The soulful, bluesy melodies and hard driving groove of Hard Bop emerged in the 1950s and changed the course of jazz, yet again. 

More than half a century may have passed, but many fans still list the music of Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Cannonball Adderley and their colleagues as the best sub-genre of the jazz.

But what are the specific elements that make this music so catchy? What influences do these classic players share? And who today, in 2023, is still carrying the torch for this style of jazz? 

To celebrate the heroes of hard bop, we’ve prepared a deep-dive into seven iconic Hard Bop tracks made famous by 7 iconic musicians. 

Every 4 days you’ll get access to a new module which:

1) Introduces the iconic song-of-the-session

2) Tells the story of the album it came from and the musicians who made it

3) Explains one key musical element you can hear which is typical of the hard bop era 

4) Provides some connected recommended listening from the modern era

By the end of the month, you’ll have studied 7 classic recordings and, perhaps more importantly, be armed with a whole host of new listening tips which bring the essence of hard bop into the 21st Century.

"The more I learn, the more I enjoy"

Many fans around the world were drawn to jazz not through formal education, but through that magical 'feeling' when they first heard it. 

Those first few bars of Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, John Coltrane... 

Many of the most devout jazz fans have the feeling that, without the knowledge of a professionally educated jazz musician, there might be things they’re missing when listening to the music they love. 

"I want to know more about the music I love..."

We’re not talking about complicated musical theory or advanced techniques, but things happening both on the record and in the world at that time which can give a better appreciation of the playing and improve the listening experience.

Essentially: why do you love the sounds of Hard Bop and how can you use that knowledge to discover more?!

"I want to become a better informed listener and fan"

What if you could identify the things that are happening in your favourite albums and, as a result, uncover other amazing records in a similar style? 

What if you knew why you like the specific genres of jazz that you do and turn that knowledge into a tool for new discoveries? 

Would knowing more about the backstories of the specific musicians increase your appreciation for what they are playing? 

Of course, being a consummate jazz fan is a life long quest, but my goal is to help you uncover a few things that will help you make progress with this, in an enjoyable way.

The goal: within 14 days you will have some extra understanding of not only what you like when it comes to jazz, but some new ways to talk about this with friends and fellow fans.

FAQs

Do I need any musical training for this challenge?

No! Although beginner musicians can benefit from this challenge too, the lessons are made to be understandable by anyone with some curiosity and motivation!

How long will this take?

Every other day you'll get access to a new module which you can work through whilst listening to the tunes of the day and can be completed in 10-15 minutes.

What if I'm busy that month?

Registering for the challenge gives you lifetime access to all the videos, so whilst it might be fun to work through it with us each day, it's not essential.

Do I need to buy these records?

No. We will provide Spotify & Youtube links for each song, so you can stream it for free online.

[We'll also provide links to buy in case you find some to add to your collection though!]

Can I ask questions during the challenge?

Yes! Each session includes a comments section where you can communicate with Jazzfuel host Matt Fripp and the other participants.