1904 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1904.

Events

Jelly Roll Morton started touring in the Southern United States, working in minstrel shows, including Will Benbow's Chocolate Drops.

Births

; January21 – Juice Wilson, American violinist.
; February1 – Tricky Sam Nanton, American trombonist.12 – Donald Lambert, American stride pianist.23 – Cie Frazier, American drummer.29 – Jimmy Dorsey, American clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader.
; March1 – Glenn Miller, American trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader.12 – Freddy Johnson, American pianist and singer.25 – Pete Johnson, American pianist.27 – Hal Kemp, American alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger.
; April4

* Arne Hülphers, Swedish pianist and bandleader.
* Peter van Steeden, Dutchc-American composer.9 – Sharkey Bonano, American trumpeter, band leader, and vocalist.21 – Leo Adde, American jazz drummer.29 – Russ Morgan, American big band leader and musical arranger.

; May21 – Fats Waller, American jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer.26 – George Formby, English actor, singer-songwriter, and comedian.31

* Otto Hardwick, American saxophonist.
* Stan Brenders, Belgian pianist and bandleader.

; June2 – Valaida Snow, African-American trumpeter and entertainer.6 – Raymond Burke, American clarinetist.7 – Don Murray, American clarinetist and saxophonist.11 – Pinetop Smith, American pianist.24 – Phil Harris, American comedian, actor, and singer.
; July30 – Dick McDonough, American guitarist and banjoist.
; August4 – Bill Coleman, American trumpeter.8 – Peter Packay, Belgian trumpeter, arranger, and composer.10 – Geraldo, English bandleader and composer.11 – Jess Stacy, American pianist.13 – Charles Rogers, American film actor and musician.21 – Count Basie, American pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer.24 – Buster Smith, American alto saxophonist.30 – Floyd Bean, American jazz pianist.
; October4 – Greely Walton, American tenor saxophonist.18 – Stump Evans, American saxophonist.27 – Nisse Lind, Swedish accordionist and pianist.
; November14 – Art Hodes, Ukrainian-American pianist.19 – David Plunket Greene, English musician, Bright Young Things .21 – Coleman Hawkins, American tenor saxophonist.27 – Eddie South, American jazz violinist.
; December4 – Herman Autrey, American trumpeter.
; Unknown date

Arthur Rosebery, English pianist and singer.