what is jazz

Jazz is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz is characterized by improvisation, swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms, and a heavy emphasis on rhythmic invention. Jazz is a complex form of music that often doesnt have "instant appeal" like other more familiar styles of music, such as pop, rock, rap, and hip-hop. Jazz musicians place a high value on finding their own sound and style, and that means, for example, that trumpeters, saxophonists, and pianists all have their own unique sound. Jazz can express many different emotions, from pain to sheer joy, and it has been a powerful voice for people suffering unfair treatment because of the color of their skin or because they lived in a country run by a cruel dictator.