Early bebop drummer; he played the ride rhythms on a cymbal suspended above the drum set; also known for his "feathering" of the bass drum; performed on such notable recordings as Koko and Night In Tunisia:

Bop established the primacy of virtuosic solo improvisation. From the measure of the artistry and virtuosity of the solo improvisers.

Explanation: Bebop was a sort of "underground" jazz movement in its early years. Its developers and practitioners met in the after-hours of New York's jazz clubs, experimenting with new harmonic and melodic idioms during jam sessions that would sometimes last until dawn.

-Focused on improvisation and solo virtuosity in individual solos, not melody, but focused on harmonics.

The emergence of bebop melodies or "heads."

Bop tempos were faster than any jazz had ever been. This was not dancing music, and it was never really intended to be popular. It was jazz for the artists themselves and for the true jazz lovers.