Rethinking Jazz Education: Diverse Entry Points for Beginners
The post highlights a common frustration among jazz beginners who are consistently directed towards bebop artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, questioning when bebop became the sole representation of 'true jazz.' This indicates a market need for more diverse and inclusive entry points into the genre. Businesses could develop curated playlists, educational courses, or streaming features that introduce beginners to a wider range of jazz styles beyond bebop (e.g., traditional, fusion, modern, avant-garde). Marketing efforts could focus on 'discover your true jazz' or 'jazz beyond the classics' to attract new listeners who feel unrepresented by current, often narrow, recommendations.
Origin Reddit Post
r/music
When did bebop become representative of true jazz?
Posted by u/Less-Cat7657•08/13/2025
Gonna get a lotta hate for this, but here it goes
Basically every post I've seen of a beginner asking what artists to explore, the comments always focus on Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and t
Top Comments
u/Less-Cat7657
Miles was both bebop and cool jazz, and many other subgenres.
I'm including everything after around 1945, when the entertainer musicians saw where jazz was going and tapped out, going in th
u/RahmMostel
I ain't the most educated when it comes to bebop in general, but Miles has always been cool jazz in my eyes. Like I understand what you're saying, but I think you're trying to include cool ja
u/RahmMostel
I'm not sure what the last bit has to do with your original point but it is an interesting observation nonetheless. Jazz has continued to this day as a thing that still changes but not by muc
u/emalvick
I think there are a few reasons. One is the advent of the modern LP, which corresponds with the beginning of the bebop era. Bebop was the modern jazz then and maybe prior jazz was scoffed a
u/Less-Cat7657
Miles wasn't even born yet when Bennie Moten was creating hep bangers
u/Itschatgptbabes420
Miles wasn’t but a lot were around.
Kansas City is the truth and jazz wouldn’t be where it is without it.
u/Itschatgptbabes420
When those guys stopped playing in Benny Moten’s orchestra.
u/Less-Cat7657
Didn't the youths go into jump blues (proto-rock n roll)? Additionally, swing jazz crooners like Sinatra had a big youth following. I could be wrong but bebop never seemed to me like a "pop"