Swing to Bop

This chapter narrates the radical change in musical tastes and musical revolution of swing to bop, and the challenging positioning of the Nicholases within that musical revolution: the brothers’ insistence on remaining within the swing dance tradition and a musical aesthetic that was aligned with the classic jazz of Duke Ellington. This choice ran counter to the choices of such tap dancers as Teddy Hale, Jimmy Slyde, and members of the Hoofers, who forged a transition to the cadences of bebop. The Nicholas brothers carved a path between these two musical traditions, demonstrating a full-bodied expressiveness in their dancing that was steeped in classical jazz and the quintessence of swing.