Jazz has one of the deepest free archives of any music genre. Early recordings from the 1920s and 1930s are in the public domain, and the Internet Archive also hosts an enormous collection of live concert recordings donated by musicians and tapers who believed music should be shared freely. The result is one of the richest listening libraries anywhere on the internet — and it's completely free.
The Early Jazz Era
Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings from the late 1920s are among the most important recordings in American music history. Made between 1925 and 1928, they captured jazz in its formative moment — the point where improvisation became the music's organizing principle. Many of these recordings are now in the public domain and available to stream. Duke Ellington's early orchestra recordings from the same period are equally essential.
The Swing Era
By the 1930s, jazz had become popular music. Big bands led by Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and Artie Shaw filled ballrooms and broadcast on radio nationwide. Many of these recordings — especially those made before 1928 — are freely available. The Archive holds an extensive collection of radio broadcasts and transcription recordings from this period that document the swing era in remarkable detail.
Live Concert Recordings
Beyond the historical recordings, the Archive hosts thousands of concert tapes from musicians who actively encouraged recording and sharing. The Grateful Dead, whose jazz-influenced improvisation sessions could stretch for hours, donated their entire archive of audience recordings. These aren't historical artifacts — they're living documents of what jazz-influenced music sounds like in a room full of people. Browse free jazz →
How to Explore
Start with the most downloaded recordings to find what other listeners have found most valuable. Then follow the trail of related artists — the Archive links related recordings and shows you what other people who listened to one artist also explored. Browse all free music →