[Dixielandjazz] Chordal & Melodic Improvisation

[Edgerton, Paul A]

>Improvisation is what defines the music as jazz.

So you say, and that's a common point of view.

The elements of music are melody, harmony and rhythm. An improviser
typically draws on all of these in shaping his solos, but often one element
will predominate. In my opinion, rhythm is king. It's rhythm that makes a
thing recognizable as jazz, improvised or not.

Paul Edgerton, who wonders, "Where does the time come from?"