JJazzLab 5.0.1 (Nov. 26, 2025)
New features 5.0.1
-
New jjSwing rhythm/style with realistic walking bass and drums
The ultimate style for practicing jazz standards. Requires Fluidsynth. -
Track overrides
This new rhythm parameter lets you use tracks from different rhythms/styles in a song part. -
Customizable chord progressions
Define your own chord progressions and easily insert them. -
Chord auditioning and improved chord type selection
Use ctrl+shift click on a chord symbol, or press M to audition all the selected chord symbol. -
Quickly hide a rhythm parameter
Use the new hide button (X) directly in the rhythm parameter. -
Chord display transposition for sax players (or other transposing instruments)
Actual music is unchanged but displayed chord symbols are transposed. -
User tracks can now be muted in song parts
See the 5.0.1 RELEASE NOTES for more details and the complete list of changes.
Download
If a problem arises when installing JJazzLab see the detailed installation instructions in the online documentation.
Windows
Download and run: JJazzLab-5.0.1-Win64-Setup.exe
If you get a Windows security popup when running the installer, this is normal: the installer was not “signed” with a developer certificate.
Why? This would cost me about 100$/year. JJazzLab is 100% free with no ads, I just can’t.
JJazzLab is NOT a malware! You can use the SHA256 key available here to check the downloaded file integrity.
To run the installer, just choose Run anyway.
Mac
You must first install FluidSynth yourself (version >= 2.2.0, I recommend via homebrew).
Then download and install:
-
JJazzLab-5.0.1-mac-aarch64.pkg for computers with Mx processor
-
JJazzLab-5.0.1-mac-x64.zip for older computers with x64 processor
Extract and run file bin/jjazzlab to start JJazzLab.
Consult the installation instructions for MacOS for more details.
If MacOs prevents you from opening the .pkg file for security reason, this is normal: the .pkg file was not “notarized” via the Apple process.
Why? Doing the notarization process would require me to pay 100$/year to Apple and to buy a MacBook. JJazzLab is 100% free with no ads, I just can’t.
JJazzLab is NOT a malware! You can use the SHA256 key available here to check the downloaded file integrity.
To open the .pkg file anyway, go to Systems settings/Privacy & Security, scroll-down to the Open anyway button, as explained in this Apple online doc.
Linux Ubuntu/Debian family (x64)
Download the .deb file and install it as shown below.
sudo apt-get install ./jjazzlab_5.0.1-1_amd64.deb # this will also download and install fluidsynth (>=2.2.0) if requiredIf FluidSynth makes some “crackling” noise, make sure your Linux is optimized for audio applications.
Linux OpenSUSE family (x64)
Download the .rpm file and install it as shown below.
sudo zypper install ./jjazzlab-5.0.1-0.x86_64.rpm # this will also download and install fluidsynth (>=2.2.0) if requiredIf FluidSynth makes some “crackling” noise, make sure your Linux is optimized for audio applications.
Linux others (x64)
You must first install FluidSynth (>=2.2.0) yourself.
Then download and extract the tar.xz file as shown below.
JJazzLab-5.0.1-linux-x64.tar.xz
tar -xf JJazzLab-5.0.1-linux-x64.tar.xzRun file bin/jjazzlab to start JJazzLab.
If FluidSynth makes some “crackling” noise, make sure your Linux is optimized for audio applications.
Free and open-source software
Contribute to the code on GitHub.
If you’re not a developer, you still can help:
- DONATE!
- add translations (japanese, spanish, …)
- improve the online documentation
- participate in the JJazzLab forum
Acknowledgements
Let us be grateful to the people and projects that are or were a part of JJazzLab, or those who had contributed to it in some way.
- Apache Netbeans: For the powerful IDE and modular application framework.
- FluidSynth: for the SoundFont synth
- XStream: for the XML serialization
- JFugue: for the Midi file parsing
- Peter Wierzba, Michael P. Bedesem, Jørgen Sørensen/jososoft: for the precious information about the Yamaha style file format
- InnoSetup: for the Windows installer
- John Nebauer: for the SGM-v2.01-NicePianosGuitarsBass SoundFont which served as a basis for the JJazzLab SoundFont.
- Matt Finley: for the help on the Band-In-A-Box import feature
- The JJazzLab translations top contributors
- Freepik: for some svg graphics
- My family: for the too many evenings and week-ends spent on this project

