Jazz has African and European origins. The blues have African origins.
Both were "imported" to the US.
Now that I’m thinking about it, ragtime (music) might qualify as uniquely “American.”
What nonsense. The Blues were not imported, it started here just like Bluegrass, Country & Rock n Roll. (<-———AMERICAN CULTURE)
By the way, having a defined culture doesn’t mean the absence of foreign influence. Japan is doing just fine without displacing their own people. They take the good & keep out the bad.....like rational, thinking people.
Total nonsense. Both are American cultural creations, built upon influences from elsewhere. Same goes for bluegrass, with its celtic influences.
Jazz and Blues are homegrown. The whole world knows that beyond reasonable doubt. There are desperate efforts to have them African rooted, but that’s like saying every human is of African descent because humans began there long ago.
I defy you to play me a song predating 1920, from Africa, that even slightly reminds anyone of the 1920-forward American Jazz and Blues. For bonus points, prove it then arrived here and was an influence.
Native drums and rhythm don’t count. Its so general that it is not an ancestor.