What style of jazz emphasizes improvisation over written composition?

Bebop is the style of jazz that emphasizes improvisation over written composition. Emerging in the 1940s, bebop marked a significant departure from the dance-oriented forms of earlier jazz styles. Unlike traditional jazz, which often focused on arranged performances with predictable structures, bebop prioritizes the spontaneous creativity of the performer. Musicians in this genre use complex chord progressions and irregular rhythms to showcase their technical skill and inventiveness, often taking turns improvising solos that elaborate on the underlying harmonic framework rather than adhering closely to a pre-written melody. This improvisational focus is central to the bebop aesthetic, distinguishing it from styles that rely more heavily on composition or arranged pieces.