Rhythmic jazz lead accepts honour in retirement (5)
I believe the answer is:
bebop
'rhythmic jazz' is the definition.
'bebop' can be an answer for 'jazz' (bebop is a kind of jazz). I am not sure about the 'rhythmic' bit.
'lead accepts honour in retirement' is the wordplay.
'lead' becomes 'Pb' (Pb is the chemical symbol for lead).
'accepts' indicates putting letters inside.
'honour' becomes 'OBE' (Order of the British Empire award).
'in retirement' says the letters should be written backwards (retire can mean to go back or backwards).
'pb' enclosing 'obe' is 'pobeb'.
'pobeb' back-to-front is 'BEBOP'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bebop that I've seen before include "Jazz style of 40s" , "Jazz genre" , "1940s' jazz characterised by virtuosity" , "Variety of jazz from the 1940s" , "1940s' form of modern jazz" .)