TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
World War II left a profound mark on jazz. When so many musicians were drafted into the armed forces, big bands struggled to survive. Travel restrictions and shortages of shellac—the material used to press records—also meant fewer performances and fewer recordings. The era of the sprawling swing orchestra began to fade.
But the challenges sparked innovation. Smaller groups became the norm, often playing in after-hours clubs where musicians experimented with new ideas. Out of this setting came bebop—a faster, harmonically daring, and more improvisational style.
The war also accelerated social change. Jazz, a symbol of American creativity, became part of the soundtrack for soldiers abroad and civilians at home. When veterans returned, they brought a hunger for something new, fueling jazz’s evolution into modern art music.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and South Carolina Public Radio, made possible by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.