How did african american slaves influence jazz? a. they used music for specific cultural functions. bthey used drums for communication. c. they used spirituals to ease the pain of everyday life. d. all of the above.

The correct answer is D. All of the above.

Jazz music originated in the second half of the 19th century in the south of the United States. It was the result of the great cultural mix that was present in the south of the country, and it found its way within the Afro-American community that was enslaved during that period. These Afro-American slaves used music as a form of entertainment and also as a way to deal with the pains of everyday life, to express their emotions and feel free for a little while. In this sense, music gave them spiritual relief. Jazz is characterized by improvisation and the freedom of the performers, for that reason, it is said that the freest music was born from slaved musicians.