<human>:  Teach me about the history of jazz music.
<bot>: Jazz music has its roots in a variety of African and European musical styles that were brought together in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th century. Influenced by gospel, blues, and other African-American musical styles, jazz soon evolved into its own distinct genre. During the 1920s and 1930s, jazz experienced its greatest expansion, with jazz bands performing in dance halls and nightclubs throughout the country. Characterized by improvisation, syncopated rhythms, and use of a wide range of instruments, jazz music evolved over the decades, with different subgenres such as swing, bebop, and cool jazz emerging. Though it has seen ebbs and flows in popularity over the years, jazz remains a beloved part of American culture and an important influence on other genres of music.