What is a 'stop-time' chorus?

What is a 'stop-time' chorus?

• A. A section where the ensemble plays short, staccato chords, allowing for solo improvisation.
• B. A long legato solo.
• C. A drum fill section.
• D. An unison long note.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how stop-time creates a moment where the accompaniment punctuates the beat in short bursts while the soloist improvises. In a stop-time chorus, the ensemble delivers brief, staccato chord hits (the punctuations) rather than playing a continuous, flowing accompaniment. Those quick chords outline the changes and keep the rhythm, but the soloist takes the space between the hits to improvise, so the solo really stands out. That description matches the option about a section where the group plays short, staccato chords and invites solo improvisation. The other ideas don’t fit stop-time: a long legato solo describes smooth, connected playing without those abrupt punctuations; a drum fill section is a brief rhythmic flourish, not the sustained stop-time pattern; an unison long note is a single sustained pitch, not the punctuated, improvisation-friendly structure of stop-time.

The idea being tested is how stop-time creates a moment where the accompaniment punctuates the beat in short bursts while the soloist improvises. In a stop-time chorus, the ensemble delivers brief, staccato chord hits (the punctuations) rather than playing a continuous, flowing accompaniment. Those quick chords outline the changes and keep the rhythm, but the soloist takes the space between the hits to improvise, so the solo really stands out. That description matches the option about a section where the group plays short, staccato chords and invites solo improvisation.

The other ideas don’t fit stop-time: a long legato solo describes smooth, connected playing without those abrupt punctuations; a drum fill section is a brief rhythmic flourish, not the sustained stop-time pattern; an unison long note is a single sustained pitch, not the punctuated, improvisation-friendly structure of stop-time.