AllAboutJazz.com, (AAJ) a Web only music site, launched its DRM-free Jazz download store on Monday. The new store, which is part of a community site for jazz lovers, is focused on indies, out of print and never released jazz.

AAJ has launched with featured music from such distinguished record labels as CTI (Creed Taylor), Mel Bay, Playscape, Smalls, Summit, Kufala, Cryptogramophone, as well as international imprints like Fresh Sound/New Talent, Ayler, Jazz Continuum, and innovative upstarts like Jazz Excursion, Blue Canoe and Abstract Logix. AAJ plans to add new labels regularly after April 30th, including music from Passin' Thru, Bee Jazz, Thrill Jockey, and Hyena.

Songs are DRM-free, in MP3 format at 320 kbps encoding, and range from US$0.99 to $1.49, depending on the length of the song.

iPO spoked with Michael Ricci, the founder, who said, "We're very aware of what our customers want. They want DRM-free music without hassles that they can play anywhere on any player."

Mr. Ricci also told iPO that AAJ has been somewhat of a watering hole for jazz purists. "We're getting about 1.5 million visitors a month. We have a bulletin board system where artists and customers can chat with each other. There's been a bit of a "vibe" to it."

Currently, there about 200 albums in the catalog with plans to add to that considerably over the coming year. The intention is to "work directly with record labels and distributors," according to James Pearse, the AAJ Download Store manager, "to build a store that offers a deep catalog of music spanning the many genres of jazz."