African Americans developed Jazz out of musical traditions from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe.

In the Blues singers and instrumentalists improvised (made up their parts as they went along).

In New Orleans, Jazz players developed improvisation, each instrument playing its own part according to an agreed musical structure.

Sidney Bechet, Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie contributed in their different ways to the development of Jazz.

The Jazz Daze characters reflect Courtney's respect for these and other great American jazz musicians.