Which city is most closely associated with the birth of jazz music?

New Orleans is most closely associated with the birth of jazz music due to its unique cultural blend and vibrant musical scene in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The city served as a melting pot of various musical traditions, influenced by African, Caribbean, French, Spanish, and Creole cultures. This rich cultural environment led to the development of jazz, which combined elements from blues, ragtime, and brass band music.

Notable figures in jazz, such as Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, emerged from New Orleans, further solidifying its status as the birthplace of the genre. The city's use of improvisation and complex rhythms became defining characteristics of jazz, making it a significant historical and cultural landmark for this music form.

Other cities, while important to the evolution of jazz, such as Chicago and New York, are more often recognized for the subsequent developments and popularization of jazz rather than its origins. Los Angeles has played a role in certain aspects of jazz music but is not considered a birthplace of the genre.