Jazz originated from New Orleans in the 1920s, which was coined the “Jazz Age.” This era was marked by the end of World War 1, Prohibition, and the evolution of the culture through this decade. 

Regarded as the “Cradle of Jazz,” by the renowned musician “Jelly Roll” Morton, New Orleans saw the creation of one of the most influential types of music. In New Orleans specifically, jazz is a melting pot of various experiences, cultures, and stories. 

The influence of New Orleans’ jazz is thought to come about as a result of the Congo Square, a spiritual meeting ground where enslaved peoples gathered for celebrations. Moreover, some believe that jazz came from the drumming and Voodoo rituals held there before the Civil War. 

In its early stages, traditional New Orleans jazz featured the trumpet, cornet, and trombone. The dynamic and highly rhythmic genre includes high, fast-paced beats as well as complex chords. Jazz gained its popularity in social spaces, like speakeasies and clubs throughout the country. 

Many jazz legends came from New Orleans such as Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Trombone Shorty, and Kermit Ruffins. 

New Orleans hosts their annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in commemoration of the genre in its birthplace. The jazz scene in New Orleans is very diverse and nuanced in its history and lineage throughout the city. For example, the African dance and drumming tradition conducted at Congo Square significantly contributed to the development of jazz.