Jazz was born out of blues and ragtime in New Orleans about 100 years ago, but its roots can be found in the interpretations of American and European classical music entwined with African and slave folk songs and the influences of West African culture. Although considered by most people the  "American classical music", since then it had been adopted by many countries.  Its composition and style have changed many times throughout the years with each performer's personal interpretation and improvisation, which is also one of the greatest appeals of the genre. In Poland, jazz has long been synonymous with freedom. " No dictatorship can tolerate jazz,” the musician Dave Brubeck told a Polish audience in 1958 when he and his quartet became the first American jazz band to perform behind the Iron Curtain. “It is the first sign of a return to freedom.” The Sopot Jazz Festival embraces the music genre's freedom of interpretation, presenting an ambitious repertoire, delivered by the world's most renowned jazz musicians as well as the energetic newcomers. The artists' lineup is impressive and includes Adam Pierończyk, Marcin Wasilewski Trio, NES, Mołr Drammaz, Bibi Tanga, Angelika Niescier and Archie Shepp. The Sopot Jazz Festival will be held on October 10-13, 2019, and will take place in two venues, Grand Hotel and Sfinks 700. This year's curator of the festival is Rainer Kern, who managed projects in places like Heidelberg, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Kuala Lumpur, Yunnan Region China and New York. He is the director of the largest jazz festival in Germany "Enjoy Jazz – International Festival for Jazz and More" in Heidelberg.