New Orleans' unusual history, its unique outlook on life, its rich ethnic and cultural makeup, and the resulting cultural interaction set the stage for the development and evolution of many distinctive traditions. The city is famous for its festivals, foods, and, especially, music. Each ethnic group in New Orleans contributed to the very active musical environment in the city, and in this way to the development of early jazz. The roots of jazz were largely nourished in the African-American community but became a broader phenomenon that drew from many communities and ethnic groups in New Orleans.

Source: National Park Service