Final answer:
Sweet bands lacked the improvisation, complex rhythms, and blues elements of traditional jazz. James P. Johnson composed in genres beyond stride piano, including classical and Broadway. Bebop arose as a complex jazz style emphasizing skillful improvisation, reflecting musicians' desires for autonomy and social change.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the swing era, sweet bands typically lacked several key elements of traditional jazz. These fundamentals included less emphasis on improvisation, a more structured and homogenized sound, and an avoidance of the blues and complex rhythms inherent in more authentic jazz styles. Sweet bands were designed to appeal to a broader, often white, audience with more commercial, dance-oriented music that compromised the rawness and spontaneity of true jazz.
James P. Johnson, recognized for his stride piano style, was a prolific composer whose works encompassed a variety of styles beyond stride piano. Johnson wrote classical compositions, operettas, Broadway scores, and popular songs. His versatility reflects the multifaceted nature of music during the Harlem Renaissance and the cross-pollination of musical genres.
Bebop emerged in the 1940s as a musical and sociopolitical reaction to the constraints of swing music and the broader societal issues faced by jazz musicians. Highly skilled musicians like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie sought to create a more complex, less danceable form of jazz that focused on fast tempos, virtuosic soloing, and harmonic ingenuity. Bebop was a musical rebellion that mirrored the social aspirations of African American musicians for more autonomy, respect, and recognition of their artistry.