Jazzcord invite link: discord.gg/qsGRWH5 Big Band
Bands that are big.
Cool Jazz
Reserved solos over structures which tend to be open to more harmonic interpretation. Notably developed on the west coast of North America.
Bebop
Prioritises harmonic complexity, fast tempos, and virtuosic playing.
Hard Bop
Came after bebop. More effort put into composition, influenced by other popular music from the African diaspora at the time such as rhythm and blues. Existed and grew parallel to cool jazz.
Latin Jazz
Emphasising constant forward momentum with rhythmically identifiable patterns from Cuba, Brazil, and other Latin American countries.
Trad-Jazz
Pre-bebop, with the basis of improvisation usually being the melody instead of the underlying chords.
The Port of Harlem Jazzmen (Complete Recordings) Spotify
Fusion
A fusion of jazz and rock, featuring heavy experimentation with electronic instruments.
Post-Bop
Ambiguously defined, somewhere between hard-bop and avant-garde jazz. Less structured than the former but not quite as limitless as the latter.
Free/Avant-garde Jazz
Nearly no harmonic structure. Completely free improvisation based on active musical communication between musicians. Can be a challenging listen.
Feel free to come and discuss this list on the jazz Discord server