Discuss the roots of jazz and the elements of jazz that make it unique.

Jazz combines ragtime, gospel, brass, and blues. This is what makes jazz music so unique as it blends many different genres of music. It also was a way for musicians to communicate their feelings in song.

New Orleans was one of the starting points for jazz music as there was a large African American population and they were the pioneers of jazz. Many jazz musicians moved north where jazz became very popular in Chicago in the 1920's. Many famous jazz musicians such as Earl Hines became famous there. New York was another mecca for jazz and was very popular there as well. The piano was incorporated into jazz music in New York.