Free jazz se javlja krajem 50-tih godina XX. stoljeća i razbija tradicionalni oblik improvizacije. Pokret se temeljio na potpuno slobodnoj improvizaciji. Glazbenici koji sviraju free jazz stilom odbacuju zadanu melodiju, harmoniju, oblik i ne koriste zadanu građu iz tonaliteta. Zvuk je često agresivan, glasan i disonantan.
Ornette Coleman, Moers Festival, 2011
Prve snimke snimaju grupe Inituition i Digression pod vodstvom Lenny Tristanoa. Probijanje stila počinje sredinom pedesetih godina snimkama Ornettea Colemana (Something Else i Tomorrow is the question) i prva dva albuma Cecila Taylora (Jazz advance i Looking ahead). Stil postiže najveću slavu kad Ornette Coleman dolazi u New York i izdaje albume "The shape of jazz to come" i "Change of century".
Dva najznačajnija predstavnika su: Ornette Coleman i John Coltrane. Drugi glazbenici koji su djelovali su: Sun Ra, Charles Mingus, Jackie McLean, Cecil Taylor, The Jimmy Giuffe Trio, Chico Hamilton.
Od europskih predstavnika ovog pravca treba izdvojiti saksofoniste: Petera Brötzmanna, Evana Parkera, trombonista Connyja Bauera, gitarista Dereka Baileya, pijanista Freda Van Hovea i bubnjara Hana Benninka. Treba izdvojiti i one koji su svoje djelovanje započeli iza željezne zavjese poput: Tomasza Stanka, Zbigniewa Seiferta, te Vjačeslava Ganelina.
Albert Ayler - Spiritual Unity (1965)
Art Ensemble of Chicago - A Jackson in Your House (1969)
Anthony Braxton - Town Hall 1972
Peter Brötzmann - Machine Gun (1968)
Derek Bailey, Barry Guy, Paul Rutherford - Iskra 1903 (1972)
John Coltrane - Ascension (1965)
Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation (1961)
Don Cherry - Mu (1&2) (1969)
Jimmy Giuffre – Free Fall (1963)
Gunter Hampel: Heartplants (1964)
Tony Oxley: 4 Compositions for Sextett (1970)
Michel Portal: Alors (1970)
Manfred Schoof: Voices (1966)
Alexander von Schlippenbach: Globe Unity
Archie Shepp: Mama Too Tight
Alan Silva & The Celestrial Communications Orchestra - Seasons
Spontaneous Music Ensemble: Oliv (1969)
Tomasz Stańko - Music for K (1970)
John Surman - The Trio
Cecil Taylor- Conquistador (1966)
Synopsis - Auf der Elbe schwimmt ein rosa Krokodil
Attila Zoller - The Horizon Beyond
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