New Orleans is widely considered to be the birthplace of jazz as its influence reached across the nation. The jazz that we know and love today was largely shaped by the culture and musicians that started in New Orleans. It helps that New Orleans used to be the center of commerce due to its proximity to the Mississipi River which, according to the book, was a flourishing trade route for American, European, and Caribbean trade lines. I think the fact that New Orleans was a major trade hub at the time is what really helped increase its influence on jazz because of the flow of people in and around New Orleans. Just like how the African Americans brought some of their musical taste and traditions, the people that came through New Orleans also