| an experimental, nonmelodic, and often free-flowing style of modern jazz, esp. in the form of highly dissonant, rhythmically complex orchestral arrangements. Compare bop 1 , cool jazz, hard bop, modern jazz. |
| any of various styles of jazz that have evolved since the early 1940s and are marked generally by harmonic and rhythmic complexity, emphasis on chord progressions rather than melody, a tendency to draw on classical forms and styles, and eclectic, allusive melodic tags in improvisation. Also called progressive jazz. Compare bop 1 , cool jazz, hard bop. |