Jazz Origins explores the birth of jazz music, tracing its development from African American communities to its global impact. The book highlights how jazz, more than just a genre, represents a cultural shift fueled by improvisation, rhythm, and collective expression in the face of adversity.

Early jazz musicians innovated with improvisation, a technique where musicians spontaneously create melodies and rhythms, and swung away from European classical music's rigid structure.

The book meticulously examines jazz history, starting with the pre-jazz musical landscape and the blues' foundational role. It then delves into early jazz styles in New Orleans, spotlighting pivotal figures like Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong.

The story continues through the Great Migration and the spread of jazz to northern cities, concluding with the early dissemination of jazz through recordings and radio, marking the start of its worldwide influence. This approach emphasizes the collective nature of early jazz development and challenges traditional narratives by highlighting the contributions of often-overlooked musicians.