birthplace and still best place for jazz
I don't recall New Orleans being in the Midwest

Excuse me for arguing with a Jazzoctopus, but, how about Kansas City or St. Louis? See the third paragraph in: http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/jazz.htm

Granted, I agree that New Orleans is the birthplace, but maybe the writer read this article. By the way, I truly enjoyed the Kansas City jazz band that played for our group when I was there in November. Very different from New Orleans jazz.