1981 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1981.

• 10 – The 8th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway (April 10 – 12).^[1]

• 20 – 9th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 20 – June 3).^[2]

• 2 – The 2nd Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 2 – 10).^[3]
• 5 – 10th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 5 – 8).^[4]

• 3 – The 15th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 3 – 19).^[5]
• 10 – The 6th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 10 – 12).^[6]

• 18 – The 24th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 18 – 20).^[7]

January

• 9 – Cozy Cole, American drummer (born 1909).
• 21 – Russell Procope, American clarinettist and alto saxophonist (born 1908).

February

• 23 – Shep Fields, American bandleader, clarinetist, and tenor saxophonist (born 1910).
• 28 – Jean Robert, Belgian saxophonist (born 1908).

March

• 5 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader (born 1912).
• 20 – Sonny Red, American alto saxophonist (born 1932).

April

• 3 – Polo Barnes, American clarinetist and saxophonist (born 1901).
• 29 – Cat Anderson, American trumpeter (born 1916).

May

• 12 – Frank Weir, British orchestra leader and saxophonist (born 1911).
• 25 – Georg Malmstén, Finnish singer, musician, composer, orchestra conductor, and actor (born 1902).
• 28 – Mary Lou Williams, African-American pianist and composer (born 1910).

July

• 21 – Snub Mosley, American trombonist (born 1905).

August

• 3 – Seymour Österwall, Swedish tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and composer (born 1908).
• 4 – Tommy Turk, American trombonist (born 1927).
• 24 – Bill Coleman, American trumpeter (born 1904).

September

• 9
  • Fernand Coppieters, Belgian pianist and organist (born 1905).
  • Helen Humes, American singer (born 1913).
• 13 – Bob Bates, American upright bassist (born 1923).

December

• 15 – Samuel Jones, American upright bassist, cellist and composer (born 1924).
• 17 – Roy McCloud, American cornetist (born 1909).
• 27 – Hoagy Carmichael, American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader (born 1899).

January

• 18 – Martin Taxt, Norwegian tubist.

February

• 18 – Kamasi Washington, American saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleader.
• 20 – Chris Thile, American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and radio personality.
• 24 – Gwilym Simcock, British pianist and composer.

March

• 10
  • Elina Duni, Albanian singer and composer.
  • Lars Horntveth, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, band leader, and composer.
• 13 – Ivo Neame, British pianist, saxophonist, and composer, Phronesis.

April

• 3 – Erik Nylander, Swedish drummer, improviser, and composer, Magic Pocket.
• 27 – Hilde Marie Kjersem, Norwegian singer and songwriter.

May

• 3 – Alexander Hawkins, British pianist, bandleader, and composer.
• 19 – Dan Forshaw, English saxophonist and educator.
• 20 – Carmen Souza, Portuguese singer and songwriter of Cape Verdean heritage.

June

• 3 – Sam Amidon, American singer and songwriter.
• 16 – Ola Kvernberg, Norwegian violinist and composer.

July

• 13
  • Olavi Louhivuori, Finnish drummer and composer.
  • Sigurd Hole, Norwegian upright bassist, Eple Trio.
• 21 – Paloma Faith, English singer, songwriter, and actress.

August

• 8 – Maria Ylipää, Finnish singer and actress.
• 14 – Thomas Morgan, American upright bassist and cellist.
• 16 – Øystein Moen, Norwegian pianist and keyboarder.
• 26 – Gwyneth Herbert, British singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer.

September

• 3 – Jørgen Munkeby, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and singer.

October

• 18 – Sarah Buechi, Swiss singer.
• 20 – Kaori Kobayashi, Japanese saxophonist and flautist.
• 24 – Fredrik Mikkelsen, Norwegian guitarist and composer.
• 26 – Erlend Slettevoll, Norwegian pianist, Grand General.

December

• 17 – Kim Myhr, Norwegian guitarist and composer, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.
• 18 – Maciej Obara, Polish saxophonist.

Unknown date

• Anders Thorén, Swedish drummer.
• Andy Davies, Welsh trumpeter.
• Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, Norwegian drummer.

• 1980s in jazz
• List of years in jazz
• 1981 in music

• History Of Jazz Timeline: 1981 at All About Jazz