Hard bop arose as a reaction to “cooled-down” cool jazz and returned to the music the earthy strength of African-American roots — blues inflection, gospel fervour, a heavy groove. The rhythm grew more springy, the themes more song-like and memorable.
The style's emblem was Art Blakey's ensemble The Jazz Messengers, a true forge of stars, along with the pianist Horace Silver, the saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and the trumpeter Clifford Brown. Hard bop remained the heart of “mainstream jazz” throughout the 1950s and 60s. Dozens of future stars passed through The Jazz Messengers — Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson — while Cannonball Adderley and Hank Mobley shone alongside them.
