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlavfQHFnPw
Maynard Ferguson: Theme from ‘Rocky’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI88ICejTIA
Buddy Rich: Love For Sale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gx62loIieY
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis: Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJmoztNHqbw
Tower of Power: Wha Is Hip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAatPPEaZDA
Thank you very very much!
Wow, this is a super helpful and informed comment! If you don’t mind, I have a similar question. What would you call the theme for Baccano!? Is that still jazz?
I never watched that show, but I just googled the theme song. It’s more big-band funk and swing jazz, maybe a little rock. I only listened to it once, but it immediately reminded me of Maynard Ferguson.
Take that with a huge grain of salt, because I’m not an expert. I just had a bunch of jazz records as a kid, and loved Cowboy Bebop and bought all the OSTs.
I liked your comment so much I thew it in [email protected] (@[email protected] if you’re on Kbin)
I hope that’s okay!
Fine by me! Glad you liked it.
Just one thing:
Wynton is not dead and still performs.
For hard bop trumpet, you can’t go wrong with Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan.
Good point, I think of Wynton as being from my youth, but I guess I’m not as old as I thought.
Yoko Kano is even more impressive when you realize she also worked on Stand Alone Complex and Turn-A Gundam. None of which sound anything like any of the others, but they’re all top notch.
John Williams has a style you can always pick out. So does Hans Zimmer. Yoko Kano? Could be anything, but it’s going to be good.
Today I learned why there’s a “save comment” button on here. On the tram now listening to Charlie Parker. So far: so excellent. Thanks!