New to Jazz

[Beach]

The father of bebop: Thelonius Monk. Great pianist. Great player in general. If you have any interest in more strange and weird jazz, try out Ornette Coleman and Sun Ra.

While Thelonius Sphere Monk was a truly great pianist and innovator, he wasn't "the father of Bebop". That title would have to go John Birks 'Dizzy' Gillespie (brilliant trumpeter/arranger) who pretty much came up with the term 'bebop' as I recall and his partner-in-crime, the one only Charles 'Bird' Parker.
Great as he was Thelonius Sphere Monk came along later than either, as did Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, etcetera.