What is Jazz music?

What is Jazz music??
How do we know which the Jazz music is??

Jazz is, according to Art Blakey, "what washes away the dust of everyday life."

It is the music of America, strong, bold, sexual, rhythmic, and endlessly innovative.

If you have to ask this question, you couldn't possibly understand the answer anyway. Start by looking at Wikipedia and go to All Music.com for some pointers.

A true American Art Form.

it must swing or it must be improvised ; it can include both elements. But if it does not do either than it would be hard to call it jazz.

You just know. Jazz is more of a feeling than a genre. Of course you have Parker, Ellington, Monk, Davis, Dizzy, Evans, and those guys but people like DiMeola, Corea, Mclaughlin and those guys...Once you become obsessed with it you'll know what's what. It's a true art form.