The Foundations of Jazz: Ragtime and Blues Although jazz first appeared in New Orleans in the 20th century, the music from which it is derived exists for much longer. The roots of jazz lie in African and European influences which blend to create a distinctive musical quality and swing character. It encompasses a wide range of music, including ragtime and blues, which are two of the most important genres that influenced early jazz. Although there are many differences between the musical styles and instrumentation of ragtime and blues, there are also some similarities in terms of a common origin that contributed to the birth of modern jazz. Although both influenced jazz, ragtime, and blues, ragtime was preceded by minstrel shows. , and adapted many of the same swing rhythms and feels to his music (Haskins). “[Ragtime’s] intoxicating constraint came from the depths of its symbolic drama: the triumph of freedom over slavery” (Waldo 34). Many argue that ragtime is not true jazz because there are few or no forms of improvisation, characteristic of modern jazz. However, ragtime was extremely influential because the music was played using syncopation, which is when off-set notes were emphasized, instead of playing songs like the traditional marches of the time. The song “Michigan Waters,” released by New Orleans native Tony Jackson, is sometimes cited as the beginning of ragtime (Haskins). However, Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag", which uses a form of syncopation, is generally considered the beginning of popular ragtime, and many of his later songs set the standard for other ragtime compositions. Ragtime eventually led to more classical pieces, usually played by white orchestras that had the same "irregular" notes that were so closely linked to ragtime and blues. Ragtime and blues originated from African musicians who incorporated the music and dance of Africa into European music and culture. Some aspects of African music that influenced both styles were the emphasis on percussion and the use of layering of beats and rhythms to create an additive process (Waldo 9). Slave work songs as well as African church hymns also influenced both styles. Additionally, the "suspended" tones that characterize jazz music originated from the influence of black folk singers who tended to articulate or break the third and seventh notes of the musical scale (Haskins). Additionally, many of the musicians who played ragtime or blues were influenced by other musicians they heard. Due to the lack of musicians and the large amount of work available, musicians who played one style of music often chose to perform others in order to earn a little extra money. In this way, all styles influence each other and there is a mix of popular genres that influences how each style is performed. Although blues and ragtime are two very different styles of music, they emerged around the same time and had a mutual influence on the growth of their popularity throughout their careers.