Hard Bop

It''s nineteen fifty-something, in a dark, cramped, smoke-filled room. Everyone''s wearing black. And on-stage a tenor is blowing his heart out, a searching, jagged saxophone journey played out against a moody, walking bass and the swish of a drummer''s brushes. To a great many listeners--from African American aficionados of the period to a whole new group of fans today--this is the very embodimen...