Jazz was a music that was invented in the 1900’s, but its name itself was given in the 1920's, even though it was the same kind of music that had been played before jazz began. The 1920’s were then called, "The Jazz Age". People said, "The Jazz Age is born".

There are many theories of how jazz started, but there is only one real answer to where jazz was started. Some people say that jazz was created because some people wanted a different flavor of music and just started making it up. Other people say that jazz began with the African Americans who were brought over by slave ships. They brought their homeland music over to America. People then took the African-Americans’ music and changed it to form jazz.

People also differ on whether jazz is a living or non-living music. This means that people do not know whether to classify jazz as a lively music (one that has a lot of rhythm and beat) or a slow, relaxing music (one that is classified as a dancing and relaxing music). No one really knows who invented jazz, where it came from, or if jazz is a living or non-living music, because there are so many different beliefs.

   The roots of jazz grew out of a very culturally and socially revolutionary life. The beginning was rough, or very harsh for jazz; people were not yet used to this newly discovered music. As the jazz years progressed, people began to accept jazz and grew fond of it. Kansas City’s jazz roots began in the early 1900’s, when marching band music, ragtime music and blues music started to emerge.

There were many events that happened while jazz was popular. In 1937, traveling people heard jazz music in Kansas City, and decided to stay in Kansas City, instead of going to their original destination. Their destination was mainly headed for some of the really popular states, like New Orleans. Sometimes they were headed out west, to look for new land. Some were going east, to live in some of the most populated states.

In 1945, some black jazz players weren’t allowed in some strict nightclubs that still did not allow jazz players, so when they entered, they would be horsewhipped. In 1984, one of the most famous jazz players of all time, Count Basie, died in Hollywood. He was around 80 years old when he died. In 1997, the Kansas City Jazz Museum, the Gem Theatre and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opened to the public. The Jazz Museum focuses attention on the cultural heritage of jazz music.

Today, jazz is popular all over the United States. The Jazz Museum shows us a very good piece of history and how jazz has changed into the jazz we know today.

Jazz is very educational because it is part of the African-American heritage that crosses cultural barriers. You can also learn about the famous people who were involved in jazz (singers and musicians).

Jazz is a beautiful music because it has a lot of rhythm, it can be a slow, soothing music, it can be a fast, boogie-woogie music, or it can be a mix of both types of jazz rhythms.